Ubuntu-24.04 instead: wsl --install Ubuntu-24.04.This guide shows how to install Ubuntu 20.04 on WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux). Before installing a WSL Linux distribution you should have already enabled WSL on your computer.
All WSL Linux distributions are available for download in the Microsoft Store. This is the easiest way to install a WSL Linux distro. If you are automating WSL installations, you may be looking for the WSL distro download links and PowerShell install command.
This post contains the following methods to get Ubuntu installed on WSL:
> Install WSL Ubuntu 20.04 via Microsoft Store
> Install WSL Ubuntu 20.04 via Command
Install WSL Ubuntu 20.04 via Microsoft Store
You can find all the available WSL Linux distributions in the Microsoft Store available for download. This may be restricted by Group Policy if you’re on a Domain (a work/corporate computer).
Click Start, open the Microsoft Store and simply search for the Ubuntu distribution version you desire.
Click to download/install Ubuntu WSL, and then go ahead and install Windows Terminal while you’re at it.
Once both of the above installs are complete, search and run Windows Terminal, then enter Ubuntu by running wsl in the terminal.
Install WSL Ubuntu 20.04 via Command
Since this post was written, WSL gained a one-command install, and that is the route to take unless the machine cannot reach the Microsoft Store. Ask WSL what is on offer, then install one by name:
# list the distros available to install wsl -l -o # install one, using its NAME value from that list wsl --install Ubuntu-24.04
The NAME column is what --install takes, and it is the same name you hand to wsl -s later when setting your default distro.
The manual route below is still worth knowing. It works where the Store is blocked by Group Policy, and it leaves you holding an installer file you can carry to another machine. To do it that way, we download the WSL Linux distro and then extract/install it.
Microsoft keeps the downloadable packages, and the direct links for them, on its manual installation page. The set of distributions on offer changes, so wsl -l -o above is the list to trust rather than any copy of it.
We are installing Ubuntu 20.04 in this demo, manually via a web browser rather than PowerShell Invoke-WebRequest or Curl.
Move the downloaded file into some directory.
Now into the directory within PowerShell, rename the file from .appx to .zip format.
# rename Ubuntu appx file to zip format # add-appxpackage doesn't always work, extracting the .exe seems better Rename-Item .\Ubuntu_2004.2020.424.0_x64.appx .\Ubuntu_2004.zip
Extract the zip file into a new directory.
# extract the zip file into a new dir Expand-Archive .\Ubuntu_2004.zip .\Ubuntu_2004
Run the ubuntu2004.exe file within the extracted directory and follow the setup instructions to create a new Linux login.
Once done wsl should be waiting for you.
Lastly, I’m now exiting (‘exit’ command) out of WSL, listing out my Linux distros and setting this Ubuntu 20.04 distro as my default.
Related
- How to Install & Configure AWS CLI on Ubuntu
- How to Install Postgres on Ubuntu 20.04
- How to Install PowerShell on Ubuntu 20.04
- How To Install Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)
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