- To uninstall WSL in Windows 11, you will also need to disable the feature.
- WSL 2 is a new release that allows Linux to run Linux ELF64 binaries on Windows.
- See our section on the advantages of using WSL over a virtual machine.
XINSTALL BY CLICKING ON THE DOWNLOAD FILE
It is possible to uninstall the WSL in Windows 11, but it involves a series of actions that must be performed in the correct order.
Although Microsoft has simplified the installation of WSL2 by allowing it to be done with a single command or through the Microsoft Store, uninstalling the platform is not as simple as clicking the Uninstall button on the page settings for Windows apps and features.
If you want to completely remove WSL from your computer, you must first uninstall the Linux distributions, then uninstall all additional components, and finally disable the platform itself.
Follow along as we walk you through the uninstall process right after seeing in more detail what WSL 2 is. Keep it up!
What does WSL 2 do?
A GNU/Linux environment, including most command-line tools, utilities, and applications, can be run directly on Windows using the Windows Subsystem for Linux, saving developers time and money by eliminating the need for a standard virtual machine or dual-boot setup. .
WSL 2 is a new version of the Windows Subsystem for Linux architecture that allows the Windows Subsystem for Linux to run Linux ELF64 binaries. It is built on an all-new architecture that benefits from using a real Linux kernel as the operating system.
It is the successor to WSL 1, which was released in 2008. Its main goals are to improve file system performance while allowing full system call compatibility with other programs.
This new design changes the way these Linux binaries interface with Windows and your computer’s hardware, but it retains the same user experience as in the previous version, in terms of functionality.
Individual Linux distributions can run on WSL 1 or WSL 2 architecture, depending on their configuration. Distributions can be run side by side, and each distribution can be upgraded or downgraded at any time.
How can I uninstall WSL in Windows 11?
- hurry the Windows and I simultaneously then access apps followed by Apps and features.
- Inside the search field type Ubuntu then click on the three-dot menu and choose Uninstall.
- type now linux and click on the three-dot menu next to Overview of Windows Subsystem for Linux WSLg followed by Uninstall.
- Repeat the step for Windows Subsystem Update for Linux.
- Now go back and access Optional Features inside of apps section.
- Click on More windows features under the Related Parameters section.
- Now uncheck the virtual machine platform as well as Windows Subsystem for Linux. That’s it! Restart your computer to apply the changes made.
WSL will be completely removed from your computer at this point, as you expected.
What are the benefits of using WSL?
Since most developers do not have access to multiple computers, it is common for programs to be developed on many platforms.
Thanks to the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) feature provided by Microsoft, it is now quite simple to set up a Linux development environment on a machine that runs the Windows operating system.
Until Microsoft released WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) in 2016, the only way to develop Linux applications on Windows machines was through remote host connections or virtual machines.
When using WSL, you can install and run Linux distributions on 64-bit Windows 10 PCs (from version 1607). Initially, it only supported Ubuntu Linux distribution, but now it supports a lot of additional Linux distributions.
By using WSL, one can run Windows applications and tools alongside Linux command-line tools while using fewer resources (such as CPU, memory, and storage) than running a virtual machine complete on the same computer.
It offers substantial performance advantages over virtual machines (VMs) for developers who use Windows computers to develop Linux applications.
For more information on WSL, see our article on WSL availability on the Windows 11 Store and learn what’s new.
You might as well be interested in Oracle Linux as it is now available on the Microsoft Store. Do not miss the linked article.
And finally, take a look at our in-depth comparison between Windows 11 and Linux to make a choice between the two operating systems.
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