How to install Linux using WSL on Windows 11

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

On Windows 11, you can install the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) with a single command that automatically downloads and configures all required components, including the WSL platform, the Linux kernel, and the default Ubuntu distribution. This streamlined setup eliminates the need to manually enable features or download additional packages.

If you prefer a different Linux distribution, you can choose from several supported options, including Debian, Fedora, openSUSE, Kali Linux, and others. Microsoft also makes it easy to update the WSL platform and Linux kernel directly from Command Prompt or PowerShell. Alternatively, you can install and manage WSL through the Microsoft Store.

What is WSL on Windows 11?

The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a virtualization platform that allows you to run Linux distributions directly on Windows 11 and Windows 10 without setting up a dual-boot configuration or creating a traditional virtual machine.

WSL provides a complete Linux environment with its own kernel, command-line tools, libraries, and applications. You can install popular distributions such as Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, openSUSE, and Kali Linux, and run them alongside your Windows applications.

Microsoft has deeply integrated WSL into Windows, making it possible to access Linux files from File Explorer, run Linux commands from Windows terminals, and work seamlessly across both environments. WSL also supports Linux graphical applications through WSLg, allowing you to run GUI apps without additional configuration.

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

• Install WSL on Windows 11
• Install WSL with a specific distro on Windows 11
• Install WSL from the Microsoft Store
• Pureinfotech’s Take

Install WSL on Windows 11

To install WSL on Windows 11 from Command Prompt (or PowerShell), follow these steps:

1. Open Start on Windows 11.

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

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

   wsl --install

   

4. Create a username and password for the default Linux account, then press Enter.

5. (Optional) Type n to opt out of telemetry collection and press Enter.

6. Continue with the Linux distro setup as necessary.

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

In my experience, the install command may or may not work correctly, depending on your Windows setup configuration. If you receive error code 14107, confirm the message to identify which components the system cannot turn on.

For example, the “Virtual Machine Platform.” If this is the case, open Settings > Optional features > More Windows features, check the “Virtual Machine Platform,” and click the “OK” button to add the components. You can now run the WSL installation command again.

Update WSL kernel

To update the WSL kernel from Command Prompt on Windows 11, follow these steps:

1. Open Start.

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

3. Type the following command to update the WSL kernel and press Enter:

   wsl --update

   

4. Type the following command to confirm the WSL version and press Enter:

   wsl --version

5. Type the following command to troubleshoot and confirm the default distribution and WSL version, and press Enter:

   wsl --status

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

Install WSL with a specific distro on Windows 11

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

1. Open Start.

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

3. Type the following command to view a list of available WSL distros to install, and press Enter:

   wsl --list --online

   Quick note: You can install Ubuntu, Debian, Kali Linux, openSUSE, OracleLinux, and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server.

4. 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 to install on the device, such as Debian.

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

6. Continue with the Linux distro setup as necessary.

Once you complete the steps, the Windows Subsystem for Linux components will be installed along with the Linux distro you specified. 

Install WSL from the Microsoft Store

If you want to install the Windows Subsystem for Linux and distros from the Microsoft Store, you’ll first have to install the required components from the “Windows Features” interface, then download and install WSL from the Store, and finally install the desired Linux flavor.

1. Enable WSL required components

To install the required system components to run Linux on Windows 11, follow these steps:

1. Open Start.

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

3. Check the “Virtual Machine Platform” option.

   

4. Check the “Windows Subsystem for Linux” option.

5. Click the OK button.

6. Click the Restart button.

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

Although the Microsoft Store option should enable and install all required components, you may still need to manually enable and install the “Virtual Machine Platform” and “Windows Subsystem for Linux” modules because you may encounter error codes 14107 or 0x8004032d.

2. Install Windows Subsystem for Linux app

To install the WSL layer on Windows 11, follow these steps:

1. Open the Windows Subsystem for Linux store page.

2. Click the Install button.

3. Click the “Open Microsoft Store” button (if applicable).

4. Click the Install button again.

   

3. Install Linux distro

To install a Linux distribution from the Microsoft Store, follow these steps:

1. Open the Microsoft Store app.

2. Search for Linux distros, such as Debian.

3. Click the Get button.

   

4. Click the Open button.

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

Pureinfotech’s Take

I still consider WSL one of Microsoft’s best additions to Windows 11 (and 10). Years ago, setting up a Linux environment on a computer often meant dealing with dual-boot configurations or running a full virtual machine. Today, the entire process can be completed with a single command, which is a significant improvement for developers, network professionals, students, and anyone curious about Linux.

What I like most is that the company continues to simplify the experience without sacrificing flexibility. You can install Ubuntu in minutes, switch to another distribution if needed, and even run Linux GUI apps alongside your Windows applications. That level of integration would have seemed unlikely during the earlier Windows 10 days.

That said, WSL isn’t completely immune to setup issues. I’ve occasionally seen installations fail because virtualization features weren’t enabled properly, which is why I still recommend checking your system configuration if the installation doesn’t go as planned. Once everything is working, however, WSL remains one of the most practical ways to use Linux on a Windows computer.

Have you tried WSL on Windows 11, and which Linux distribution do you prefer to run? Let me know in the comments.

Update June 5, 2026: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process.