Traditionally, the Windows image included many components to set up the Windows Subsystem for Linux, which meant that you needed to upgrade to the latest version of the OS to get the updated version of the feature. Now, Microsoft is grabbing all the components and making an app that anyone can easily download from the Microsoft Store with a single click. The new app also means that WSL will receive updates through the Microsoft Store as soon as they are ready, without waiting for the next version of Windows. The only prerequisite is that you still need to manually enable the Virtual Machine Platform on Windows 11 before installing the app, which you can enable with this command: dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:VirtualMachinePlatform /all. If you want to install WSL directly from the Microsoft Store, you only need to click the Get button from the Windows Subsystem for Linux app page, click the Open button, and click the Get button from the Microsoft Store app. Since this is an app isolated from Windows 11, you can install it alongside the classic installation of WSL. However, the app will take precedence over the classic install, which means that when you open the WSL console, you will be interacting with the Microsoft Store app. If you want to continue to use the inbox version of WSL, you can still use it, but Microsoft may decide to replace it with the app from the Store in the future. While this solution will make it easier for more users to download and set up WSL on Windows 11, this approach still requires enabling the Virtual Machine Platform option through PowerShell or the “Turn Windows Features on or off” page. On the other hand, you can run the wsl –install command to download and install all components without extra steps, which is an easier process. All content on this site is provided with no warranties, express or implied. Use any information at your own risk. Always backup of your device and files before making any changes. Privacy policy info.
