Windows Subsystem for Linux

ApplicationMicrosoft Corporation

Also called wsl2, windows subsystem for linux, wsl.exe

Microsoft CorporationSystem

wsl.exe plus a Linux distro on Windows. WSL 2 uses a lightweight VM. It is not a Linux dual-boot.

What you need to know

WSL is Linux on Windows. It is not a dual-boot.

wsl.exe launches a distro. WSL 2 uses a lightweight VM. Your Windows install stays the OS. Dual-boot is a different disk layout.

What is it?: Linux distro on Windows via wsl.exe
Dual-boot?: No. Windows stays the OS
WSL 2?: Yes. A lightweight VM, not a second disk

Feex says

If vmmemWSL is huge, I run wsl --shutdown. I do not treat that RAM as a dual-boot Linux install, and I do not delete wsl.exe.

What is Windows Subsystem for Linux?

WSL is wsl.exe plus one or more distros. WSL 2 guest RAM shows as vmmem or vmmemWSL. Closing a terminal is not a dual-boot reboot and not a full VM shutdown until you run wsl --shutdown.

If you have never used it

If you want Linux tools on Windows without dual-booting, run wsl --install from an admin prompt. That enables WSL and usually installs Ubuntu. You still have Windows as the OS. This is not a second disk of Linux, and it is not a VirtualBox guest you created.

What is it used for?

Linux CLI on Windows

apt, bash, and Linux toolchains. You did not dual-boot. Files still live under Windows too.

WSL 2 lightweight VM

A utility VM, not Hyper-V Manager guests you created, and not a second OS on another partition.

Distro from Store or wsl --install -d

Ubuntu is the default. You can add Debian or others. Each distro is not a dual-boot entry.

Who is it for?

Developers who want bash without leaving Windows
People who thought WSL would replace a Linux install on another disk
Users who see vmmemWSL and wonder if they booted Linux

Current status

Windows Subsystem for Linux (2016) is a current linux on windows from Microsoft Corporation. The vendor still points Windows users at https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/wsl/install.

How old is it?

WSL 1 (2016) translated Linux syscalls. WSL 2 (2019) runs a real kernel in a lightweight VM. Current installs default to WSL 2. A 2017 WSL 1-only guide is stale for most PCs.

Versions

Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here.

WSL 2

WSL 1

System requirements

Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need.

Minimum

Minimum system requirements
Operating system	Windows 10 version 2004 (build 19041) or later, or Windows 11, per Microsoft Learn
RAM	Enough for Windows plus this app. Heavy projects want more.

Resource profile

CPU demand: Follows what you open inside the app
RAM demand: Follows documents, tabs, or libraries

Installed processes

These executables belong to this product when it is installed.

Installed processes
wsl.exe	Main Windows executable
wslhost.exe	Per-distro interop helper

Startup components

WslService starts on demand when a client connects. wsl.exe is not a required Startup Apps entry.

File locations

Common Windows Subsystem for Linux locations
Typical install	C:\Windows\System32\wsl.exe

Common problems

Thought they dual-booted

Windows is still running. WSL is a subsystem plus, on WSL 2, a utility VM. No boot menu change.

RAM stays after the Ubuntu window closes

The WSL 2 VM can idle. wsl --shutdown releases vmmemWSL. Closing the tab is not enough.

Getting unstuck

wsl --install from an elevated prompt, then restart if asked

Learn documents this. You do not download a "WSL full" exe from a forum.

wsl -l -v to see Running versus Stopped

Set WSL 2 with wsl --set-version. That is still not a dual-boot flag.

wsl --shutdown when vmmemWSL should leave

See the wsl.exe process article. Do not delete vmmem.

Alternatives

A real dual-boot is a second OS on disk. VirtualBox and Hyper-V run full guests. Git Bash is not a Linux kernel.

Official help and downloads

Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel.

Official contacts
Download	learn.microsoft.com/windows/wsl/install Official installer or vendor page
Help	learn.microsoft.com/windows/wsl/ Vendor support
Official site	learn.microsoft.com/windows/wsl/install Start here, not a random exe host
Basic WSL commands	learn.microsoft.com/windows/wsl/basic-commands wsl -l -v and wsl --shutdown

Related hardware

WSL 2 wants virtualization in firmware. RAM caps can be set in .wslconfig. This is not Feex inventing extra sensors.

Technical details

Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build.

Sources and verification

Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. How we research.

Windows Subsystem for Linux official site · Vendor product page
Windows Subsystem for Linux help · Vendor support
Foxhole process map · First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.

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