Install WSL on Windows

What it is

WSL is a Linux environment built into Windows. This setup’s scripts need Linux tools such as bash and ssh; with WSL, Windows can run them just like a Mac.

Requirements: Windows 11, or a reasonably recent Windows 10 (updated since 2020).

1. Install

1. Open the Start menu, search for “PowerShell”, and on “Windows PowerShell” right-click → Run as administrator.
2. Paste this command and press Enter:

wsl --install

3. Wait for the download and install to finish, then restart the computer when prompted.

2. Open Ubuntu for the first time

After restarting, an Ubuntu window opens automatically (if not, search the Start menu for “Ubuntu”). The first time it asks you to:

1. choose a username (lowercase English, e.g. me);
2. set a password — nothing shows on screen while typing; that’s normal — press Enter and type it again.

You’ll need this password for sudo commands later, so remember it.

3. Install a few tools

Run this in the Ubuntu window (it asks for the password you just set):

sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y git unzip curl

Where your files are

WSL’s files are separate from Windows’. Type explorer.exe . (note the final dot) in the Ubuntu window to open the current folder in File Explorer — for example, to find the login-info file.

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