How to Disable WSL on Windows: A Complete Guide
Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a powerful feature in Windows 10 and Windows 11 that allows users to run a Linux distribution alongside their Windows environment. However, there may be occasions when you want to disable WSL on Windows, either for performance reasons, compatibility issues, or simply because you no longer need it. In this guide, we will show you how to disable WSL on Windows step by step. By following these instructions, you’ll be able to turn off WSL and reclaim your system resources.
Why Disable WSL on Windows?
Before diving into the steps, it’s important to understand why you might want to disable WSL. There are a few common reasons for disabling WSL on Windows:
- System Performance: WSL can use up system resources, and disabling it can help optimize your PC’s performance if you no longer require it.
- Compatibility Issues: Some users may face compatibility issues with WSL, particularly if they’re using older versions of Windows or software that doesn’t work well with the subsystem.
- Security Concerns: If you’re concerned about security or don’t need the Linux subsystem for any development tasks, disabling WSL is a good option.
- Reclaim Disk Space: WSL can take up significant disk space with its Linux distributions. If you want to free up space, disabling WSL is a useful step.
Now, let’s look at how to disable WSL on Windows.
How to Disable WSL Windows: Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Uninstall Linux Distributions
Before disabling WSL, you need to uninstall any Linux distributions that you have installed via the Microsoft Store. To do this:
- Open the Start Menu and type Apps & Features.
- Scroll down to find your installed Linux distribution (such as Ubuntu, Debian, or Kali Linux).
- Click on the distribution and select Uninstall.
This step ensures that there is no Linux-related data left on your system.
2. Turn Off Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) Feature
The next step is to disable the WSL feature itself. Here’s how you can do that:
- Open Control Panel by typing it into the Start Menu.
- Go to Programs > Turn Windows features on or off.
- In the list of features, find and uncheck the box for Windows Subsystem for Linux.
- Click OK and restart your PC to apply the changes.
This will effectively disable WSL on your Windows machine.
3. Disable WSL Using PowerShell
For users who prefer using PowerShell, you can disable WSL through command-line instructions. Here’s how:
- Press Windows + X and choose Windows PowerShell (Admin).
- Type the following command to disable WSL:
wsl –shutdown
- Next, run the following command to uninstall the WSL feature:
Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux
- Restart your computer to complete the process.
4. Disable Virtual Machine Platform (Optional)
If you are running WSL 2 (which uses a virtual machine), you may also want to disable the Virtual Machine Platform feature to fully disable WSL. To do this:
- Open Control Panel and navigate to Programs > Turn Windows features on or off.
- Uncheck Virtual Machine Platform and click OK.
- Restart your computer.
5. Remove WSL Kernel Update Package (Optional)
If you no longer want any trace of WSL, you can also uninstall the Linux kernel update package. This step is optional, but if you want to completely disable WSL, follow these instructions:
- Open Settings and go to Apps > Installed apps.
- Look for the Linux Kernel Update Package and click on it.
- Select Uninstall.
After uninstalling the package, restart your system.
How to Check if WSL is Disabled
After following the steps above, it’s important to verify that WSL has been successfully disabled. You can do this by opening PowerShell and typing the following command:
wsl –list –verbose
If WSL is disabled, this command should return an error message saying that WSL is not installed. If you still see your Linux distribution listed, you may need to repeat the steps to ensure WSL is completely disabled.
How to Re-enable WSL on Windows
If you ever decide to enable WSL again in the future, it’s easy to do. Simply follow the steps to turn the WSL feature back on via the Control Panel or use PowerShell commands to reinstall the feature.
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FAQ
Disabling WSL will stop the Linux environment from running on your Windows machine, freeing up system resources. You’ll also remove the ability to run Linux commands and applications natively.
You can re-enable WSL by going to Control Panel > Programs > Turn Windows features on or off and checking the Windows Subsystem for Linux option again. You can also use PowerShell commands to enable it.
Yes, it is safe to disable WSL if you no longer need it. It won’t affect other Windows functionality, but make sure to uninstall any Linux distributions before disabling it.
Yes, disabling WSL can improve system performance, especially if you’re not using it. It can free up memory and CPU resources that would otherwise be used by the Linux subsystem.
No, disabling WSL will not delete your Linux files, but you should uninstall any Linux distributions before turning off WSL to avoid any potential issues with file access