# Windows Subsystem for Linux

Application: Microsoft Corporation

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

Microsoft Corporation, System

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

| 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.

| 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

| 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.

| Download           | [learn.microsoft.com/windows/wsl/install ](https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/wsl/install)Official installer or vendor page          |
| ------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Help               | [learn.microsoft.com/windows/wsl/ ](https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/wsl/)Vendor support                                           |
| Official site      | [learn.microsoft.com/windows/wsl/install ](https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/wsl/install)Start here, no be random exe host          |
| Basic WSL commands | [learn.microsoft.com/windows/wsl/basic-commands ](https://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.

## Related

Dis entities connect to dis article. Type dey show for every link.

[wsl.exe: Application Process](https://feex.it/wiki/l/pcm/process/wsl.exe/)[Hyper-V: Application](https://feex.it/wiki/l/pcm/software/hyper-v/)[How to read Task Manager: Guide](https://feex.it/wiki/l/pcm/software/system/how-to-read-task-manager/)

## Sources and verification

Recorded source label: August 2026. Dis label no establish independent verification. [How we dey do research](https://feex.it/wiki/research/).

- [Windows Subsystem for Linux official site ](https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/wsl/install)· Vendor product page
- [Windows Subsystem for Linux help ](https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/wsl/)· Vendor support
- [Foxhole process map ](https://foxhole.feex.it/)· First-party samples on top Windows PCs. No be lab benchmark.

## Dis article make sense to you?

Yes or no dey enough. Choose reason if you want, or add short note.

Quick facts

The short identity of dis page. Specs, sources, and the full story still dey inside the article.

- **Developer**: Microsoft Corporation

  **Category**: Linux on top Windows

  **Process**: [wsl.exe](https://feex.it/wiki/l/pcm/process/wsl.exe/)

  **License**: E dey follow supported Windows come. Distros get dia own licenses

  **First released**: 2016

  **Official site**: [Microsoft Learn: install WSL](https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/wsl/install)

  **Feex map am**: Dem see am on top Windows PCs for Foxhole

Recorded source status: Feex Reviewed: Recorded source label: August 2026. Dis label no establish independent verification.

---

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