The standard way to use Linux commands on Windows is Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). WSL runs a Linux distribution such as Ubuntu beside Windows, so you can use Bash, GNU utilities, package managers and scripts without dual-booting or installing a traditional virtual machine. For a complete shell, open your installed distribution. For an occasional command from PowerShell or Command Prompt, prefix it with wsl.
What WSL gives you
Microsoft describes WSL as a Windows feature that runs a Linux environment without a separate virtual machine or dual boot: Microsoft’s WSL overview. You install a distribution, then work at its shell prompt with commands such as ls, grep, find, sed, awk, ssh, Git and language toolchains.
- A full Bash session and Linux home directory.
- Linux package managers and command-line applications.
- Access to Windows files and Windows executables.
- One-off Linux commands launched from Windows shells.
- Linux GUI applications on supported Windows builds and WSL 2, but not a complete Linux desktop.
WSL 2 is the normal choice on current installations. It uses an actual Linux kernel and provides broader system-call compatibility than WSL 1. Filesystem performance depends on the workload and where files are stored, so use Microsoft’s current guidance when choosing between versions rather than assuming one is faster for every project.
Check your Windows version and prerequisites
The streamlined installation command requires Windows 10 version 2004 (build 19041) or later, or Windows 11. Press Win+R, enter winver, and check the version and build. If your system is older or your organization blocks the automated path, follow Microsoft’s manual installation instructions.
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You need administrator access for the initial setup and a restart may be required. After installation, you also need at least one registered Linux distribution before commands such as wsl ls or WSL filesystem paths can work reliably.
Install WSL and Ubuntu
- Open PowerShell as administrator. Search for PowerShell, right-click it, and select Run as administrator.
- Run:
wsl --installThis command enables required Windows components, installs the latest Linux kernel, sets WSL 2 as the default, and installs Ubuntu by default. Restart when Windows asks you to.
- After restarting, launch Ubuntu from the Start menu. The first launch completes distribution setup.
- Choose a Linux username and password. This account is separate from your Windows account; the password is used for commands with
sudo. - Update the distribution:
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgradeIf wsl --install only displays help because WSL is already present, list available distributions and install one explicitly:
wsl --list --online
wsl --install -d <DistroName>Replace <DistroName> with the exact name shown by the list. To see distributions already installed, use wsl --list --verbose. The installed name matters when selecting a distribution later.
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Use an interactive Bash session
Open Ubuntu (or another installed distribution) from the Start menu. You will see a prompt similar to name@computer:~$. Commands run in Linux until you type exit or close the window.
pwd
ls -la
mkdir -p ~/demo
cd ~/demo
echo "Hello from WSL" > message.txt
cat message.txt
grep Hello message.txtInstall tools with the distribution’s package manager. On Ubuntu, for example:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install git curl build-essentialLinux paths use forward slashes and are case-sensitive. Your Linux home directory is normally /home/<username>.
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Launch a one-off command from PowerShell or Command Prompt
Open PowerShell or Command Prompt and prefix the Linux command with wsl:
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wsl pwd
wsl grep -R "TODO" .By default, the command uses the default distribution. Select a particular installed distribution with:
wsl -d Ubuntu-22.04 -- cat /etc/os-releaseUse the exact distribution name returned by wsl --list --verbose. The -- marks the end of WSL options and makes the command boundary clear.
Move between Windows and Linux files
Open Windows files from Linux
Windows drives appear under /mnt. For example, your Windows Downloads folder is commonly:
cd /mnt/c/Users/YourWindowsName/Downloads
lsReplace the user name with your actual Windows profile. Keep Linux projects inside the Linux filesystem (for example, under ~/projects) when Linux tools perform intensive file operations; use /mnt/c when convenient access from Windows is more important.
Open Linux files from Windows
From a WSL prompt, open the current directory in File Explorer:
explorer.exe .Windows can also browse a running distribution through the WSL network location in File Explorer. Avoid editing distribution files directly inside WSL’s virtual-disk storage with low-level Windows tools; use Explorer integration or commands inside WSL instead.
Run Windows programs from Linux
WSL can invoke Windows executables by adding .exe:
notepad.exe .bashrc
explorer.exe .
Windows programs receive arguments using Windows conventions, so quote paths containing spaces and be deliberate when mixing Linux and Windows path formats. Microsoft documents this integration in WSL interoperability guidance.
Combine Windows and Linux commands
You can call WSL from PowerShell pipelines, but quoting and pipeline behavior differ between shells. A simple example sends text to a Linux filter:
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"one`ntwo`nthree" | wsl grep twoConversely, run a Windows filter on Linux-generated output from a Windows shell:
wsl printf "alphanbetan" | findstr betaFor complex scripts, put the logic in a Bash script and run it in the distribution rather than relying on several layers of shell quoting.
Choose between an interactive shell and wsl <command>
| Need | Best approach | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Several commands, variables, loops or a Bash script | Open Ubuntu or another distribution | You remain in one Linux shell with normal Bash behavior. |
| A single Linux utility from a Windows workflow | Run wsl <command> |
No separate terminal session is needed. |
| A specific distribution | wsl -d Name -- command |
Prevents the command from running in the wrong installed distribution. |
| Windows and Linux tools in one pipeline | Use explicit wsl boundaries and test quoting |
Each shell parses metacharacters differently. |
WSL 1 versus WSL 2
WSL 1 and WSL 2 are different architectures. WSL 2 uses a Linux kernel and is the default selected by current wsl --install. Microsoft says WSL 2 improves filesystem performance and provides full system-call compatibility relative to WSL 1, but the best choice still depends on your workload, especially whether files live in the Linux filesystem or a mounted Windows drive.
Inspect the version used by each distribution:
wsl --list --verboseSet a distribution to version 2 when supported:
wsl --set-version <DistroName> 2Do not interrupt conversion while it is running. Check Microsoft’s comparison documentation linked from the WSL overview before changing a production or large development environment.
Linux GUI applications
Linux GUI app support requires WSL 2 and Windows 11, or Windows 10 build 19044 or later, according to Microsoft’s GUI application guidance. It lets supported Linux graphical apps appear alongside Windows apps; it is not a full Linux desktop environment. Command-line work does not require GUI support.
Common errors and fixes
wsl is not recognized
Confirm the Windows version with winver, install pending Windows updates, and run the installation procedure from an elevated PowerShell window. On older releases, use Microsoft’s manual instructions rather than forcing the current command.
There is no distribution
Run:
wsl --list --online
wsl --install -d UbuntuThen launch the distribution once to finish its first-run setup.
The wrong distribution runs
List exact names with wsl --list --verbose, then specify one:
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A Linux command works in Ubuntu but not with wsl
The command may be running in another distribution, or the program may not be installed there. Use wsl -d Name -- command, then install the package inside that distribution.
Permission denied
Check ownership and mode with ls -l. Use sudo only for administrative operations, and avoid changing permissions broadly on mounted Windows folders. A Linux process cannot automatically use every Windows administrator permission.
Quoting or paths break in a pipeline
PowerShell, Command Prompt and Bash each interpret quotes, variables and wildcards differently. Start with a simple command, quote arguments at the shell where they are parsed, and move multi-step logic into a script inside WSL.
Commands are slow when working under /mnt/c
Test the same operation in your Linux home directory. For Linux-heavy builds, dependency trees and source-control operations, storing the project under ~/ can avoid cross-filesystem overhead; keep a Windows-side copy or use Explorer integration when Windows applications need direct access.
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Operational tips
- Update packages regularly with your distribution’s package manager.
- Use
wsl --shutdownto stop all running distributions when troubleshooting resource use or after changing configuration. - Keep scripts reproducible: record package names, distribution versions and required environment variables.
- Do not assume
/mnt/cpaths, Linux home paths and Windows paths can be substituted without conversion. - WSL is not a security boundary. Treat downloaded scripts and commands with the same caution as native Windows software.
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If your Linux workflow also needs website screenshots—for example, a Bash script that captures a deployment preview—you can call ScreenshotNeo instead of installing and maintaining a browser automation stack. Its API accepts a URL and returns PNG, JPEG, WebP or PDF. Before capture it accepts cookie and consent banners and removes more than 60 known consent platforms, newsletter popups and chat widgets; each cleanup step can be disabled. Bot checks or CAPTCHAs, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads and cache hits are not billed, and response headers identify the page verdict and billing result.
See the parameter reference in the ScreenshotNeo documentation. A Bash call from WSL is:
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpThe same request in Python:
import requests
r = requests.get("https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot", params={"access_key": "YOUR_API_KEY", "url": "https://stripe.com"}, timeout=90)
open("shot.webp", "wb").write(r.content)And in Node.js:
const q = new URLSearchParams({ access_key: 'YOUR_API_KEY', url: 'https://stripe.com' });
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FAQ
Can I use Linux commands without installing Ubuntu?
You need a registered WSL distribution to run Linux commands. Ubuntu is the default, but you can install another distribution listed by wsl --list --online.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallDoes WSL replace Windows?
No. WSL runs alongside Windows and lets you invoke programs from both environments.
Is WSL a full virtual machine?
WSL provides a Linux environment integrated with Windows. WSL 2 uses a Linux kernel, but its workflow and integration differ from managing a traditional virtual machine.
Can WSL run graphical Linux software?
Supported GUI apps require WSL 2 and Windows 11 or Windows 10 build 19044 or later; this does not provide a complete Linux desktop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Linux commands without installing Ubuntu?
You need a registered WSL distribution to run Linux commands. Ubuntu is the default, but you can install another distribution listed by wsl --list --online.
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Does WSL replace Windows?
No. WSL runs alongside Windows and lets you invoke programs from both environments.
Is WSL a full virtual machine?
WSL provides a Linux environment integrated with Windows. WSL 2 uses a Linux kernel, but its workflow and integration differ from managing a traditional virtual machine.
Can WSL run graphical Linux software?
Supported GUI apps require WSL 2 and Windows 11 or Windows 10 build 19044 or later; this does not provide a complete Linux desktop.
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