Show Linux Files in Windows 11 File Explorer
Windows 11 includes built-in integration for the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), allowing you to access and manage your Linux distribution files directly from the File Explorer sidebar. This guide walks you through enabling WSL, accessing the dedicated Linux entry in the navigation pane, and restoring the shortcut if it does not automatically appear.
Step 1: Install and Initialize WSL
The Linux entry in File Explorer only appears if WSL is active and at least one Linux distribution is installed and initialized.
Right-click the Start button and select Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin).
Enter the following command and press Enter:
wsl --installRestart your computer if prompted.
Open the installed Linux distribution (such as Ubuntu) from the Start menu and complete the initial username and password setup.
Step 2: Locate the Linux Sidebar Icon
Once a distribution is running, Windows 11 adds a dedicated node to the sidebar.
- Press Win + E to open File Explorer.
- Look at the left navigation sidebar.
- Scroll down to locate the Linux entry, represented by the Tux penguin icon.
- Click Linux to expand the list of installed
distributions, then open any distribution folder to browse its root
filesystem (
/).
Step 3: Troubleshooting a Missing Linux Sidebar Entry
If the Linux icon does not appear in the sidebar after installation, use the following methods to access and pin it:
- Access via Network Path: Click the address bar in
File Explorer, type
\\wsl.localhost\(or\\wsl$), and press Enter. This directly opens the WSL directory containing your installed Linux distros. - Pin to Quick Access: Inside
\\wsl.localhost\, right-click your distribution’s folder and select Pin to Quick access. This places a permanent shortcut in the top section of your sidebar. - Enable All Folders in Navigation Pane: In File Explorer, click the three dots (…) in the command bar, select Options, go to the View tab, scroll down to Navigation pane, check Show all folders, and click OK.