How to Enable the Windows Subsystem for Linux

Finally! Linux on Windows is here! With an up to date Windows 10 machine, it's easy to get an Ubuntu Linux subsystem running on your Windows machine. With the Ubuntu subsystem, you will be able to use common Linux tools, such as grep, awk,...

Part 1 of 4:

Checking Your Computer for Compatibility

How to Enable the Windows Subsystem for Linux Picture 1

Open the Settings app. Press the Start
How to Enable the Windows Subsystem for Linux Picture 2
button and then the Settings gear on the lower-left corner of the menu.
How to Enable the Windows Subsystem for Linux Picture 3

Click the System category.
How to Enable the Windows Subsystem for Linux Picture 4

Select About from the left pane. This will list a bunch of information about your computer.
How to Enable the Windows Subsystem for Linux Picture 5

Ensure that your "OS Build" is above 14393.0.^[1]
How to Enable the Windows Subsystem for Linux Picture 6

Ensure that your "System type" is "64-bit operating system".^[1]

Part 2 of 4:

Enabling Developer Mode

How to Enable the Windows Subsystem for Linux Picture 7

Click the
How to Enable the Windows Subsystem for Linux Picture 8
Home button at the top-left of the Settings app.
How to Enable the Windows Subsystem for Linux Picture 9

Click on Update & security.
How to Enable the Windows Subsystem for Linux Picture 10

Click on For Developers on the left pane. It's second from the bottom of the list.
How to Enable the Windows Subsystem for Linux Picture 11

Click on the radio button next to "'Developer Mode".
How to Enable the Windows Subsystem for Linux Picture 12

Confirm the warning. Windows 10 will display a warning for all of the implications that should be considered before turning Developer Mode on. Carefully read through all of these warnings and then press the Yes button.

Part 3 of 4:

Turning on Windows Subsystem for Linux

How to Enable the Windows Subsystem for Linux Picture 13

Navigate to the "Turn Windows Features On or Off" window. It can easily be accessed by typing in turn windows in the search bar.
How to Enable the Windows Subsystem for Linux Picture 14

Wait for the list to load.
How to Enable the Windows Subsystem for Linux Picture 15

Check the box
How to Enable the Windows Subsystem for Linux Picture 16
next to "Windows Subsystem for Linux (Beta)". Scroll down to the bottom of the list to find it.
How to Enable the Windows Subsystem for Linux Picture 17

Click on the OK button. Windows 10 will now start to download a bunch of files.
How to Enable the Windows Subsystem for Linux Picture 18

When prompted, restart the computer. Your computer will display a screen indicating that it's updating. This is actually Windows 10 setting up the Windows Subsystem for Linux.

Part 4 of 4:

Post-Installation Setup

How to Enable the Windows Subsystem for Linux Picture 19

Open Bash. This is easily done by searching for bash in the search bar.
How to Enable the Windows Subsystem for Linux Picture 20
Enter a username and password. Upon opening for the first time, Windows Bash will prompt you to create a username and password.
1. Note that the username and password do not have to be the same as the username the password used to log into your Windows 10 account.

windows click button password

Samuel Daniel

Update 04 March 2020

You should read it

May be interested