Getting Started with WSL on Windows: Install, Manage, and Remove Linux Distros
If you’re a Windows user who wants a real Linux environment without heavy virtual machines, WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) is the best solution.
In this post, I’ll walk through what WSL is, how to install it, manage multiple Linux distros, and cleanly uninstall everything when needed.
What is WSL?
WSL lets you run Linux distributions natively on Windows.
It uses lightweight virtualization (WSL 2) instead of a full VM, which makes it:
Fast to install
Fast to boot
Deeply integrated with Windows
You can use it for:
Development
Docker
DevOps tooling
Learning Linux
How to Install WSL (Recommended Way)
Open PowerShell or Command Prompt as Administrator and run:
wsl --install
This single command will:
Enable WSL
Enable required virtualization features
Install WSL 2
Install Ubuntu by default
Restart your system when prompted.
How to Check Installed Linux Distributions
To see all installed WSL distros:
wsl --list
Or with version details:
wsl -l -v
Example output:
Ubuntu Running 2
docker-desktop Running 2
How to Set a Default WSL Distribution
The default distro is the one that starts when you run wsl.
Set Ubuntu as default:
wsl --set-default Ubuntu
Set another distro as default:
wsl --set-default docker-desktop
Verify:
wsl --list
(Default distro is clearly marked.)
How to Install Ubuntu on WSL
Install Ubuntu explicitly:
wsl --install -d Ubuntu
Or a specific version:
wsl --install -d Ubuntu-22.04
After installation:
Launch Ubuntu from Start Menu
Create a Linux username and password
How to Install Kali Linux on WSL
To install Kali Linux:
wsl --install -d kali-linux
Then launch Kali Linux from the Start Menu and complete setup.
You can now run multiple Linux distros side by side.
How to Switch Default Between Ubuntu and Kali
Make Ubuntu default:
wsl --set-default Ubuntu
Make Kali default:
wsl --set-default kali-linux
This does not delete any distro — it only changes which one starts by default.
How to Delete a Linux Distribution (Permanently)
⚠️ This removes all data inside that distro.
Delete Ubuntu:
wsl --unregister Ubuntu
Delete Kali:
wsl --unregister kali-linux
Verify removal:
wsl --list
How to Uninstall WSL Completely (Clean Removal)
- Unregister all distros:
wsl --unregister Ubuntu
wsl --unregister kali-linux
- Disable WSL features:
dism.exe /online /disable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux /norestart
dism.exe /online /disable-feature /featurename:VirtualMachinePlatform /norestart
- Restart your system
WSL is now fully removed.
Final Thoughts
WSL gives you:
Linux power without VM overhead
Multiple distros on one machine
Seamless Windows + Linux workflow
Whether you’re a beginner or a developer, WSL is one of the best tools on Windows today.
