WSL 2 CHEAT SHEET WINDOWS 11 - Printable Version

WSL 2 CHEAT SHEET WINDOWS 11 - Printable Version

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WSL 2 CHEAT SHEET WINDOWS 11 - Clumsy - Aug 9, 2026

🐧 WSL 2 CHEAT SHEET — WINDOWS 11

📦 INSTALLATION & SETUP

Code 
wsl --install                           # Install WSL with default Ubuntu

wsl --install -d Debian                 # Install specific distro

wsl --install -d kali-linux             # Install Kali Linux

wsl --list --online                     # Show available distros

wsl --set-default-version 2             # Set WSL 2 as default

wsl --set-version <distro> 2            # Convert distro to WSL 2

📋 LIST & MANAGE DISTROS

Code 
wsl -l -v                               # List installed distros with version

wsl -l -o                               # List available distros from store

wsl -l --running                        # Show only running distros

wsl --set-default <distro>              # Set default distro

wsl --status                            # Show WSL status

🚀 START / STOP / EXECUTE

Code 
wsl                                     # Start default distro

wsl -d Debian                           # Start specific distro

wsl -d Debian -u root                   # Start as root

wsl --shutdown                          # Shut down ALL WSL instances

wsl -t Debian                           # Terminate specific distro

wsl --export Debian C:\backup.tar       # Export distro to tar file

wsl --import NewDistro C:\WSL\New C:\backup.tar  # Import distro from tar

📂 WINDOWS → WSL FILE ACCESS

Code 
explorer.exe .                          # Open current WSL dir in Windows Explorer

cd /mnt/c/Users/<user>/Desktop          # Access Windows Desktop

cd /mnt/c/                              # Access C: drive

cd /mnt/d/                              # Access D: drive

ls -la /mnt/                            # List all mounted Windows drives

wsl --mount <disk>                      # Mount external drive

wsl --unmount <disk>                    # Unmount drive

🔧 WSL CONFIGURATION
File: %UserProfile%\.wslconfig

Code 
[wsl2]

memory=8GB

processors=4

localhostForwarding=true

nestedVirtualization=true

kernelCommandLine=vsyscall=emulate

swap=4GB

swapFile=C:\\temp\\wsl-swap.vhdx

Apply changes:

Code 
wsl --shutdown

then restart

🖥️ WSL VS WINDOWS INTEGRATION

Code 
wsl --exec <command>                    # Run command without shell

wsl ls -la                              # Run command directly

powershell.exe -c "Get-Date"            # Run PowerShell from WSL

cmd.exe /c dir                          # Run CMD from WSL

notepad.exe file.txt                    # Open file in Windows Notepad

code .                                  # Open VS Code in current dir

🔐 NETWORK & PORTS

Code 
ip addr show                            # Show WSL IP address

cat /etc/resolv.conf                    # Show DNS config

wsl --exec bash -c "ip route get 1"     # Get WSL's Windows host IP

ssh user@localhost -p 2222              # SSH into WSL from Windows

socat TCP-LISTEN:80,fork TCP:localhost:8080  # Port forwarding

🗑️ UNINSTALL / REMOVE

Code 
wsl --unregister Debian                 # Remove distro (deletes all data)

dism.exe /online /disable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux  # Completely remove WSL

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

🐳 DOCKER IN WSL

Code 
docker ps -a                            # List containers

docker images                           # List images

docker run -it --rm ubuntu bash         # Run test container

docker system prune -a                  # Clean up

sudo service docker start               # Start Docker daemon

🧹 QUICK CLEANUP

Code 
wsl --shutdown

wsl --export Debian C:\backup\Debian_$(date +%Y%m%d).tar

wsl --unregister Debian

⚡ COMMON WORKFLOWS

Code

# Open WSL in VS Code

code .



# Transfer files between WSL and Windows

cp file.txt /mnt/c/Users/WindowsUser/Desktop/



# Access WSL files from Windows Explorer

\\wsl$\Debian



# SSH into WSL from Windows

ssh -p 22 [email protected]



# Open GUI app from WSL (if X server running)

DISPLAY=:0 firefox &

🔧 TROUBLESHOOTING

Code 
# DNS not working

sudo bash -c 'echo "nameserver 8.8.8.8" > /etc/resolv.conf'

# WSL not starting

net stop LxssManager && net start LxssManager

# WSL is slow

# Check antivirus exclusions, ensure WSL 2

# Cannot access internet

sudo dhclient

# Systemd not working

# Need WSL 2 + systemd=true in /etc/wsl.conf

📌 WSL.CONF (per distro)
File: /etc/wsl.conf

Code 
[user]

default=root

[interop]

enabled=true

appendWindowsPath=true

[network]

generateResolvConf=false

[boot]

systemd=true

[automount]

enabled=true

options=metadata,umask=22,fmask=11

💡 PRO TIP: Add

Code 
alias wsl="wsl -d Debian"

to your PowerShell profile for quick access.

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RE: WSL 2 CHEAT SHEET WINDOWS 11 - Terry A. Davis - Aug 9, 2026

Fact: You can launch any Windows EXE from WSL if it's in your Windows PATH, you just need to be explicit with the .exe extension.

I think you can also do X server stuff on Windows through WSL (Though been a hot minute since I've done this) just need Xorg and a DM installed.

RE: WSL 2 CHEAT SHEET WINDOWS 11 - Clumsy - Aug 14, 2026

(Aug 9, 2026 11:52 PM)Terry A. Davis Wrote: Fact: You can launch any Windows EXE from WSL if it's in your Windows PATH, you just need to be explicit with the .exe extension.

I think you can also do X server stuff on Windows through WSL (Though been a hot minute since I've done this) just need Xorg and a DM installed.

This is very true thank you for pointing that out :)