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# Check and Switch WSL Version
- URL: https://itsfoss.com/check-wsl-version/
- Published: 2024-06-03T05:40:00.000Z
- Updated: 2025-01-20T04:32:37.000Z
- Description: Quickly learn about checking WSL versions and switching between them.
- Author: Sreenath
- Tags: Using WSL, #docs, #hide

Currently, there are two versions of WSL available: WSL 1 and WSL 2\. WSL 2 offers most of the eye-catching features, including [Linux GUI app support](https://itsfoss.com/run-linux-apps-windows-wsl/), which is a great improvement over WSL 1\. 

To find out which WSL version you are using, run this command in the Windows terminal.

```
wsl --version

```

There is more to it and I'll be briefly discussing WSL versions and how you can switch between WSL versions.

## Checking the WSL version

There are a couple of methods for getting the version of WSL you are running in your Linux distribution. Both of these include the command line. You can either use the built-in terminal or install and use [PowerShell](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/?ref=itsfoss.com) for Windows.

![Open a terminal by searching for it in the start menu](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2024/03/open-a-windows-terminal-from-the-start-menu.png)

Open a Terminal

### Check the installed WSL version

If you want to know what version of WSL is installed on your system, or check if WSL version 2 is installed, you can use the `--version` option.

```
wsl --version

```

Or

```
wsl -v
```

This will print the WSL version along with some other information.

![The WSL version, that is installed on your system. Here, the latest version of WSL is installed.](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2024/03/installed-wsl-version-on-the-system.png)

WSL Version Installed

🚧

For latest Windows 11 systems, WSL 2 is installed, when you install a distribution. If you want to enable WSL 1 support too in your system, first turn on the ****Windows Subsystem for Linux** feature for your system. Search for **Turn on Features* in the start menu and enable it.

## Check installed distributions and their WSL versions

Open the Windows terminal from the start menu. On the terminal, enter the following command:

```
wsl --list --verbose

OR

wsl -l -v

```

This will print all the installed distributions along with the WSL version they are running.

![List the distributions and the WSL version they are running in Windows terminal.](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2024/03/wsl-list-verbose-command.png)

List installed distributions and details

💡

If you want to run the WSL commands from within an installed WSL distribution, use `wsl.exe` in place of `wsl`. That is, `wsl -l -v` become `wsl.exe -l -v`.

## Check WSL version using kernel version

While you are inside a WSL distribution, run:

```
uname -r

```

If you are using WSL 2, it will list the kernel as 5.15+ (as of now) and clearly states WSL 2.

![If you are using WSL 2, the kernel name will mention it properly](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2024/03/wsl-2-is-using-a-5-15-kernel-and-stated-clearly.png)

WSL 2 with Kernel Details

Else, if the distribution is running WSL 1, you will be using the kernel 4.14, and won't specify WSL on the result.

![System running with WSL 1 shows kernel 4.14 and also no mention of WSL](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2024/03/wsl-distribution-with-an-older-kernel-menas-wsl-1.png)

WSL 1 and an older kernel version

The same `uname` command can be run from a Windows terminal to check the version. But here, you need to specify the name of the distribution whose kernel you want to check.

```
wsl -d <distribution_name> uname -r

```

![Checking the kernel version of installed WSL distributions from Windows terminal](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2024/03/checking-kernel-version-in-wsl-windows-terminal.png)

Checking kernel version in Windows terminal

In the above command, the `distribution_name` should be the same as the one appearing on the output of the `wsl -l -v` command.

## Bonus: Switch WSL versions

On your system, if the Windows Subsystem for Linux feature is turned on, you can switch between WSL versions. Normally, for a system with large projects, switching is not recommended, because of the difference in the underlying architecture.

So, if you are using Ubuntu with WSL 2/1, and want to change it to WSL 1/2, use:

```
wsl --set-version <Distribution_name> <version_number_needed>

```

![Changing WSL version to One and Two](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2024/03/changing-wsl-version.png)

Changing WSL version

It will take some time to change, and once done you can run the below command to verify the version:

```
wsl -l -v

```