How to Uninstall Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) in Windows 11

This guide explains how to remove the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) from your computer.

Why remove WSL?

You may want to remove WSL if you no longer need to use Linux tools on your PC or if you want to free up storage space on your hard drive.

What happens when done?

Once you finish, your computer will no longer be able to run Linux apps or commands. All your Linux-based files will be permanently deleted.

Note: You must be signed in as an administrator to perform these steps.

Option One: Uninstall via Settings

This method works on newer versions of Windows 11. If you do not see these options, move to Option Two.

1. Open Settings by pressing the Win+I keys.
2. Click System on the left, then click Advanced on the right.  Open Advanced settings

3. Click on Virtual Workspaces.

4. Turn off Windows Subsystem for Linux.

5. Click Yes if the User Account Control (UAC) window appears. (Admin privileges required).
6. Close Settings once the process is finished.

Option Two: Manual Uninstall

Follow these steps to remove Linux versions and the WSL feature manually.

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Click the All apps button.
3. Uninstall your Linux distributions:
   • Open File Explorer (press Win+E) and click Linux in the side panel to see your installed versions.
   • Right-click your Linux distribution (e.g., “GenericLinux”) and select Uninstall. Confirm your choice.

4. Uninstall the Windows Subsystem for Linux app:
   • Right-click the Windows Subsystem for Linux app in your app list.
   • Select Uninstall and confirm.

5. Press Win+R, type OptionalFeatures.exe, and press Enter.
6. Uncheck Windows Subsystem for Linux and click OK. (Admin privileges required).

7. Click Restart now to finish the removal.

Summary

Removing WSL is a simple process that involves deleting your Linux apps and turning off the Windows feature in the settings menu. By following these steps, you can fully clean up the WSL environment from your system and reclaim your disk space.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How to completely uninstall the subsystem for Linux WSL on Windows?
  Open Settings, go to System, and select Optional features. Find Windows Subsystem for Linux and select Uninstall. You can also use the wsl --unregister command in PowerShell to remove specific distributions.
• How do I disable Windows Subsystem for Linux WSL?
  Open the Start menu, search for “Turn Windows features on or off,” and uncheck the box for “Windows Subsystem for Linux.” Click OK and restart your computer.
• How do I completely remove WSL2?
  Uninstall all Linux distributions first. Then, go to “Turn Windows features on or off,” uncheck “Windows Subsystem for Linux” and “Virtual Machine Platform,” click OK, and restart your system.
• How do I uninstall Apps on WSL?
  Open your Linux terminal and use the package manager for your OS, such as sudo apt remove. To remove the entire distribution, use the wsl --unregister command in Windows PowerShell.