---
myst:
  html_meta:
    "description lang=en":
      "A complete Ubuntu environment on Windows using WSL, with enhanced security and remote management provided by Ubuntu Pro for WSL."
---

# Ubuntu on WSL

Windows Subsystem for Linux ([WSL](https://ubuntu.com/desktop/wsl)) enables
developers to run a GNU/Linux environment on Windows. The Ubuntu distribution
for WSL is tightly integrated with the Windows OS, supporting features
including remote development with popular IDEs and cross-OS file management.
Ubuntu can be used as a terminal interface on Windows and can also
launch Linux-native graphical applications.

Ubuntu Pro for WSL (UP4W) is an in-development automation tool for managing
instances of Ubuntu on WSL. If you are responsible for a fleet of Windows
devices, UP4W will help you to monitor, customise and secure Ubuntu WSL
instances at scale.

Ubuntu on WSL provides a fully-featured Ubuntu experience on Windows, suitable
for learning Linux, developing a personal open-source project or building for
production in an enterprise environment.

## In this documentation

````{grid} 1 1 2 2

```{grid-item-card} [Tutorials](tutorials/index)
:link-type: doc

**Start here** and learn the basics of:

* [Developing with Ubuntu on WSL](/tutorials/develop-with-ubuntu-wsl.md)
* [Securing WSL with the Ubuntu Pro app](/tutorials/getting-started-with-up4w.md)
```

```{grid-item-card} [How-to guides](howto/index)
:link-type: doc

**Follow guides** for common tasks, such as:

* [Installing an Ubuntu distro on WSL](/howto/install-ubuntu-wsl2.md)
* [Installing Ubuntu Pro for WSL](./howto/set-up-up4w.md)
```

````

````{grid} 1 1 2 2

```{grid-item-card} [Reference](reference/index)
:link-type: doc

**Find technical information**, including:

* [Ubuntu distributions available for WSL](/reference/distributions.md)
```

```{grid-item-card} [Explanation](explanation/index)
:link-type: doc

**Build an understanding** of:

* [The architecture of Ubuntu Pro for WSL](/explanation/ref-arch-explanation.md)
```

````

## Project and community

Ubuntu on WSL is a member of the Ubuntu family. It’s an open-source project
that warmly welcomes community contributions, suggestions, fixes and
constructive feedback. Check out our [contribution
guidelines](/howto/contributing)
on GitHub in order to bring ideas, report bugs, participate in discussions and
much more!

Thinking about using Ubuntu on WSL for your next project? Get in touch!

```{toctree}
:hidden:
:titlesonly:

Ubuntu on WSL <self>
Tutorials </tutorials/index>
How-to guides </howto/index>
Reference </reference/index>
Explanation </explanation/index>
```