Windows Subsystem for Linux is now generally available

Back in 207, Microsoft added Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) to Windows 10. Later, it was made available to Windows 11 users too, through Microsoft Store, as a preview. And finally, it is now generally available to all Windows 10 and Windows 11 users. You can now grab it from the Microsoft Store by visiting this link. Then click the “Install” button to begin the installation process.

You can also install the Windows Subsystem for Linux from the Microsoft Store by running the command “wsl --install” from a command prompt. If you are an existing user, you can also upgrade to the store version by running the command wsl --update. We are also making the Store version of WSL the default for new users who run wsl --install and easily upgradeable by running wsl --update for existing users, says Microsoft in the announcement post.

What’s new in the Store version of WSL?

• Windows 10 users can now use Linux GUI apps! This was previously only available to Windows 11 users.
• wsl --install now includes:
  • Direct installation from the Microsoft Store by default
  • --no-launch option to not launch the distro after installing
  • --web-download option which will download the distro through our GitHub releases page rather than through the Microsoft Store
• wsl --mount now includes:
  • --vhd option to make mounting VHD files easier
  • --name option to make naming the mountpoint easier

• wsl --import and wsl --export now include:
  • --vhd option to import or export to a VHD directly
• Added wsl --import-in-place to take an existing .vhdx file and register it as a distro
• Added wsl --version to print your version information more easily
• wsl --update now includes:
  • Opening the Microsoft Store page by default
  • --web-download option to allow updates from our GitHub release page
• Better error printing
• All of WSLg and the WSL kernel are packaged into the same WSL package, meaning no more extra MSI installs!