Windows Subsystem for Linux Documentation
Microsoft's official documentation for WSL: installing Linux on Windows with one command, setting up a development environment, where to store files, using VS Code and Git with WSL, and troubleshooting. The first place to go when setting up a Linux shell on a Windows laptop.
Guide
Other
Microsoft
1 to 2 hours to set up
Beginner
Free
What it is
The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) lets you run a Linux distribution, Ubuntu by default, directly on Windows without dual booting or managing a traditional virtual machine. This is Microsoft's official documentation for it, covering installation, basic commands, best practices for a development environment, file systems, networking, GPU support and troubleshooting.
What you can do after reading it
- Install WSL with
wsl --installfrom an administrator PowerShell. Microsoft's install page states this needs Windows 10 version 2004 (build 19041) or later, or Windows 11, and that new installs use WSL 2 by default. - Create your Linux user, keep Ubuntu updated with
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade, and manage distributions with commands such aswsl -l -v. - Set up Windows Terminal, VS Code with the WSL extension, Git and databases following the "Set up a WSL development environment" guide.
- Understand the file system advice: store project files in the Linux file system (your Linux home) when you work on them with Linux tools, rather than under
/mnt/c, because crossing between file systems is much slower.
Who it is for
Any student or developer on Windows who wants a real Linux shell for web development, backend work, DevOps or following tutorials written for Linux and macOS. It suits beginners: the install and set-up pages are step by step with screenshots.
Is it worth it?
Yes. It is free, current and written by the team that builds WSL, so it is more reliable than blog posts written for older versions. Two pages matter most for beginners: "Install WSL" and "Set up a WSL development environment". The troubleshooting page is worth bookmarking for errors during install, such as virtualisation being disabled in the firmware.
Time needed
Installing WSL takes around 15 to 30 minutes including a restart. Working through the development environment guide takes an hour or two.
Common questions
WSL 1 or WSL 2? New installs use WSL 2, which runs a real Linux kernel and is what most development tools expect. Microsoft has a comparison page if you have a specific reason to consider WSL 1.
Is my Linux password the same as my Windows password? No. You create a separate Linux username and password the first time you open the distribution.
Does it cost anything? No. WSL is part of Windows, and the documentation is free.
Facts above were checked against Microsoft's install and environment pages as of 2026-09.
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