Installing WSL on Windows

System Requirements

Before installing WSL, ensure your system meets these requirements:

• Windows 10 version 2004 (May 2020 Update) or later
• Windows 11 (recommended)
• At least 4GB RAM
• 5GB free disk space for Ubuntu

Method 1: Quick Installation (Recommended)

The fastest way to install WSL is using a single command:

Step 1: Open PowerShell or Command Prompt

Press Win + X and select Windows Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin).

Step 2: Run the Installation Command

wsl --install

This command will:

• Enable required Windows features
• Download and install WSL2
• Install Ubuntu as the default distribution

Step 3: Restart Your Computer

After installation completes, restart your computer to apply changes.

Step 4: Create Your Linux Account

When Ubuntu first launches, you'll be prompted to create a username and password. This is your Linux user account (separate from your Windows account).

Method 2: Manual Installation

If you prefer more control, follow these steps:

Step 1: Enable WSL Feature

dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux /all /norestart

Step 2: Enable Virtual Machine Platform

dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:VirtualMachinePlatform /all /norestart

Step 3: Set WSL2 as Default

wsl --set-default-version 2

Step 4: Install Ubuntu

Open Microsoft Store and search for Ubuntu, or run:

wsl --install -d Ubuntu

Verifying Your Installation

To check that WSL is installed correctly:

wsl --list --verbose

You should see Ubuntu listed with version 2.

Updating WSL

Keep WSL up to date:

wsl --update

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Issue: Installation Fails

• Ensure Windows is up to date
• Enable virtualization in BIOS/UEFI

Issue: Error Code 0x80070003

• Enable Virtual Machine Platform feature
• Check that WSL2 kernel is installed

Issue: Ubuntu Won't Start

• Run Windows Update
• Reinstall Ubuntu from Microsoft Store

Summary

Installing WSL is straightforward with the wsl --install command. After installation, you have a fully functional Ubuntu Linux running on your Windows computer.

Next Lesson

In the next lesson, you'll learn how to launch Ubuntu and get familiar with the basic commands.