Windows 11 Widgets

Last year, Microsoft announced the preview release of Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) preview in the Microsoft Store. Microsoft Store version of WSL allowed users to get the latest WSL updates and features faster, and without needing to update their Windows OS. Today, Microsoft announced the general availability of Windows Subsystem for Linux in the Microsoft Store.

In addition to Windows 11, WSL in the Store is also available on Windows 10. So, Windows 10 users can enjoy all of the latest features for WSL including systemd and Linux GUI app support.

The following changes are included in the WSL 1.0 release available in the Microsoft Store.

  • You can opt in for systemd support
  • Windows 10 users can now use Linux GUI apps! This was previously only available to Windows 11 users
  • wsl --install now includes:
    • Direct installation from the Microsoft Store by default
    • --no-launch option to not launch the distro after installing
    • --web-download option which will download the distro through our GitHub releases page rather than through the Microsoft Store
  • wsl --mount now includes:
    • --vhd option to make mounting VHD files easier
    • --name option to make naming the mountpoint easier
  • wsl --import and wsl --export now include:
    • --vhd option to import or export to a VHD directly
  • Added wsl --import-in-place to take an existing .vhdx file and register it as a distro
  • Added wsl --version to print your version information more easily
  • wsl --update now includes:
    • Opening the Microsoft Store page by default
    • --web-download option to allow updates from our GitHub release page
  • Better error printing
  • All of WSLg and the WSL kernel are packaged into the same WSL package, meaning no more extra MSI installs!

You can download Windows Subsystem for Linux here from the Microsoft Store. To use this version of WSL, You will need to be running Windows 10 version 21H1, 21H2, or 22H2, or on Windows 11 21H2 with all of the November updates applied.