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WSL + Docker Setup on Windows ​

A step-by-step guide to set up WSL2 (Windows Subsystem for Linux) and Docker Desktop for development on Windows 10/11.

Prerequisites ​

RequirementDescription
Windows EditionWindows 10/11 (64-bit) Home or Pro
VirtualizationMust be enabled in BIOS
Internet ConnectionRequired to download WSL and Docker

Step 1: Enable WSL & Virtualization ​

  1. Search "Turn Windows features on or off" and enable:

    • Windows Subsystem for Linux
    • Virtual Machine Platform

  2. Restart your computer after enabling features.

Step 2: Install WSL2 with Ubuntu ​

Open PowerShell as Administrator and run:

powershell
wsl --install

This will:

  • Install WSL
  • Set WSL2 as default
  • Install Ubuntu (or the default distro)

You may need to restart once it finishes.

To verify:

powershell
wsl --list --verbose

Step 3: Install Docker Desktop ​

  1. Download Docker: https://www.docker.com/products/docker-desktop
  2. Run Docker Desktop Installer.exe
  3. During setup:
    • Enable WSL2-based engine
    • Use recommended settings

Docker will install and set up integration with WSL automatically.

Step 4: Restart and Launch Docker ​

  1. Reboot your PC.
  2. Launch Docker Desktop.
  3. Wait until you see the 🟢 "Docker is running" message.

Step 5: Verify Everything Works ​

Open Ubuntu (WSL) or PowerShell and run:

bash
docker version
docker run hello-world

You should see a welcome message from Docker if it's working correctly.

Optional: Enable WSL Integration in Docker ​

  1. Open Docker Desktop → ⚙️ Settings
  2. Go to Resources → WSL Integration
  3. Enable integration for your desired distro (e.g., Ubuntu)

For best performance, store your code inside the Linux filesystem:

bash
cd ~
mkdir dev
cd dev

Avoid using C:\Users\... paths for heavy development workloads in WSL.

Uninstall (If Needed) ​

  1. Uninstall Docker Desktop from Control Panel
  2. Run:
    powershell
    wsl --unregister <distro-name>
  3. Delete related folders: ~/.docker, etc.

Tips ​

  • Use Docker Compose (preinstalled) to manage multi-container apps.
  • WSL2 allows full Linux support without dual-booting.
  • Use wsl --update occasionally to get latest WSL improvements.

Happy Docking! 🚀