How to Install WSL 2 Kernel Update on Windows 11

The Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (WSL 2) kernel update package provides the dedicated Linux kernel required to run native Linux binaries directly on Windows 11 with full system call compatibility. This guide explains how to enable the necessary Windows features, download and install the official WSL 2 Linux kernel update package, set WSL 2 as your default architecture, and verify the installation.

Step 1: Enable Required Windows Features

Before applying the kernel update, you must ensure that both the Windows Subsystem for Linux and the Virtual Machine Platform optional features are enabled on your system.

  1. Right-click the Start button and select Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin).

  2. Run the following command to enable the Windows Subsystem for Linux feature:

    dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux /all /norestart

  3. Run the following command to enable the Virtual Machine Platform feature:

    dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:VirtualMachinePlatform /all /norestart

  4. Restart your computer when prompted or after both commands complete successfully.

Step 2: Download and Install the WSL 2 Kernel Update Package

On modern Windows 11 installations, you can update the kernel directly using the command line or via the standalone installer package.

  1. Open Command Prompt or PowerShell as an administrator.

  2. Execute the update command:

    wsl --update

    Windows will automatically download and install the latest Linux kernel package for WSL 2.

Option B: Using the Standalone MSI Package

If your system is offline or the automated command fails:

  1. Download the official WSL 2 Linux kernel update package for x64 machines (wsl_update_x64.msi) from Microsoft.
  2. Double-click the downloaded .msi file to launch the setup wizard.
  3. Grant administrative permissions when prompted and click Next to complete the installation.

Step 3: Set WSL 2 as the Default Version

Configure Windows to use WSL 2 by default whenever new Linux distributions are installed:

  1. Open PowerShell or Command Prompt.

  2. Run the following command:

    wsl --set-default-version 2

Step 4: Verify the Installation

To confirm that the WSL 2 kernel is properly installed and active:

  1. In PowerShell, run:

    wsl --status

  2. Check the output to ensure the Default Version is set to 2 and that the Kernel version details are displayed without errors.