How do I open WSL Ubuntu?

I have spent several hours attempting to use WSL and have now given up and uninstalled everything.

Thank you.

That’s unfortunate, if you do with to keep trying anything please let me know if you need any further assistance and I’ll try my best to give it.

Kind Regards,

Elise

Linux WSL doesn’t really launch the full desktop experience it installs apps which can be run in GUI mode. WSL is really meant to be used in shell, which is the prompt you are seeing. The part after the $ is where you enter shell commands.

The note from Microsoft on GUI apps is as follows:

You can run the following commands from your Linux terminal to download and install these popular Linux applications. If you are using a different distribution than Ubuntu, it may use a different package manager than apt. Once the Linux application is installed, you can find it in your Start menu under the distribution name. For example: Ubuntu -> Microsoft Edge.

Note

Support for GUI apps on WSL does not provide a full desktop experience. It relies on Windows desktop, so installing desktop-focused tools or apps may not be supported.

In the link I provided provided previous there are some example of GUI apps you can install.

Once you have them install they will show up in the start menu and will be launched directly from WSL.

I have launched the GUI and when I attempt to re-install WSL and Ubuntu, a message replies that they are already installed. I have no idea how to launch them. When I click the Ubuntu icon at the Start menu it takes me to PowerShell with the command line "my username and my computer name :~$"

What would you suggest that I enter after the :~$

Hi, I'm Elise, and I'd be happy to help with your issue.

It sounds like you only have the command line Ubuntu installed you would need to launch the GUI.

This article gives instructions on how to do this:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/t...

Kind Regards,

Elise