WSL is the official Microsoft method to run a real Linux environment inside Windows 10 or 11 without the lag of a virtual machine.

Developers can access the power of both Windows and Linux at the same time on a Windows machine. The Windows Subsystem for Linux ( Microsoft Learn How to Install Linux on Windows Using WSL (Windows 10 & 11)

Type the following and press Enter: wsl --install This enables the necessary features and downloads Ubuntu by default.

After restarting, a terminal window will open automatically. It will ask you to create a UNIX username and password (these do not have to match your Windows login).

To download a Linux terminal in Windows, you have three main paths: the for a full Linux kernel, Git Bash for a lightweight emulator, or Cygwin for a massive collection of Unix tools . 1. The Best Way: Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)

Right-click the Start button and select Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin) .

You must reboot to finish the installation.

Run wsl --list --online to see available distros, then use wsl --install -d (e.g., wsl --install -d Debian ). 2. The Lightweight Way: Git Bash