Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a component of Microsoft Windows that allows the use of a Linux environment from within Windows, forgoing the overhead of a virtual machine and being an alternative to dual booting. The WSL command-line interface tool is installed by default in Windows 11, but a distribution must be downloaded and installed through it before use. In Windows 10, WSL can be installed either by joining the Windows Insider program or manually via Microsoft Store or Winget.
The original version, WSL 1, differs significantly from the second major version, WSL 2. WSL 1 (released August 2, 2016), acted as a compatibility layer for running Linux binary executables (in ELF format) by implementing Linux system calls in the Windows kernel. WSL 2 (announced May 2019), introduced a real Linux kernel – a managed virtual machine (via Hyper-V) that implements the full Linux kernel. As a result, WSL 2 is compatible with more Linux binaries as not all system calls were implemented in WSL 1. As of June 2026, WSL 1 is still maintained and supported.
From the Wikipedia article “Windows Subsystem for Linux”, CC BY-SA 4.0
What is Windows Subsystem for Linux?
Windows Subsystem for Linux by Microsoft Corp (developed by Microsoft) is open-source Windows software in the virtualisation category. It ranks 13th by popularity among virtualisation in this catalogue. It is written in C++.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides MSIX and MSI installers for 64-bit and ARM64 Windows. Installation asks for administrator rights. It needs Windows 10 2004 or newer. A silent install is possible with the installer’s documented switches. An MSI package is available for deployment with Group Policy, Intune or Configuration Manager.
Updates and version history
The current version is 2.7.14, released on September 11, 2026. The version history goes back to May 9, 2024: 20 releases, all linked to the official files. That is about 8.4 releases a year.
Popularity and file types
The source code on GitHub (microsoft/WSL) has 34,167 stars. Wikipedia has an article about it in 24 of our languages. Similar programs include Sandboxie, Oracle VirtualBox and Vagrant.
Project description on GitHub: “Windows Subsystem for Linux”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Native ARM64 build for Windows on Arm
- MSI package for managed deployment
- Documented silent install
- Frequent updates (about 8.4 a year)
- Large user base
Cons
- Installation needs administrator rights
In short: Windows Subsystem for Linux is an open-source virtualisation tool for 64-bit and ARM64 PCs. It is actively maintained. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Screenshots
Is Windows Subsystem for Linux safe to download?
- The file is served by github.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
7BA80E0846C4E82AC3D33165C21A52D95278BAB422EF005461B5E6ACC37CE66B· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link has not been checked yet
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 20 versions ›20 versions over 2 years · about 8.4 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.7.14Latest | September 11, 2026 | — | ARM64 MSI64-bit MSI64-bit MSIXARM64 MSIX |
| 2.7.13 | September 4, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSIXARM64 MSI64-bit MSIARM64 MSIX |
| 2.7.12 | August 18, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSIARM64 MSIX64-bit MSIXARM64 MSI |
| 2.7.11 | July 24, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSIXARM64 MSI64-bit MSIARM64 MSIX |
| 2.7.10 | June 26, 2026 | — | ARM64 MSI64-bit MSI64-bit MSIXARM64 MSIX |
| 2.7.8 | June 6, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSIXARM64 MSIX64-bit MSIARM64 MSI |
| 2.7.3 | April 25, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSIARM64 MSIXARM64 MSI64-bit MSIX |
| 2.6.3 | December 12, 2025 | — | 64-bit MSIXARM64 MSIARM64 MSIX64-bit MSI |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id Microsoft.WSL -eAdd-AppxPackage -Path Microsoft.WSL_2.7.14.0_x64_ARM64.msixbundleGet-AppxPackage -Name MicrosoftCorporationII.WindowsSubsystemForLinux | Remove-AppxPackageRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- Microsoft Corp
- Developer
- Microsoft
- Category
- Virtualisation
- Licence
- MIT
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/microsoft/WSL
- Written in
- C++
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10 (Windows 10 2004+)
- Architecture
- 64-bit, ARM64
- Installer
- MSIX, MSI
- Version
- 2.7.14
- Released
- September 11, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- May 9, 2024
- Versions listed
- 20
- Updates / year
- 8.4
- GitHub stars
- 34,167
- GitHub forks
- 1,868
- Website
- learn.microsoft.com
- winget ID
- Microsoft.WSL
- MSI product code
- {DC52CEBE-E53A-463D-98EE-81AF640914BD}
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
Alternatives to Windows Subsystem for Linux
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Frequently asked questions
Is Windows Subsystem for Linux free?
Yes. Windows Subsystem for Linux is open-source software under the MIT licence.
Is Windows Subsystem for Linux safe to download?
The download comes from github.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install Windows Subsystem for Linux with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can Windows Subsystem for Linux be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer, including msiexec for the MSI package.
Which Windows versions does Windows Subsystem for Linux support?
The installer requires Windows 10 2004 or newer and is available for 64-bit and ARM64.
Does Windows Subsystem for Linux run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
Yes, there is a native ARM64 installer.
Where can I download an older version of Windows Subsystem for Linux?
The versions page lists all 20 versions with links to their official installer files, back to May 9, 2024.
What are alternatives to Windows Subsystem for Linux?
Sandboxie, Oracle VirtualBox, Vagrant, Multipass and QEMU. The alternatives page compares them.
