How to Update WSL Kernel on Windows 11

This article explains how to check and update Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) Kernel on Windows 11.

Windows Subsystem for Linux lets developers run a GNU/Linux environment directly in Windows without setting up a virtual machine or dual-boot, including most command-line tools, utilities, and applications.

When WSL version 2 is installed on Windows, you can update its kernel and other components with a single command. One can also use the same command to check the version installed.

Windows update feature that allows PCs to receive updates for other Microsoft products will automatically update Windows Systems for Linux (WSL) kernel when a new version is available.

However, if you want to check and download the latest updates for the subsystem kernel and other components, the “wsl.exe” command-line tool is what you will need to use to do that.

Check and download WSL Kernels on Windows

As mentioned above, when you download updates for other Microsoft products in Windows, WSL kernels will automatically be updated.

Howerver, if you want to check and update the kernel manually, the steps below show you how.

First, open the Windows Terminal app as administrator. Then, run the command below using either the Command Prompt or Windows PowerShell to check the current version of WSL installed on your computer.

wsl --version

The command above will display information about the current version of WSL installed.

If you wish to update manually, run the commands below.

wsl --update

If you update and run into issues, you can revert to the previous kernel version by running the commands below.

wsl --update --rollback

There might be a slight delay between when Microsoft releases a new kernel to GitHub and when the update becomes available through Windows Update.

So, updating using the wls.exe command may not necessarily install the latest releases found on its release page on GitHub.

That should do it!

Conclusion:

• The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) on Windows 11 allows developers to run a GNU/Linux environment directly in Windows without needing a virtual machine or dual-boot setup.
• The WSL version 2 can be updated with a single command, “wsl –update,” in the Windows Terminal app to ensure the latest kernel and components are installed.
• While Windows Update can automatically update the WSL kernel, using the “wsl.exe” command-line tool allows for manual checking and updating of the kernel.
• It’s important to note that updates on GitHub may not immediately be accessible through the “wsl.exe” command, as there may be a slight delay before they become available via Windows Update.