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How to Enable WSL on Windows 10 Home (Turn on WSL/WSL2)

If you are running the Home edition, you can now turn on or enable WSL in Windows 10 Home to run Linux programs. Here’re the exact steps to follow.

One of the best features on Windows 10 is the ability to run Linux specific applications and commands directly in Windows. This eliminates or at least greatly reduces the need to dual boot Windows 10. As you can guess, this is an awesome feature for a lot of developers. To run Linux apps, you first need to enable the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) in Windows 10. Once you turn on WSL, you can then install the Linux flavor of your choice and start working on it like you would on a Linux machine.

The good thing is, Microsoft is constantly working on WSL and improving its performance and reliability. For instance, compared to WSL 1, WSL 2 is leagues ahead in terms of both performance and usability.

At first, the WSL feature is just limited to Windows 10 Pro users only. However, with recent updates, Microsoft made it possible for Windows 10 Home users to enable WSL in their machines. So, if you are running the Home edition, follow the steps listed below to enable WSL on Windows 10 Home.

Steps to Enable WSL on Windows 10 Home Edition

Below are the steps to follow to enable wsl in Windows 10 Home edition.

  1. First, press the Start key on the keyboard to open the Start menu.
  2. Type “Turn Windows Features on or off” and press Enter.
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  3. Select the “Windows Subsystem for Linux” checkbox in the Windows Features box. You will find the option at the bottom.
  4. Click “Ok“.
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  5. As soon as you click Ok, Windows will download and install any required files and enables the feature.
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  6. Finally, click the “Restart now” button to apply the changes.
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After restarting, you can install the Linux distribution of your choice directly from the Microsoft Store. Simply open the Store app, search for the Linux distribution of your choice and click the Install button. For example, I’m installing Ubuntu.

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Once installed, you can launch it from the Start menu like any other Windows app and start using its command-line interface.

Uninstall WSL in Windows 10

If you no longer need WSL in Windows 10, you can uninstall it. To start off, uninstall any Linux distributions installed in your system. You can do that from the “Settings → Apps → Apps & features” page. After uninstalling the Linux distribution(s), open the Windows Features box, uncheck the “Windows Subsystem for Linux” checkbox, and click “Ok”. When prompted, press the “Restart now” button.

That is all. After restarting the system, the WSL is completely uninstalled. If you ever want to reinstall WSL, you can follow the above steps.

That is all. It is that simple to install WSL in Windows 10 Home edition. If you are stuck or need some help, comment below and I will try to help as much as possible.

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