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Set Up WSL2 With Ubuntu on Windows 11 25H2

Install Ubuntu using Windows Subsystem for Linux and configure a Linux development environment.

by@guidox updated:10/29/26 time:20 min level:Intermediate works on:Windows 11 25H2 x64, WSL2, Ubuntu distribution tools:Windows Subsystem for Linux, Ubuntu
⚠ Safety notice

Unregistering a WSL distribution permanently deletes its Linux filesystem and installed applications.

TL;DR

Install **WSL2** and **Ubuntu**, create your Linux user, and verify the installed distribution.

Before you start

Requirements

  • Windows 11 25H2 x64
  • Administrator rights
  • Hardware virtualization enabled
  • Internet connection
  • Microsoft documentation at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install
Step by step

Instructions

01

Open administrator Terminal

Right-click Start and choose **Terminal (Admin)**. Confirm the elevation prompt.

02

Install WSL

Run the Windows Subsystem for Linux installation command with Ubuntu as the distribution.

wsl --install -d Ubuntu
03

Restart Windows

Restart if the installer requests it. Open **Ubuntu** from Start after Windows finishes loading.

04

Create a Linux account

Enter a Linux username and password when prompted. This account is separate from your Windows account.

05

Update Ubuntu packages

Inside the Ubuntu terminal, refresh package indexes and install available package updates.

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
06

Verify WSL2

Return to Windows Terminal and list installed distributions. Confirm that **Ubuntu** reports WSL version 2.

wsl --list --verbose
tipAn existing WSL installation can be updated without reinstalling Ubuntu.
Troubleshooting

Common issues

WSL reports virtualization is unavailable.

Check hardware virtualization in firmware settings and confirm that the Windows virtualization components are enabled.

Ubuntu installation fails during download.

Check internet access and run the installation again. Microsoft's WSL documentation also describes alternative download methods.

FAQ

Frequently asked

Does WSL2 replace Windows?

No. Ubuntu runs alongside Windows in a lightweight virtualized environment.

Can I access Windows files from Ubuntu?

Yes. Windows drives are accessible through WSL mount locations.

How to undo this

Back up Linux files first. Run the distribution unregister command to delete Ubuntu's filesystem, then remove Ubuntu and WSL components if no longer required.

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