How to Install Ubuntu on Windows 10 (WSL)

Summary

This tutorial guides viewers through enabling the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) on Windows 10, starting with accessing the Control Panel and navigating to 'Turn Windows features on or off.' It details the installation of WSL and a Linux distribution like Ubuntu from the Microsoft Store. The video further demonstrates how to use the Ubuntu terminal, create and edit files, and navigate Windows file systems from the Linux environment. It concludes by showing how to access the WSL through the Command Prompt, offering a seamless way to run Linux commands on Windows.

Takeaways

• 🔧 To enable the Windows Subsystem for Linux, open the Control Panel and navigate to 'Programs and Features'.
• 🖥️ Search for and enable 'Windows Subsystem for Linux' within the 'Turn Windows features on or off' section.
• 🔄 After enabling the feature, a system reboot is required to apply the changes.
• 💻 Use the Command Prompt to check if the Linux subsystem is installed by typing 'bash'.
• 🛠️ If no Linux distribution is found, you can install one from the Microsoft Store or by using a provided URL.
• 🔍 Search for a Linux distribution like Ubuntu in the Microsoft Store and install it.
• 📝 During the first launch of the Linux distribution, you'll be prompted to set a new Unix username and password.
• 🗂️ The Windows drives are accessible within the Linux subsystem under the '/mnt' directory.
• 📁 You can navigate to Windows directories from the Linux terminal, just like you would in a native Linux environment.
• 💾 Demonstrated file operations such as creating, editing, and viewing files within the Linux subsystem.
• 🔀 You can also access the Linux subsystem directly from the Windows Command Prompt by typing 'bash'.

Q & A

How do you access the Control Panel on Windows?

You can access the Control Panel by searching for it in the search box and clicking on the Control Panel result.

What is the first step to enable the Windows Subsystem for Linux?

The first step is to open the Control Panel, navigate to the 'Programs' option, and then click on 'Programs and Features'.

How do you enable the Windows Subsystem for Linux?

You need to click on 'Turn Windows features on or off' within the 'Programs and Features' window, scroll down, and check the box for 'Windows Subsystem for Linux'.

What happens after enabling the Windows Subsystem for Linux?

After enabling the Windows Subsystem for Linux, you need to restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

How do you check if the Windows Subsystem for Linux is installed?

You can check by opening the Command Prompt and typing 'bash'. If the subsystem is installed, you will see an output indicating that no Linux distribution is currently installed.

Where can you get a Linux distribution for Windows Subsystem for Linux?

You can get a Linux distribution from the Microsoft Store by searching for 'Linux' and selecting the desired distribution, such as Ubuntu.

What is the initial setup process like when you first launch a Linux distribution on Windows?

The initial setup process involves installation, which is a one-time event. After installation, you may be prompted to set a new Unix username and password.

How can you access your Windows drives from the Ubuntu terminal?

You can access your Windows drives by navigating to the mount point in Ubuntu, which is typically represented by '/mnt/' followed by the drive letter.

How do you create a new file in the Ubuntu terminal on Windows?

You can create a new file using the 'touch' command followed by the filename, for example, 'touch test.txt'.

What is the default text editor in Ubuntu and how do you use it?

The default text editor in Ubuntu is 'nano'. You can use it by typing 'nano filename' to open or create a file, make changes, and then exit by pressing Ctrl+X, confirming with 'Y', and pressing Enter.

How can you run Linux commands on Windows Command Prompt?

You can run Linux commands on the Windows Command Prompt by typing 'bash' and then entering the desired Linux commands.

Outlines

00:00

💻 Installing Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)

The paragraph provides a step-by-step guide on how to install the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) on a Windows 10 operating system. It starts with opening the Control Panel and navigating to 'Programs and Features'. From there, the user is instructed to enable the 'Windows Subsystem for Linux' feature. After enabling the feature, a system reboot is required. Post-reboot, the user is guided to open the Command Prompt, type 'bash', and press enter to check if WSL is installed. If not, the user is directed to either use a provided URL or the Microsoft Store to download and install a Linux distribution, such as Ubuntu. The paragraph concludes with the user launching the Ubuntu terminal and adjusting the font size.

05:01

🖥️ Navigating and Using Ubuntu in Windows

This paragraph details the initial setup and usage of the Ubuntu terminal on Windows 10, following the installation of a Linux distribution via WSL. It covers the first-time setup, including creating a new Unix username and password. The paragraph then demonstrates how to navigate the Ubuntu file system, including accessing files and directories on the Windows operating system. It shows how to use commands like 'ls', 'pwd', and 'cd' to explore the file system and create new files. Additionally, it explains how to create a new text file using the 'touch' command and edit it using 'nano', and how to view its contents with 'cat'. The paragraph also highlights the ability to use the Windows Command Prompt to run Linux commands.

10:02

📝 Editing Files in Ubuntu and Using Windows Command Prompt

The final paragraph demonstrates how to edit a text file in the Ubuntu terminal using the 'nano' text editor. It shows the process of writing content to a file, exiting the editor, and then verifying the content with the 'cat' command. The paragraph also illustrates how to use the Windows Command Prompt to access the Ubuntu environment by typing 'bash' and pressing enter. This allows users to run Linux commands directly from the Windows Command Prompt, showcasing the integration of WSL with the Windows 10 operating system. The video concludes with a sign-off, indicating the end of the tutorial.

Keywords

💡Control Panel

The Control Panel is a key component of Windows operating systems that allows users to access various system settings and configurations. In the video, it is the starting point for enabling the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), which is essential for running Linux environments on Windows. The script instructs viewers to open the Control Panel to access the 'Programs and Features' section, where they can then enable WSL.

💡Programs and Features

This is a section within the Windows Control Panel that lists all the installed programs on a system, allowing users to uninstall or change them. The video script guides users to navigate to 'Programs and Features' to access the 'Turn Windows features on or off' option, which is necessary for enabling the Windows Subsystem for Linux.

💡Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)

WSL is a compatibility layer for running Linux binary executables natively on Windows 10 and later versions. The video's main theme revolves around enabling WSL, which allows users to install and use Linux distributions on Windows without virtualization or dual-booting. The script describes the process of enabling this feature through the Control Panel.

💡Ubuntu

Ubuntu is a popular Linux distribution known for its user-friendliness and strong community support. In the context of the video, Ubuntu is chosen as the Linux distribution to be installed via the Microsoft Store, showcasing how Windows 10 integrates with Linux environments through WSL.

💡Microsoft Store

The Microsoft Store is a digital distribution platform for Windows, where users can download and install applications, including Linux distributions like Ubuntu. The video demonstrates how to search for and install Ubuntu from the Microsoft Store, highlighting the ease of accessing Linux distributions on Windows.

💡Command Prompt

The Command Prompt is a command-line interface on Windows that allows users to execute commands directly. The video uses the Command Prompt to run 'bash', which activates the WSL environment, demonstrating the seamless integration of Linux commands within Windows.

💡Linux Distribution

A Linux distribution is a version of the Linux operating system that includes the Linux kernel and a collection of software packages. The video mentions various distributions such as Ubuntu, Kali Linux, and Debian, emphasizing the choice available to users when installing Linux via WSL.

💡BASH

BASH is a command language interpreter, or 'shell', used in Unix-like operating systems like Linux. The video instructs viewers to type 'bash' in the Command Prompt to launch the WSL environment, indicating the use of BASH to interact with the Linux distribution installed on Windows.

💡Mount

In the context of operating systems, 'mounting' refers to the process of making a storage device's file system available for use. The script explains that Windows drives are 'mounted' in the Linux environment within WSL, allowing users to access their Windows files from the Linux command line.

💡File System Navigation

The video demonstrates how to navigate the file system within the Ubuntu terminal, using commands such as 'cd' (change directory), 'ls' (list directory contents), and 'pwd' (print working directory). This shows how users can manage and access files across their Windows and Linux environments.

💡Nano

Nano is a text editor commonly found on Unix-like systems, including Linux distributions. The video script includes an example of using 'nano' to create and edit a text file within the Ubuntu terminal on Windows, illustrating the functionality of text editing in the WSL environment.

Highlights

Open Control Panel to access system settings.

Navigate to Programs and Features to manage software.

Enable Windows Subsystem for Linux to run Linux on Windows.

Restart the system to apply changes.

Use Command Prompt to check for Linux subsystem installation.

Access the Windows Store to download a Linux distribution.

Choose a Linux distribution like Ubuntu from the Microsoft Store.

Install and set up the chosen Linux distribution.

Launch Ubuntu from the Start menu or Recently Added items.

Adjust font size in the Ubuntu terminal for better readability.

Set up a new Unix username and password for the Linux subsystem.

Explore common files and directories in the Ubuntu environment.

Navigate to Windows drives from the Ubuntu terminal.

Access the C: drive and other directories using Ubuntu commands.

Create and edit files in the Windows file system using Linux commands.

Use the touch command to create new files in the Ubuntu terminal.

Edit files with nano and view content with cat command.

Switch between Windows Command Prompt and Ubuntu bash.

Run Linux commands directly from the Windows Command Prompt.

Demonstration of a complete workflow for using Linux on Windows.

Transcripts

so first of all what you need to do is

you just need to open your

control panel so just uh search for

control panel in your search box

and then just click on control panel

here

and once the control panel window opens

you just need to click on

programs option here and then click on

programs and features and once this

window opens you just need to click on

turn windows feature on or

off okay so just click on turn windows

feature

on or off this window you can also

see when you type here turn a windows

feature on or off directly

okay so i'm going to just write turn

windows feature on or off and when you

click on this

result you will see similar kind of

windows so you can either

just type turn windows feature on or off

or you can go uh to this window

by a control panel right so just scroll

down

on this window and then click on this

option which says

windows subsystem for linux okay so just

check this checkbox and then click on ok

and once you click on ok it's going to

search for

the tools it's going to apply all the

changes

and once everything is done it says

windows completed the

requested changes and then we need to

reboot our system

so you can just click on restart now

option or you can

manually restart your windows operating

system

i'm going to just say restart now which

is going to restart

my windows operating system so once your

windows 10 operating system restarts

what you need to do is you can just go

to your

search bar and search for cmd and then

choose this result which says command

prompt and then here you can just write

bash and then press enter which is going

to

give you this kind of output so this

means

that windows subsystem for linux has no

installed

distribution and you can just

search for this using the windows stores

so what you can do is you can just copy

this url from here

and then open this url in your

browser so this is one way of doing it

but

if you don't want to do this you can do

this by just

going to the microsoft store also so

just click on windows icon here and then

just choose microsoft store here

and once the microsoft store opens you

just need to

search for let's say whatever linux

system

you want to search here you can just

write

linux here and then search for linux

systems you can see so many linux

operating systems

available here what i'm going to choose

is i'm going to choose the

ubuntu option here you can also choose

let's say

kali linux or ubuntu 18.4

lts version or suse linux

debian and many other linux operating

system

so i'm going to choose ubuntu here

and then you can just click on get

and then if you have your microsoft

account you can

just sign in with your microsoft account

or you can just say no

thanks and then you will see the

download and install

of this ubuntu will start

on our windows operating system so just

wait for this process to complete this

download and install

of this ubuntu on our windows operating

system so i will just fast forward

this process of download and install of

ubuntu so now i can see

that this product is installed so i can

launch this ubuntu

by just clicking this button but if

accidentally

if you close this window you can also

open

ubuntu by just clicking on your windows

icon and you will be able to see

ubuntu here in recently added items

so i'm going to just click on ubuntu

here

and it's going to start this ubuntu

terminal this is not the windows 10

command prompt it's a

ubuntu terminal okay so this is the

windows command prompt which i'm going

to close and this is the ubuntu terminal

now if you want to just increase the

font size

you can just click on this ubuntu icon

here and then click on properties

and let's choose 20 here or 24

as the font size so you can see

this installation process so this is

one time installation process which is

going to take place

when you start your ubuntu app

on your windows 10 operating system for

the first time so i will wait for this

installation

and after some time when you press enter

you will see uh

this kind of prompt which says

enter new unix username

so here you can give any username to

your

new unix system i'm going to

give here code bind as the username for

example

and then you just need to give any

password

to your unix operating system so this

password and username should not be

uh the windows username and password

this can be any username and password

which you want to give here so i'm going

to give a password here and repeat the

password

and then press enter and it says

password updated successfully

so now i can see uh this kind of command

prompt and here

i'm going to just do ls uh

hyphen al and i can see

uh this kind of output here so all these

bash underscore log out file is there

bash rc is there

these are the files which you commonly

see in your

debian or ubuntu operating system let's

give a pwd command which is

current working directory command and

you can see it

gives us home forward slash your

username so whatever username you have

given here

will be uh printed here after home

so now you might be wondering how will

i navigate to my c drive or

e drive in my windows operating system

using this command prompt on

ubuntu so the c drive

or other drives are mounted on

your ubuntu operating system

so here you can just write ls

and then forward slash m

and t for mount and then forward slash

and press enter

and you will see all the drives which

are

present on your windows operating system

so right now i can see uh c drive and f

drive

which are printed here which is exactly

the same which i have on my windows

operating system so when i go to this pc

i have c drive and f drive here and

these are the drive names which are

printed here

now if i want to go to the c drive then

i can

simply write cd command for that so i

can just write cd

forward slash m and t

forward slash c so i want to go into my

c directory so i will just write c

here and now i can see uh

that am in my c uh directory which is

windows c directory so let me clear

this uh terminal and we are going to

move forward so now i'm going to once

again

write ls hyphen a l

and you will see all the files and

folders

which are present in my c

directory so when i go to my c directory

you can see ffmpeg program files program

files x86 users

windows all the same files and folders i

will see here

so let's say i want to go to my desktop

i will just

go to here so cd and then

write users and then press enter

and once again i will do ls hyphen al

and then i will go to the username

so so my windows username is cb so i

will just

cd to the cb folder so cb

and then i will once again do ls minus

al here

and i will see all the files and folders

which are present

in my uh user directory so

here i want to navigate to the desktop

so i will once again clear the terminals

and then i will just cd to my

desktop directory and here let's

create some file using the

unix command okay so i'm going to just

write

touch here and let me show you my

desktop also at the same time so i'm

going to just give

touch command on my ubuntu terminal and

then

name my file anything for example test

dot txt file and then press enter

and once i do that you can see this

test.txt file is created

then i can also uh write for example

nano which is the default

terminal on your ubuntu operating system

and then

the text.txt which is going to open this

file in the nano terminal

and then i'm going to just write test

and let me move this little bit up so

you can see all these

things and then i'm going to just press

ctrl

x here and then i'm going to just type

y here and then press enter which will

uh

get me out of this nano terminal and

then i'm going to just

print the content inside this test.txt

file using cat command so cat test.txt

and you can see it prints whatever i

have written inside

my test.txt file using the nano

terminal also you can open your bash

terminal now

using the windows command prompt so you

can

just search for a cmd here and then

click on the command prompt here and

once your command prompt opens you just

need to write

bash here and then press enter which is

going to give you the same

command prompt as you see in the

ubuntu terminal okay so from here also

you can

give your ubuntu bash commands

and work with the linux command

using your windows command prompt so

this is how

you can run your linux or bash command

on

your windows 10 operating system using

the built-in windows subsystem for

linux i hope you've enjoyed this video

and i will see you

in the next video