How to Check the Version of WSL: WSL 1 or WSL 2

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See which version of Windows Subsystem for Linux is installed

Co-authored by Megaera Lorenz, PhD Reviewed by Stan Kats

Last Updated: April 20, 2026 Fact Checked

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Checking WSL Version with Commands

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Troubleshooting

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WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) allows you to run a Linux environment on your Windows 10 or 11 computer. Since WSL 2 is far more functional than WSL 1, it can be helpful to know which version you have installed. In this article, we’ll explain which commands to use to check your WSL version, as well as how to set the version if you have multiple distributions installed. We’ll also offer troubleshooting tips if you’re having problems getting these commands to work.

Commands to Check WSL Version

Check the full version number for WSL 2 with wsl --version.
List all installed versions (including WSL 1) with wsl --list --verbose or wsl -l -v.
Check your distribution information within the Linux terminal with uname -a.

Section 1 of 2:

Checking WSL Version with Commands

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Check the full version number with wsl --version (WSL 2 only). If you’re pretty sure you’re running WSL 2 and want the exact version number, open PowerShell or the Windows Command Prompt and enter wsl --version.^{[1]
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- If you have WSL 2 installed, you should see the full version number on the WSL Version line (e.g., “WSL Version: 2.6.3”).
- If you just see command options instead of a version number, that means you either have WSL 1 or WSL is not installed at all.
This command will show all versions of WSL that you have installed on your computer, including WSL 1 (the number shows up under the heading “VERSION”). It will also show you the current status of each version (e.g., “running” vs.

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“stopped”).^{[2]
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- If you just see command options instead of a list of distributions, it means WSL is not installed on your computer at all.
- You can display only the currently running distribution(s) using the command wsl -l -v --running.
If you’re in the Linux terminal, run the command uname -a to see information about your current distribution. If you see the component “-microsoft-standard-WSL2” in the kernel name, you are using WSL 2. If not, you are using WSL 1.
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Set your WSL version with wsl --set-version <distribution name> <versionNumber>. This command is helpful if you have more than one version of WSL installed. You’ll need to replace <distribution name> and <versionNumber> with the appropriate information for the version of WSL installed on your PC.^{[3]
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- Switching WSL versions can sometimes cause issues, such as data loss. Back up your files before changing from one version to another.

Section 2 of 2:

Troubleshooting

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Make sure WSL is installed on your computer. If the commands described in the section above aren’t returning any information about your version of WSL, it could be that WSL was never installed properly on your computer. Try running the command wsl --install.^{[4]
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- To install a specific distribution, use the command wsl --install <Distribution Name>.
- You can look up available distributions using the command wsl --list --online.
If you’re pretty sure WSL is installed but you’re still running into problems running these commands, updating to the latest version of WSL can sometimes resolve this issue. To do so, run the command wsl --update.
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Update Windows if you’re running an older version of Windows 10. WSL 2 can only run on Windows 11 or Windows 10, Version 1903, Build 18362 or later.^{[5]
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Research source} Consider upgrading to Windows 11, or update to the latest available version of Windows 10.
- If you’re using Windows 10 version 1903 and still can’t get WSL 2 to work, make sure you have the correct backport available. Check out these detailed instructions from Microsoft for more information.