WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux)

Use the PowerShell commands below to provision an Ubuntu-based development environment in WSL.

Note

When Ubuntu is first launched, you will be prompted to create credentials for a Linux user.

# Enable required Windows features and install WSL:
wsl --install --no-distribution

# If prompted, restart the PC at this point.

# Install the latest Ubuntu LTS release:
wsl --update
wsl --install --distribution Ubuntu

# Once the Linux user credentials are set up, you can exit the Ubuntu terminal and return to PowerShell.

# Confirm the installed distribution name, then set Ubuntu as the default WSL distribution:
wsl --list --verbose
wsl --set-default Ubuntu

# Start the Ubuntu distribution:
wsl --distribution Ubuntu

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Optional Steps

If you want to start from a clean slate, or accidentally installed the wrong Linux distribution, you can remove an existing distribution from WSL.

Caution

These commands will permanently delete ALL files and user data for the Linux environment.

wsl --shutdown
wsl --list --verbose
wsl --unregister Ubuntu

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