How to Install Linux on Windows 11

There are three ways to install Linux on a Windows 11 PC: the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), a virtual machine, or a dual boot setup. For most people, WSL is the fastest option. Open Terminal as administrator, run wsl --install, restart, and Ubuntu is ready in a few minutes, with no partitioning or extra software. Use a virtual machine if you want the full Linux desktop in a window, and dual boot if you want Linux to run directly on the hardware.

Which Method Should You Choose?

• WSL: best for developers and command-line tools. Runs Linux alongside Windows with near-native speed and can even run Linux GUI apps on Windows 11. No reboot needed to switch.
• Virtual machine: best for trying a full Linux desktop (GNOME, KDE) safely. Runs in a window inside Windows, but shares your PC’s RAM and CPU, so it is slower.
• Dual boot: best for gaming or full performance on Linux. Linux gets all the hardware, but you have to restart to switch, and setup involves partitioning your drive.

Before You Start

• Check virtualization: open Task Manager, select Performance > CPU, and look for Virtualization: Enabled. WSL and virtual machines both need it.
• Free up space: WSL needs a few gigabytes, a virtual machine needs 25 GB or more, and a dual boot partition should be at least 30 to 50 GB.
• Update Windows: install pending updates under Settings > Windows Update so you have the latest WSL components.
• Back up: required for dual booting and sensible for any major change.

Method 1: Install Linux With WSL (Recommended)

WSL works on Windows 11 Home and Pro. Your PC needs hardware virtualization turned on in the BIOS/UEFI, which it is on most modern computers.

1. Right-click the Start button and choose Terminal (Admin).
2. Type wsl --install and press Enter. This installs WSL and the Ubuntu distribution by default.
3. Restart your PC when prompted.
4. After restarting, Ubuntu opens and asks you to create a Linux username and password. These are separate from your Windows account.
5. Update the system by running sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade.

To install a different distribution, list the options with wsl --list --online, then install one with wsl --install -d followed by its name, for example Debian or kali-linux. You can also install distributions from the Microsoft Store. Our guides on installing WSL on Windows 11 and installing Ubuntu on Windows 11 go into more detail, and how to install Bash on Windows 11 covers getting a Linux shell.

Useful WSL commands

• wsl -l -v lists installed distributions and whether they use WSL 1 or WSL 2.
• wsl --update updates WSL itself.
• wsl --shutdown stops all running distributions, which frees memory.
• wsl --unregister plus the distro name removes a distribution and all its files. See how to uninstall WSL in Windows 11 to remove WSL completely.

Your Windows drives are available inside Linux under /mnt/c, and you can open Linux files from File Explorer under the Linux entry in the navigation pane.

Method 2: Install Linux in a Virtual Machine

1. Download a Linux ISO from the distribution’s official site, such as ubuntu.com or fedoraproject.org.
2. Install a virtualization app. VirtualBox and VMware Workstation Pro are free for personal use. Windows 11 Pro and Enterprise also include Hyper-V, which you can turn on under Windows Features.
3. Create a new virtual machine. Give it at least 4 GB of RAM, 2 CPU cores, and a 25 GB or larger virtual disk, and attach the ISO.
4. Start the VM and follow the Linux installer. Because it installs to a virtual disk, it will not touch your Windows files.
5. After installing, add the guest tools (VirtualBox Guest Additions or VMware Tools; most distributions include them) for proper screen resizing and clipboard sharing.

Method 3: Dual Boot Windows 11 and Linux

Dual booting installs Linux on its own partition so you choose an operating system at startup. It gives the best performance but carries more risk, so back up your files first.

1. Back up important data and save your BitLocker recovery key if device encryption is on (check at aka.ms/myrecoverykey or in Settings > Privacy & security > Device encryption).
2. Download the Linux ISO and create a bootable USB drive with a tool such as Rufus or balenaEtcher.
3. Open Disk Management, right-click your Windows partition, and choose Shrink Volume to free at least 30 to 50 GB.
4. Turn off Fast Startup so Windows fully releases the drive when it shuts down.
5. Restart, open your PC’s boot menu (often F12, F11, or Esc), and boot from the USB drive.
6. In the Linux installer, choose the option to install alongside Windows Boot Manager, or select the free space manually.
7. After installation, a GRUB menu lets you choose Linux or Windows each time the PC starts.

Ubuntu, Fedora, and Linux Mint support Secure Boot, so you usually do not need to turn it off. For a full walkthrough, see how to dual boot Windows 11 and Linux.

How to Remove Linux Later

• WSL: uninstall the distribution from Settings > Apps > Installed apps, or run the unregister command. WSL itself can then be removed from the same Apps list.
• Virtual machine: delete the VM in VirtualBox, VMware, or Hyper-V Manager and choose to delete its files.
• Dual boot: boot into Windows, delete the Linux partitions in Disk Management, extend the Windows partition into the freed space, and remove the Linux boot entry from the UEFI boot menu. Do this carefully, because removing GRUB before fixing the boot order can leave the PC unable to start.

Troubleshooting

WSL error 0x80370102 or “virtualization not enabled”

Turn on Intel VT-x or AMD SVM in your BIOS/UEFI settings. Also make sure Virtual Machine Platform is checked in Turn Windows features on or off.

wsl –install only shows help text

WSL is already installed. Run wsl --install -d Ubuntu to add a distribution, or wsl --update to update WSL.

The VM is very slow

Give it more RAM and CPU cores, enable 3D acceleration if available, and make sure virtualization is enabled in the BIOS. On PCs with Hyper-V features enabled, VirtualBox runs more slowly.

PC boots straight into Windows after installing Linux

Open the boot menu or UEFI settings and move the Linux boot entry (often named ubuntu or GRUB) above Windows Boot Manager in the boot order.

Windows asks for a BitLocker recovery key

Changing boot settings can trigger BitLocker. Enter the key you saved, or look it up at aka.ms/myrecoverykey on another device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I run Linux on Windows 11 without a virtual machine?

Yes. WSL 2 technically uses a lightweight virtual machine, but you do not need to set one up yourself; the wsl --install command handles everything.

Will installing Linux affect my Windows files?

WSL and virtual machines do not change your Windows installation. Dual booting changes your drive partitions, so back up first.

Can I run Linux apps with a graphical interface?

Yes. On Windows 11, WSL supports Linux GUI apps, which appear in their own windows and in the Start menu.

Which Linux distribution should beginners use?

Ubuntu is the default in WSL and has the most guides. Linux Mint is a popular choice for a dual-boot desktop that feels familiar to Windows users.

Does WSL work on Windows 11 Home?

Yes. WSL does not require Hyper-V Manager or Windows 11 Pro.