Installing and Configuring Ubuntu on WSL (Windows 11)

This guide covers how to install Ubuntu using WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) on Windows 11 and perform initial configuration.

[01] Summary

Item	Details
WSL version	WSL2 (recommended)
Target	Ubuntu (latest LTS)
Requirements	Windows 11 (build 22000 or later)
Estimated time	About 10-15 minutes

[02] Installing WSL

2-1. One-line install (when WSL is not installed)

Open PowerShell as Administrator and run the following command.

wsl --install

This single command automatically handles the following items.

Item	Description
Virtual Machine Platform	Enables the virtualization platform feature
Windows Subsystem for Linux	Enables the WSL feature
WSL2 kernel	Installs the Linux kernel update
Ubuntu (default)	Installs the default distribution

When enabling WSL for the first time, system components change, so a PC reboot is required. After the reboot, Ubuntu setup continues automatically.

2-2. Installing a specific distribution (when WSL is already installed)

Use this when WSL is already enabled and you want to add Ubuntu. No reboot is required.

# List available distributions
wsl --list --online

Example output:

NAME                   FRIENDLY NAME
Ubuntu                 Ubuntu
Ubuntu-24.04           Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
Ubuntu-22.04           Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
Debian                 Debian GNU/Linux
...

Install the latest stable version.

# Install the latest Ubuntu LTS
wsl --install -d Ubuntu

wsl --install -d Ubuntu automatically installs the latest LTS version. If you need a specific version, specify it like Ubuntu-24.04.

[03] Checking and Setting the WSL Version

3-1. Check the WSL version

wsl -l -v

Example output:

  NAME            STATE           VERSION
* Ubuntu          Running         2

If VERSION shows 2, WSL2 is configured correctly.

3-2. Set the default version to WSL2

# Set default WSL version to 2
wsl --set-default-version 2

# Change the version of a specific distribution
wsl --set-version Ubuntu 2

[04] Initial Ubuntu Setup

After installation completes, the first run of Ubuntu prompts for user account setup.

Enter new UNIX username: username
New password: password
Retype new password: password again

4-1. Update packages

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

4-2. Set locale (optional)

sudo apt install -y language-pack-en
sudo update-locale LANG=en_US.UTF-8

Restart WSL to apply the changes.

[05] Basic WSL Commands

Command	Description
`wsl`	Run the default distribution
`wsl -d Ubuntu`	Run a specific distribution
`wsl -l -v`	List installed distributions and their state
`wsl --shutdown`	Shut down all WSL instances
`wsl --terminate Ubuntu`	Terminate a specific distribution
`wsl --update`	Update the WSL kernel
`wsl --unregister Ubuntu`	Delete a distribution (including data)

[06] Windows <-> WSL File Access

6-1. Access Windows files from WSL

The Windows C drive is mounted at /mnt/c.

# Access the Windows user folder
cd /mnt/c/Users/username

# Access the Windows desktop
cd /mnt/c/Users/username/Desktop

6-2. Access WSL files from Windows

Enter the following path in the Windows File Explorer address bar.

\\wsl$\Ubuntu

Or open Explorer directly from a WSL terminal:

explorer.exe .

[07] Windows Terminal Integration

Windows 11 ships with Windows Terminal preinstalled. After installing Ubuntu, a profile is automatically added.

Launch Windows Terminal -> dropdown next to the tab (v) -> select Ubuntu

7-1. Change the default profile (optional)

Windows Terminal -> Settings (Ctrl + ,)
Startup -> Default profile -> select Ubuntu
Save

[08] Removing WSL

# Delete a distribution (including all data)
wsl --unregister Ubuntu

--unregister deletes the distribution and all its internal data. Back up anything you need beforehand.

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