Enable or Disable Windows Subsystem for Linux WSL in Windows 10  

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    Enable or Disable Windows Subsystem for Linux WSL in Windows 10

    Enable or Disable Windows Subsystem for Linux WSL in Windows 10

    How to Enable or Disable Windows Subsystem for Linux WSL in Windows 10
    Published by Category: Apps & Features
    23 Sep 2020
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Enable or Disable Windows Subsystem for Linux WSL in Windows 10


    The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) lets developers run a GNU/Linux environment -- including most command-line tools, utilities, and applications -- directly on Windows, unmodified, without the overhead of a traditional virtual machine or dualboot setup.

    See also:


    This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) feature in Windows 10.


    Contents

    • Option One: Enable "Windows Subsystem for Linux" (WSL) in Windows Features
    • Option Two: Disable "Windows Subsystem for Linux" (WSL) in Windows Features
    • Option Three: Enable "Windows Subsystem for Linux" (WSL) in PowerShell
    • Option Four: Disable "Windows Subsystem for Linux" (WSL) in PowerShell






    OPTION ONE

    Enable "Windows Subsystem for Linux" (WSL) in Windows Features


    1 Open Windows Features, turn on (check) Windows Subsystem for Linux, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

    Enable or Disable Windows Subsystem for Linux WSL in Windows 10-enable_windows_subsystem_for_linux.jpg

    2 Click/tap on Restart Now when ready to restart the computer to apply. (see screenshot below)

    Enable or Disable Windows Subsystem for Linux WSL in Windows 10-restart.png

    3 If you want to update to WSL 2, then continue at step 3 here.

    4 If you only want to use WSL 1 (not WSL 2), you can now install and setup WSL distro apps from the Microsoft Store.






    OPTION TWO

    Disable "Windows Subsystem for Linux" (WSL) in Windows Features


    1 Open Windows Features, turn off (uncheck) Windows Subsystem for Linux, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

    Enable or Disable Windows Subsystem for Linux WSL in Windows 10-disable_windows_subsystem_for_linux.jpg

    2 Click/tap on Restart Now when ready to restart the computer to apply. (see screenshot below)

    Enable or Disable Windows Subsystem for Linux WSL in Windows 10-restart.png






    OPTION THREE

    Enable "Windows Subsystem for Linux" (WSL) in PowerShell


    1 Open an elevated PowerShell.

    2 Copy and paste the command below into the elevated PowerShell, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

    dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux /all /norestart

    Enable or Disable Windows Subsystem for Linux WSL in Windows 10-enable_wsl.png

    3 If you want to update to WSL 2, then continue at step 3 here.

    4 If you only want to use WSL 1 (not WSL 2), Restart the computer to apply, and install and setup WSL distro apps from the Microsoft Store.






    OPTION FOUR

    Disable "Windows Subsystem for Linux" (WSL) in PowerShell


    1 Open an elevated PowerShell.

    2 Copy and paste the command below into the elevated PowerShell, and press Enter. (see screenshot below step 3)

    Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux

    3 When prompted to restart the computer, type Y, and press Enter when ready to do so. (see screenshot below)

    Enable or Disable Windows Subsystem for Linux WSL in Windows 10-disable_wsl_in_powershell.jpg


    That's it,
    Shawn


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  1. Windows 11 Tutorials



  2. dgordon42
    Posts : 52
    Windows 10 Pro, 64 bit, 22H2, build 19045.3693
       New #1

    Now that Windows 1607 has been released, I'm trying to get bash to work.
    I've followed option 1 to enable bash, but on entering 'bash' at the command prompt I get:
    Code:
    Unsupported console settings. In order to use this feature the legacy console must be disabled.
    Any one know how to get past this?

    Thanks,
    Dave.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  4. dgordon42
    Posts : 52
    Windows 10 Pro, 64 bit, 22H2, build 19045.3693
       New #2

    Ha, just worked it out.
    Right click on the console title bar, and deselect 'Use legacy console'.

    Thanks,
    Dave.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  5. Brink
    Posts : 68,881
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #3

      My Computers
    Quote Quote

  6. Tonyb
    Posts : 1,116
    win 10 pro x64 os build 20H2
       New #4

    is this still a test feature ??? or is it out of testing mode now since windows is now released ?
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  7. Brink
    Posts : 68,881
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #5

    Hello Tony, :)

    Bash on Ubuntu is still considered a beta feature in the Windows 10 Anniversary Update (version 1607 build 14393).

    Bash on Ubuntu on Windows 10 Anniversary Update Windows Subsystem for Linux
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

  8. Tonyb
    Posts : 1,116
    win 10 pro x64 os build 20H2
       New #6

    oh ok i wait then i don't need any system lock ups and stuff thanks for the info.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  9. Brink
    Posts : 68,881
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #7

    You're most welcome. :)
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

  10. altae
    Posts : 471
    Windows 10 Pro
       New #8

    The Ubuntu Bash will definitely not lock up your system. As long as you don't trigger it it does nothing at all. The "Beta" label is more related to it's functionality, a lot of things don't work currently. For example networking. The web is full of posts where people ask how to get networking in the bash working (including myself ).
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  12. Tonyb
    Posts : 1,116
    win 10 pro x64 os build 20H2
       New #9

    yeah going to wait till its out of beta then i will activate it :)
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

 

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