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WSL not located in Windows Apps

Anonymous
2025-04-07T21:15:57+00:00

I cannot find WSL in my Apps & Features. When I type wsl command in my terminal or powershell, I get error "The system cannot find the file specified".
Any help appreciated, thanks!

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Install and upgrade

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-04-07T21:52:05+00:00

    Hi Aayush it seems like the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) might not be properly installed or enabled on your system. Here are some steps to troubleshoot and resolve the issue

    1. **Enable WSL Feature**
    • Open **PowerShell** as an administrator.
    • Run the following command to enable WSL: 
    dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux /all /norestart
    • Restart your computer after running the command.
    1. **Enable Virtual Machine Platform**
    • In the same **PowerShell** window, run this command: 
    dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:VirtualMachinePlatform /all /norestart
    • Restart your computer again.
    1. **Install WSL**
    • Open **PowerShell** as an administrator and run: 
    wsl --install
    • This command will install WSL and set up a default Linux distribution.
    1. **Check Windows Features**
    • Open **Control Panel** > **Programs** > **Turn Windows features on or off**.
    • Ensure that **Windows Subsystem for Linux** and **Virtual Machine Platform** are checked.
    1. **Update WSL**
    • Download the latest WSL update from GitHub and install it manually.
    1. **Verify Installation**
    • Open **PowerShell** and run: 
    wsl --version
    • If no Linux distribution is found, install one from the Microsoft Store (e.g., Ubuntu).
    1. **Check for System Updates**
    • Open **Settings** > **Windows Update** > **Check for Updates**.
    • Install any pending updates, as they might include fixes for WSL-related issues.

    It is my honor to give you some advice, and I hope that my efforts can be of some use to you, otherwise let me know and we will come up with a more technical solution

    Don't forget to put my recommendation useful so that it can reach more people

    Thank you for your understanding and support.

    Best regards!
    Carlos OH|

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