How to completely uninstall WSL on Windows 10/11

This is not difficult, but it is important to delete the files in the correct order. Here are the steps you need to take to completely remove WSL from your Windows PC.

Remove all Linux distributions installed on Windows

This step won't be required for everyone, but if you have any Linux distributions installed, you should remove them first. This helps ensure that there are no files associated with the Linux installation on your computer when you uninstall WSL.

1. You can find your installed Linux distributions listed along with other installed applications in Settings > Apps > Installed Apps .

2. Uninstall each Linux distribution, such as Ubuntu, in exactly the same way you would uninstall any other Windows application.

How to completely uninstall WSL on Windows 10/11 Picture 1

3. If your computer arrives with pre-installed applications, you may not know which is a Linux distribution and which is not. Here are some of the most popular Linux distributions, but you can also simply Google the name of the app you're not sure about.

Once all Linux versions have been uninstalled, you can move on to the next step in the process.

Uninstall WSL components

With all versions of Linux removed, you can delete the WSL application and its associated components. As with the previous step, you can remove WSL the same way you would remove any other application.

Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & Features . Scroll to the bottom of the application list to find Windows Subsystem for Linux. Click the More button and select Uninstall . On Windows 10, click on the application name and then click Uninstall .

How to completely uninstall WSL on Windows 10/11 Picture 2

If you see any additional WSL components, such as WSL or WSLg Preview updates, uninstall them in the same way.

Uninstall WSL and Virtual Machine Platform

The final part of the process is to uninstall the WSL core files and disable the option in the Windows Optional Features panel.

Open the Windows Features panel by going to Settings > Apps > Optional Features > More Windows Features . You can also search for Windows Features and click Turn Windows features on or off .
Scroll down the list of features to find and uncheck the Windows Subsystem for Linux option .
If you don't need to run any other virtual environments, you can also uncheck the Virtual Machine Platform option .
Click Ok , then restart your computer.

How to completely uninstall WSL on Windows 10/11 Picture 3

Now, WSL will be completely removed from your computer. It will not receive automatic updates and you will not be able to interact with it in any way. If you need it in the future, here's how to install WSL through the Microsoft Store on a Windows PC.

Jessica Tanner

Update 27 June 2023

You should read it

May be interested

11 reasons to buy a Kindle e-reader
the first version of the amazon kindle was released in 2007 and sold out in just a few hours.
5 secure password alternatives you should consider
with the rise of cyberattacks targeting password-based authentication and serious data breaches, passwords don't seem like a safe solution anymore.
6 ways to fix the error can't backup files on Windows PC
there can be many causes of backup problems and the article will try to look at all of them. let's look at the best ways to troubleshoot your backups on windows.
Mortal Kombat 1 PC configuration will require more than 100GB of free space?
the pc hardware configuration requirements for mk1 are surprisingly low compared to the graphics the game will bring to the player.
How to find Instagram registration email
the instagram management interface has now changed, so users are quite confused in the process of finding the account settings, or simply finding the instagram account registration email again.
Can the security of a password manager be trusted?
can you trust the security of your password manager, what are the risks of using a password manager, and how can you strengthen its security?