How to Check Windows Subsystem for Linux Version
The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a built-in Windows 10 and 11 feature that lets you run Linux tools right next to your normal Windows apps. Checking your WSL version takes only a few seconds and shows if your system runs version 1 or version 2.
Version 2 uses a real Linux kernel and runs much faster than the older version. You just need to run a quick command in PowerShell to see your current version number and check if you need to update.
Open PowerShell or Command Prompt as administrator and run the command `wsl -l -v`. This will display a list of your installed Linux distributions and their corresponding WSL version numbers. You will see either version 1 or version 2.
Why check your WSL version?
Checking your WSL version reveals whether you are running the legacy WSL 1 or the faster WSL 2, which includes a full Linux kernel.
What happens when done?
Running the command displays your installed Linux distributions, along with their status and version number. This confirms which environment currently handles your Linux workloads.
Steps to check your WSL version
You can check WSL version details by running a simple command in PowerShell or Command Prompt. Open the Start menu , search for PowerShell, and run it as an administrator. Type wsl -l -v and press Enter to see which version of Windows Subsystem for Linux is currently installed on your computer.
- Click the Start menu.
- Search for PowerShell or Command Prompt.
- Right-click the result and select Run as administrator.
Open PowerShell or Command Prompt, type the following command, and press Enter:
wsl --list --verbose
A shorter version is also available:
wsl -l -v
The output displays your installed distributions and their version numbers:
NAME STATE VERSION * Ubuntu Running 2 Debian Stopped 1
Understanding WSL 2 vs WSL 1
Legacy WSL 1 translates system calls into Windows commands on the fly. WSL 2, by contrast, operates with a real Linux kernel inside a lightweight utility virtual machine. This architectural shift accelerates file operations and guarantees full system call compatibility. Container software like Docker Desktop requires WSL 2 to function correctly.
How to upgrade to WSL 2
You can upgrade to WSL 2 to get much faster file speeds and full system compatibility for your Linux tools. Open PowerShell as an administrator, run the wsl --update command to get the latest files, and then use the set-version command to switch your installed Linux distributions over to the newer architecture.
wsl --update
Then, set your distribution to version 2:
wsl --set-version <distro-name> 2
Substitute <distro-name> with the name appearing in your terminal list. Consult the official Microsoft WSL installation guide for advanced configuration options.
Summary
Checking your Windows Subsystem for Linux version takes just a few seconds using the terminal. You can run wsl -l -v to view your current setup and use wsl --update to keep everything running smoothly. Upgrading to version two gives you the best performance for running Linux tools and Docker directly on your PC.- WSL allows you to run Linux tools directly inside Windows.
- Use
wsl -l -vin an administrator terminal to check your version. - WSL 2 is faster and recommended for most users, especially for Docker Desktop.
- Always run
wsl --updateto keep your kernel current. - Upgrading is simple using the
wsl --set-versioncommand.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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