Virtualization List Installed Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) Distros in Windows 11


Linux_banner.png

This tutorial will show you how to find and list all installed Linux distros for your account in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) lets developers install a Linux distribution (such as Ubuntu, OpenSUSE, Kali, Debian, Arch Linux, etc) and use Linux applications, utilities, and Bash command-line tools directly on Windows, unmodified, without the overhead of a traditional virtual machine or dualboot setup.

You can easily view all installed Linux distros with a list of distro names and versions.

Reference:
learn.microsoft.com

Basic commands for WSL

Reference for the basic commands included with Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL).
learn.microsoft.com





Contents

  • Option One: Find All Installed Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) Distros in File Explorer
  • Option Two: List All Installed Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) Distros using Command




Option One

Find All Installed Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) Distros in File Explorer


1 Open File Explorer (Win+R).

2 Click/tap on Linux in the navigation pane of File Explorer. (see screenshot below)

3 You will now see all your installed Linux distros.

Linux_distros_File_Explorer.png





Option Two

List All Installed Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) Distros using Command


1 Open Windows Terminal, and select either Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt.

2 Copy and paste the command below you want into Windows Terminal, and press Enter. (see screenshots below)

(List name of all installed Linux distros)​
wsl --list --all or wsl -l​

OR​

(List name, state (running or stopped), and version (WSL 1 or WSL 2) of all installed Linux distros)​
wsl --list --verbose or wsl -l -v​


3 You will now see a list of all your installed Linux distros.

Linux_distros_all_commnad.png


Linux_distros_verbose.png



That's it,
Shawn Brink


Related Tutorials

 
Last edited:
Click to expand...
Got 3 running myself, 2 for Docker desktop and 1 for my more typical Ubuntu wsl.

1674761222300.png
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Beelink SEI8
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-8279u
    Motherboard
    AZW SEI
    Memory
    32GB DDR4 2666Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Iris Plus 655
    Sound Card
    Intel SST
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Asus ProArt PA278QV
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    512GB NVMe
    PSU
    NA
    Case
    NA
    Cooling
    NA
    Keyboard
    NA
    Mouse
    NA
    Internet Speed
    500/50
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    Mini PC used for testing Windows 11.
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Ryzen 9 5900x
    Motherboard
    Asus Rog Strix X570-E Gaming
    Memory
    64GB DDR4-3600
    Graphics card(s)
    EVGA GeForce 3080 FT3 Ultra
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQ. ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV 27” WQHD
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    2TB WD SN850 PCI-E Gen 4 NVMe
    2TB Sandisk Ultra 2.5" SATA SSD
    PSU
    Seasonic Focus 850
    Case
    Fractal Meshify S2 in White
    Cooling
    Dark Rock Pro CPU cooler, 3 x 140mm case fans
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Keyboard
    Corsiar K65 RGB Lux
    Internet Speed
    500/50
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Defender.
I know I'm coming here 2 years after the article, but I still feel that there is something missing. How do we list distros actually installed through MS Store or whatever, not JUST our personal distro instances please?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Linux Mint
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Latitude 5521
    CPU
    11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-11850H
    Motherboard
    Dell
    Memory
    32 GB DDR4-3200
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel + NVIDIA GeForce MX450
    Sound Card
    Dell
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Internal touch + Dell 21"
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080 + 1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    All Samsung: NVMe 1TB + NVMe 1TB + SATA 2TB (yes, this model takes 3 drives)
    PSU
    Dell 130W
    Case
    Dell
    Cooling
    Dell + Arctic Thermals
    Keyboard
    Non Backlit
    Mouse
    Touch + USB
    Internet Speed
    Yes =)
mikaere66 said:
I know I'm coming here 2 years after the article, but I still feel that there is something missing. How do we list distros actually installed through MS Store or whatever, not JUST our personal distro instances please?
Click to expand...
Hello Mike, and welcome to the forum. :alien:

You can also look in Settings > Apps > Installed apps to see them listed among your other apps installed from the Microsoft Store. It should include the app version for each.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC
    CPU
    Snapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" HDR
    Screen Resolution
    2496 x 1664
    Hard Drives
    1 TB SSD
    Internet Speed
    Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
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