• To install WSL on Windows 11, open PowerShell or Command Prompt (admin), run the “wsl –install” command, and restart the computer.
  • The command will install WSL alongside the Ubuntu distribution.
  • Or, to install WSL with a specific distro, run the “wsl –install -d DISTRO-NAME” command.
  • Or, to install WSL from Microsoft Store, enable the “Virtual Machine Platform” feature and then download the WSL app from the Store.

On Windows 11, Microsoft simplified the installation process of the Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (WSL) to only one command to download and install all the required components, which includes the virtual machine platform and Linux GUI apps.

In addition, the command also installs the latest Ubuntu distro by default. If you prefer another distribution of Linux, you can append an option in the command to install any of the supported distros. Alongside the new quick and easy process, you will also find another way to make it easier to update the kernel with only one command.

This guide will teach you the easy steps to install the WSL platform on your computer. In addition, we will outline the steps to update the Linux kernel on Windows 11.

  • Install WSL on Windows 11
  • Install WSL with specific distro on Windows 11
  • Update WSL kernel on Windows 11
  • Install WSL from Microsoft Store

Install WSL on Windows 11

To install WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) on Windows 11 from Command Prompt, use these steps:

  • Open Start on Windows 11.
  • Search for Command Prompt (or PowerShell), right-click the top result and select the Run as administrator option.
  • Type the following command to install the WSL on Windows 11 and press Enter:
  • wsl –install
  • Restart your computer to finish the WSL installation on Windows 11.
  • Continue with the Linux distro setup as necessary.

After you complete the steps, the required Linux components will install automatically on Windows 11 and the latest version of the Ubuntu Linux distribution.

Open Start on Windows 11.

Search for Command Prompt (or PowerShell), right-click the top result and select the Run as administrator option.

Type the following command to install the WSL on Windows 11 and press Enter:

wsl –install

Restart your computer to finish the WSL installation on Windows 11.

Continue with the Linux distro setup as necessary.

Install WSL with specific distro on Windows 11

If you prefer another flavor of Linux, the WSL2 command includes an option to view and select a different distro.

To install WSL with a specific distro on Windows 11, use these steps:

  • Open Start.
  • Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
  • Type the following command to view a list of available WSL distros you can install on Windows 11 and press Enter:
  • wsl –list –online
  • Quick note: You can install Ubuntu, Debian, Kali Linux, openSUSE, and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server.
  • Type the following command to install the WSL with a specific distro on Windows 11 and press Enter:
  • wsl –install -d DISTRO-NAME
  • In the command, remember to replace “DISTRO-NAME” with the name of the distro you want to install, such as Debian.
  • Restart your computer to finish the WSL installation on Windows 11.
  • Continue with the Linux distro setup as necessary.

Once you complete the steps, the Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 components will install along with the distro of Linux you specified. 

Open Start.

Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.

Type the following command to view a list of available WSL distros you can install on Windows 11 and press Enter:

wsl –list –online

Type the following command to install the WSL with a specific distro on Windows 11 and press Enter:

wsl –install -d DISTRO-NAME

In the command, remember to replace “DISTRO-NAME” with the name of the distro you want to install, such as Debian.

Update WSL kernel on Windows 11

To update the WSL kernel from Command Prompt, use these steps:

  • Open Start.
  • Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
  • Type the following command to update the WSL kernel on Windows 11 and press Enter:
  • wsl –update

After you complete the steps, if an update is available, it will download and install on your computer.

Type the following command to update the WSL kernel on Windows 11 and press Enter:

wsl –update

Install WSL from Microsoft Store

You can also download all the components wrapped into an app from the Microsoft Store. The benefit of using this approach is that feature will run isolated from Windows 11, and updates will be available through the Microsoft Store without waiting for the next version of the operating system to install the newest version.

To install WSL from the Microsoft Store, use these steps:

1. Enable Virtual Machine Platform

  • Open Start.
  • Search for Turn Windows Features on or off and click the top result to open the app.
  • Check the Virtual Machine Platform option.
  • Click the OK button.
  • Click the Restart button.

After completing the steps, you can download the app from the Microsoft Store.

Search for Turn Windows Features on or off and click the top result to open the app.

Check the Virtual Machine Platform option.

Click the OK button.

Click the Restart button.

2. Install Windows Subsystem for Linux app

  • Open the Windows Subsystem for Linux store page.
  • Click the Get button.
  • Click the Open button.
  • Click the Get button again.

3. Install Linux distro

  • Open Microsoft Store app.
  • Search for the Linux distro. For example, Debian.
  • Click the Get button.
  • Click the Open button.

Once you complete the steps, WSL will install on Windows 11, including the support for Linux GUI apps and the Linux distribution.

Open the Windows Subsystem for Linux store page.

Click the Get button.

Click the Open button.

Click the Get button again.

Open Microsoft Store app.

Search for the Linux distro. For example, Debian.