Introduction to Running Ubuntu 16.04 on Windows 10 with WSL

Are you interested in running a Linux environment on your Windows 10 system without the hassle of dual booting or using a virtual machine? Look no further! This guide will walk you through the process of using the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) to install and run Ubuntu 16.04 directly on your Windows 10 machine. This method offers a seamless experience that leverages the power of both operating systems without the need for any additional hardware or complex configurations.

Step-by-Step Guide: Installing Ubuntu 16.04 via WSL

WSL allows you to run a Linux environment directly within Windows 10, without the need for a separate boot partition or virtualization software. Follow these steps to install and configure Ubuntu 16.04 on your Windows 10 system.

Step 1: Enable Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)

To start, you need to enable the Windows Subsystem for Linux. Here’s how:

Navigate to PowerShell as an administrator. You can do this by right-clicking the Start button and selecting “Windows PowerShell (Admin)”。 Run the following command to enable WSL:

ps wsl --install

For those who already have WSL installed, ensure it’s up-to-date by running:

ps wsl --update

Step 2: Install Ubuntu 16.04

Next, you need to download and install Ubuntu 16.04. Here’s what to do:

Go to the Ubuntu releases page () and download the Ubuntu 16.04 .appx package. Alternatively, you can find it in the Microsoft Store if it is available. Once downloaded, navigate to the folder containing the downloaded package using PowerShell and run:

ps Add-AppxPackage C:pathtoyourdownloaded_.appx

Replace C:pathtoyourdownloaded_.appx with the actual file path of your downloaded package.

Step 3: Set Up Ubuntu

To complete the installation, follow these steps:

Search for “Ubuntu” in the Windows search bar and launch the application. During the first launch, Ubuntu will set up your environment, creating a new user and password.

Step 4: Update Ubuntu

After installation, it’s important to update your package lists and upgrade your installed packages:

Run the following command to update the package lists:

sh sudo apt update

Run the following command to upgrade installed packages:

sh sudo apt upgrade

Additional Notes on WSL 2 Compatibility

For better performance and compatibility, especially if you plan to run resource-intensive applications like GUIs, consider enabling WSL 2. Here’s how:

Follow the Microsoft documentation on enabling WSL 2 for detailed instructions.

Limitations and Considerations

While WSL provides a convenient way to run a Linux environment within Windows, it does have some limitations. For instance:

WSL may not fully support all features of Ubuntu, particularly GUI applications. Consider using a full dual boot or a full virtual machine for a more complete Linux experience.

However, for most users, WSL offers a powerful and convenient alternative to virtualization and dual booting techniques.

Conclusion: By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can seamlessly run Ubuntu 16.04 on your Windows 10 machine using the Windows Subsystem for Linux, without the need for any additional hardware or complex configurations.