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Windows Subsystem for Linux

ApplicationMicrosoft Corporation

Dem still dey call am wsl2, windows subsystem for linux, wsl.exe

Microsoft CorporationSystem

wsl.exe plus Linux distro on top Windows. WSL 2 dey use lightweight VM. E no be Linux dual-boot.

Wetin you need know

WSL na Linux on top Windows. E no be dual-boot.

wsl.exe dey launch distro. WSL 2 dey use lightweight VM. Your Windows install go remain di OS. Dual-boot na different disk layout.

Wetin e be?
Linux distro on top Windows via wsl.exe
Dual-boot?
No. Windows go remain di OS
WSL 2?
Yes. Lightweight VM, no be second disk
Feex tok say
If vmmemWSL huge well-well, I dey run wsl --shutdown. I no dey treat dat RAM as dual-boot Linux install, and I no dey delete wsl.exe.

Wetin be Windows Subsystem for Linux?

WSL na wsl.exe plus one or more distros. WSL 2 guest RAM dey show as vmmem or vmmemWSL. To close terminal no be dual-boot reboot and no be full VM shutdown until you run wsl --shutdown.

If you never use am before

If you want Linux tools on top Windows without dual-booting, run wsl --install from admin prompt. Dat one dey enable WSL and e dey usually install Ubuntu. You still get Windows as di OS. Dis one no be second disk of Linux, and e no be VirtualBox guest wey you create.

Wetin dem dey use am for?

Linux CLI on top Windows

apt, bash, and Linux toolchains. You no dual-boot. Files still dey live under Windows too.

WSL 2 lightweight VM

Utility VM, no be Hyper-V Manager guests wey you create, and no be second OS on top another partition.

Distro from Store or wsl --install -d

Ubuntu na di default. You fit add Debian or others. Each distro no be dual-boot entry.

Na who e dey for?

  • Developers wey want bash without leaving Windows
  • People wey tink say WSL go replace Linux install on top another disk
  • Users wey dey see vmmemWSL and dey wonder weda dem boot Linux

Current status

Windows Subsystem for Linux (2016) na current linux on top windows from Microsoft Corporation. Di vendor still dey direct Windows users go https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/wsl/install.

How old e be?

WSL 1 (2016) translate Linux syscalls. WSL 2 (2019) dey run real kernel inside lightweight VM. Current installs dey default to WSL 2. Guide from 2017 wey be WSL 1-only don stale for pass PCs.

Versions

Major channels first. Exact build numbers no dey all verified here.

WSL 2
WSL 1

System requirements

Values dey follow wetin di publisher release publicly. Workload still dey change di real need.

Minimum

Minimum system requirements
Operating system Windows 10 version 2004 (build 19041) or later, or Windows 11, according to Microsoft Learn
RAM E reach for Windows plus dis app. Heavy projects go want more.

Resource profile

CPU demand
Dey follow wetin you open inside di app
RAM demand
Dey follow documents, tabs, or libraries

Installed processes

Dese executables belong to dis product when e dey installed.

Installed processes
wsl.exe Main Windows executable
wslhost.exe Per-distro interop helper

Startup components

WslService dey start on demand when client connect. wsl.exe no be required Startup Apps entry.

File locations

Common Windows Subsystem for Linux locations
Typical install C:\Windows\System32\wsl.exe

Common wahala dem

Dem tink say dem dual-boot

Windows still dey run. WSL na subsystem plus, on top WSL 2, utility VM. No boot menu change.

RAM dey remain after Ubuntu window close

Di WSL 2 VM fit idle. wsl --shutdown dey release vmmemWSL. To close di tab no dey reach.

How to get unstuck

wsl --install from elevated prompt, den restart if dem ask

Learn document dis. You no dey download "WSL full" exe from forum.

wsl -l -v to see Running versus Stopped

Set WSL 2 wit wsl --set-version. Dat one still no be dual-boot flag.

wsl --shutdown when vmmemWSL suppose leave

Look di wsl.exe process article. No delete vmmem.

Alternatives

Real dual-boot na second OS on top disk. VirtualBox and Hyper-V dey run full guests. Git Bash no be Linux kernel.

Official help and downloads

Start with di vendor. Random exe sites no be support channel.

Official contacts
Download learn.microsoft.com/windows/wsl/install Official installer or vendor page
Help learn.microsoft.com/windows/wsl/ Vendor support
Official site learn.microsoft.com/windows/wsl/install Start here, no be random exe host
Basic WSL commands learn.microsoft.com/windows/wsl/basic-commands wsl -l -v and wsl --shutdown

Related hardware

WSL 2 want virtualization inside firmware. RAM caps fit dey set inside .wslconfig. Dis no be Feex wey dey invent extra sensors.

Technical details

Technical details

Vendor version numbers dey change. Dis article no pin down any build.

Sources and verification

Recorded source label: August 2026. Dis label no establish independent verification. How we dey do research.

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