Microsoft Switches From Linux to Windows 11

Microsoft switched the Windows Subsystem for Linux into an app that you can simply download and install from the Store on Windows 11. A preview version of the app is available right now. That allows the Windows 11 users to install Windows Subsystem for Linux without having to head into add / remove programs and selecting WSL as an optional inbox component for Windows.

A separate app will be serviced through the store, which means Microsoft can update WSL independently from Windows, allowing WSL users to get the latest WSL updates and features faster, and without needing to modify their Windows version. There are no new changes with this Store app version but it doesn’t mean that future updates can appear without needing to wait for a bigger Windows release or update.

Microsoft enabled Linux GUI apps on Windows 10 for developers last year, and features like this will be available immediately in the Store in the future. It appears that this Store app for WSL will only work on Windows 11, though. doesn’t mention Windows 10 in its blog post, suggesting that you’ll need to update to benefit from the Store app. will still support the inbox version of WSL so you can run them side by side. The company plans to move Windows 11 users over to the Microsoft Store version eventually.

Craig Loewen a program manager said that their goals are to make WSL in the Microsoft Store the best way to install and use WSL, as they will be able to get the latest updates fastest through that route, and in the long term they like to move WSL  users to use the store version.