WSL Cheat Sheet

Run a real Linux distro inside Windows. Run these commands from PowerShell or cmd. Inside the distro, use the Bash and apt sheets.

F

28 entries

On this page

Install & Setup #

Command	Action
	Install WSL + Ubuntu (admin, then reboot)
	Install a specific distro
	List distros available online
	Update WSL itself
	Default distro and version
	WSL, kernel and WSLg versions

Command	Action
	Installed distros, state and WSL version
	Start the default distro
	Start a specific distro
	Start in the Linux home folder
	Start as root (useful to reset a forgotten password)
	Change the default distro
	Convert to WSL 2
	New installs use WSL 2
	Stop one distro
	Stop everything (applies config changes)
	Delete a distro and all of its files

Command	Action
	Back up a distro
	Restore / clone to another drive

From	Path
Windows → Linux files	`\\wsl$\Ubuntu\home\user` or `\\wsl.localhost\Ubuntu\...`
Linux → Windows C: drive	`/mnt/c/Users/you`
Linux: open the folder in Explorer
Linux: open in VS Code	(installs the WSL extension automatically)
Convert paths	→ `/mnt/c/Users` (and for the reverse)

Command	Action
	Run a Linux command from PowerShell
	Run a Windows program from Linux
/	Windows shell commands from Linux
	Copy to the Windows clipboard from Linux

/etc/wsl.conf (inside the distro):

[boot]
systemd=true

[user]
default=milan

[interop]
appendWindowsPath=true

%UserProfile%\.wslconfig (Windows, applies to all WSL 2 distros):

[wsl2]
memory=8GB
processors=4
swap=2GB

Run wsl --shutdown afterwards to apply.

Keep projects inside the Linux filesystem (~/projects), not on /mnt/c. File access is much faster there.
Localhost is shared: a dev server on port 3000 in WSL opens at http://localhost:3000 in Windows.
GUI Linux apps work out of the box on Windows 11 (WSLg).

Option	What it does
`--install`	Install WSL + Ubuntu (`-d Debian` for another distro, `--no-launch`)
`-l -v` (`--list --verbose`)	Installed distros, state and WSL version
`-l -o` (`--list --online`)	Distros you can install
`-d Ubuntu`	Run a specific distro
`-u root`	Run as another user
`-e cmd` / `wsl cmd`	Run one Linux command: `wsl ls -la`
`--cd C:\dev` / `wsl ~`	Start folder / start in the Linux home folder
`-s Ubuntu` (`--set-default`)	Default distro
`--set-version Ubuntu 2`	Convert a distro to WSL 2
`--set-default-version 2`	WSL version for new installs
`-t Ubuntu` (`--terminate`)	Stop one distro
`--shutdown`	Stop everything (applies `.wslconfig` changes)
`--unregister Ubuntu`	⚠ Delete a distro and all its files
`--export Ubuntu file.tar`	Back up a distro
`--import Name C:\WSL\Name file.tar`	Restore / clone a distro
`--update`	Update WSL
`--status` / `--version`	Default distro / version numbers
`--mount \\.\PHYSICALDRIVE1`	Mount a physical disk in WSL 2

Usage	What it does
`explorer .`	Open the current folder
`explorer /select,"C:\path\file.txt"`	Open the folder and select the file
`explorer shell:startup`	Special folders: `shell:downloads`, `shell:appsfolder`, `shell:sendto`
`explorer https://example.com`	Open a URL in the default browser
`explorer.exe .`	From WSL: open the Linux folder in Explorer

Option	What it does
`code .`	Open the current folder
`-r`, `--reuse-window`	Open in the last active window
`-n`, `--new-window`	Open in a new window
`-g file:line[:col]`	Go to a line: `code -g app.js:42`
`-d a b`, `--diff`	Compare two files
`-m a b base result`	Three-way merge
`-a folder`	Add a folder to the current window
`-w`, `--wait`	Wait until the file is closed (Git editor: `code --wait`)
`--install-extension id`	Install an extension (`--uninstall-extension` to remove)
`--list-extensions`	Installed extensions (`--show-versions` for versions)
`--profile "Name"`	Open with a profile
`--disable-extensions`	Start without extensions (troubleshooting)
`-v`	Version

Option	What it does
`wslpath 'C:\Users\milan'`	Windows → Linux: `/mnt/c/Users/milan` (`-u` is the default)
`-w /home/milan`	Linux → Windows: `\\wsl.localhost\Ubuntu\home\milan`
`-m /home/milan`	Windows path with forward slashes
`-a`	Force an absolute path

Option	What it does
`/c "dir"`	Run a command and close (`cmd //c "dir"` in Git Bash)
`/k "echo hi"`	Run a command and stay open
`/q`	Turn off command echo
`/s`	Strip the outer quotes of the command
`/v:on`	Delayed variable expansion (`!var!`)
`/u`	Output Unicode to files and pipes
`/e:on`	Command extensions (default on)

Option	What it does
`-Command "Get-Date"` (`-c`)	Run a command and exit
`-File script.ps1`	Run a script file
`-NoProfile`	Don't load your profile (faster, predictable)
`-ExecutionPolicy Bypass`	Ignore the script policy for this run
`-NoExit`	Stay open after running the command
`-NoLogo`	Hide the banner
`-NonInteractive`	Never prompt (automation)
`-WindowStyle Hidden`	Run without a visible window
`-EncodedCommand …`	Run a Base64-encoded command
`-WorkingDirectory C:\dev`	Start folder (`pwsh` only)
`-Version`	Show the version (`pwsh` only)

Option	What it does
`-n`	No newline at the end
`-e`	Interpret escapes: `\n` newline, `\t` tab
`-E`	Don't interpret escapes (default)
`echo $HOME`	Print a variable
`echo "text" > file`	Write to a file (`>>` appends)
`echo $?`	Exit code of the last command