How to List Installed WSL Distros on Windows 11

This guide explains how to see which Linux versions you have installed on your Windows 11 computer. Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) allows you to run Linux tools directly on Windows. You do not need to install complex extra software to make this work.

Why check your Linux versions?

You may need to know which versions are on your computer to manage disk space, update your software, or switch between different Linux environments.

What happens when done?

You will have a clear list of every Linux distribution currently installed on your system, including their status and version architecture.

Check via File Explorer

The easiest way to see your installed Linux systems is by using the built-in File Explorer.

1. Open File Explorer on your computer.
2. Look at the menu on the left side of the window.
3. Click on the Linux folder.

You will see a folder for every Linux version installed on your device.

Check via Terminal

If you prefer using commands, you can use the Terminal app to get more details about your Linux setup. You do not need admin privileges for basic listing commands, but some management tasks may require them.

Open the Terminal app to access Command Prompt or Windows PowerShell.

Understanding wsl –list vs wsl –list –verbose

The wsl --list command shows basic names. The wsl --list --verbose command (or wsl -l -v) provides the status (Stopped/Running) and the WSL version (1 or 2).

wsl -l -v

Expected Output:

  NAME            STATE           VERSION
* Ubuntu          Running         2
  Debian          Stopped         2

How to find new distributions

If you want to see what is available to install from the Microsoft Store, use this command:

wsl --online

Identifying the default-wsl-distro-in-windows-11/" class="sal-link" rel="noopener" target="_blank" data-sal-id="33244">Default Distro

The distro marked with an asterisk (*) in the list is your default. This is the version that opens when you type wsl in your terminal.

Troubleshooting Missing Distros

If a distro does not appear, ensure the WSL feature is enabled. You can check your status by running wsl --status. If you have issues, ensure your PowerShell execution policy allows script execution by running Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned in an admin terminal.

Summary

You can view your installed Linux distributions quickly by opening the Linux folder in File Explorer. For more technical details, use the wsl -l -v command in your Terminal. Both methods help you keep track of your Linux environment on Windows 11. For advanced configuration, refer to the official Microsoft documentation.