Here is a list of some of the most common WSL commands:

  • wsl: This command will start a new WSL session
  • wsl -l: This command will list all of the installed WSL distributions
  • wsl --list --online: This command will list all of the available WSL distributions
  • wsl --list --running: This command will list all of the running WSL distributions
  • wsl -d <distribution name>: This command will run the specified distribution
  • wsl --install <distribution name>: This command will install the specified distribution
  • wsl --unregister <distribution name>: This command will remove the specified distribution to free up the disk space
  • wsl --shutdown: This command will shut down all running WSL sessions
  • wsl --terminate <distribution name>: This command will terminate the WSL session for the specified distribution
  • wsl --set-version <version number>: This command will set the default WSL version
  • wsl --status: This command will display the status of all running WSL sessions
  • wsl --import <distribution name> <tarball path>: This command will import a new WSL distribution from a tarball file
  • wsl --mount <source path> <source path>: This command will mount a Windows file system path to a WSL mount point
  • wsl --unmount <mount point>: This command will unmount a WSL mount point
  • wsl --default <distribution name>: This command will set the default WSL distribution

In WSL, your Windows drives are mounted under the /mnt directory. So, for example, your C drive would be available at /mnt/c/. cd /mnt/c/Users/<YourWindowsUsername>/

For WSL 2, you can access the Linux file system by navigating to \\wsl$\<DistributionName> in File Explorer.

WSL configurations can be modified by editing the file: C:\Users\<YourWindowsUsername>\.wslconfig.