Table of Contents
This tip is about the how to run GUI-based Linux programs on Windows 10 PC. So read this free guide, How to run GUI-based Linux programs on Windows 10 PC step by step. If you have query related to same article you may contact us.
How to run GUI-based Linux programs on Windows 10 PC – Guide
Windows 10 now lets you install Linux GUI apps (almost natively) through the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), and these instructions will show you how. While you can run Linux apps on Windows 10 through WSL for a long time, the system was limited to command-line tools and apps. Starting with version 21364 and later and through an update to the WSL integration, Microsoft is finally bringing GUI (graphical user interface) support for running your favorite Linux applications with a mouse and keyboard. The new feature aims to develop and test your applications on Linux without needing a virtual machine, but you can use it for whatever you need.
The implementation also includes support for speakers and microphones. So if you install a media app, the peripherals will go through and show up in the app. GPU-accelerated 3D graphics are also supported to run any application that needs to perform complex 3D renderings using OpenGL. using this feature, there is no need to manually start an X server, as WSL automatically starts a “companion system distribution” that includes a Wayland, an X server, a Puls audio server, and all the necessary components. After closing the application and the WSL session, the system deployment will terminate automatically.
How to run GUI based Linux programs on Windows 10 PC
Install Linux GUI Apps via WSL on Windows 10
To install a Linux GUI app on Windows 10, follow these steps:
After completing the steps, the application will be installed and registered in the Start menu, which means that you can launch the application by running the application name in the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) console or in the Start menu.
The instructions above describe the steps to install a simple application from known repositories, but depending on the application, the steps may differ. The good news is that the installation process is the same as any other Linux application, so you can follow the developer steps to install almost any application, such as VLC, Audacity, web administration, etc. In the Windows 10 Start menu, you will find the entries in the “Recently added” list or also in the (distribution name) folder under the Linux distribution entry.
Install or Update WSL on Windows 10
The ability to run Linux GUI applications requires Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 integration, which means you need to have the latest version of feature and distribution to install and run your applications. If you already have WSL2 installed, you will need to update the feature.
Before installing or updating WSL2, the device will need to be running build 21364 or higher. If not, use these steps first to enroll your computer in the Windows Insider program to update your system to the latest build in the dev channel, then continue with the steps below.
Install WSL2 on Windows 10
These instructions will show you how to install WSL2 and Ubuntu Linux distribution to start running GUI applications.
To install WSL2 components to run Linux GUI applications, use these steps:
After completing the steps, the necessary Linux components will be installed automatically and the command will also download the latest version of the Ubuntu Linux distribution. After installation, you just need to open the distribution from the Start menu and proceed with the on-screen instructions to complete the setup. If you want to install a different distribution to run apps instead of Ubuntu, you can use these instructions.
Update WSL2 on Windows 10
If you already have Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 installed, you want to make sure the latest updates are installed to run GUI applications. To update WSL2 to download GUI support for Linux applications, use these steps:
Final note
I hope you like the guide How to run GUI-based Linux programs on Windows 10 PC. In case if you have any query regards this article you may ask us. Also, please share your love by sharing this article with your friends.