Share this article
Improve this guide
How to install Ubuntu on Windows 10 or Windows 11
8 min. read
Published onFebruary 21, 2022
published onFebruary 21, 2022
Share this article
Improve this guide
Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial teamRead more
In this article
Toggle
Updated December 27, 2022.
So you want to install Ubuntu on Windows 10 or Windows 11? Don’t worry, you’re at the right place. You might be surprised to know, but there’s no single, universal way to install and run Ubuntu on Windows.
In this post, we lay out 3 ways to install and run Unbuntu on Windows 10 or Windows 11, including:
So, without further ado, let’s get started.
1. Install Ubuntu on Windows with Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)
TheWindows Subsystem for Linux, WSL for short, is an environment created on top of the Windows operating system that helps usersrun the Linux environment on their Windows 10 or Windows 11.
WSL includes things like command line tools, utilities, and other applications. But, keep in mind that you won’t get the default GNOME GUI that comes with other methods of installing Ubuntu in Windows 10.
That is to say, you can only run Ubuntu through theWindows Terminalby using WSL. Also, to run WSL, you’ve to meet certain minimum requirements on Windows 10 or Windows 11; here they are:
If you meet the above minimum requirements, you should be able to run Ubuntu on Windows without any difficulties. Here’s how:
On your Windows machine, go to theStart menusearch bar, type in ‘windows features,’ and select the Best match. The Windows Features will be launched.
On it, select theTurn Windows Features on or offfeature. From there, scroll down to theWindows Subsystem for Linux, select the checkbox and click onOK.
Windows will begin installing the WSL files, so give it a few minutes. After the installation is finished,reboot your PCor let it reboot by itself if you have the option.
After the reboot, launch theCommand prompt. Go to theStart menusearch bar, type in ‘cmd,’ and select the Best match. In the Command prompt, typebashand hitEnter.
Now you need to install Ubuntu on Windows, so head tohttps://aka.ms/wslstore.As soon as you enter the website URL in the address bar, Microsoft Store will be launched on your PC.
There, you’ll see a host of different Linux distributions that you are free to run side-by-side on your Windows operating system. Click onUbuntu. From there, click onGetto download Ubuntu on Windows.
Next, clickInstallto install Ubuntu on Windows.
The Ubuntu environment installation will begin on your PC. When the installation gets finished, click onOpento open Ubuntu on Windows.
A new window will get launched and the Ubuntu installation will begin in your WSL. The installation might take a few minutes to complete, depending on your internet speed. So don’t worry if it takes a while.
When Ubuntu installation is complete, you’ll be prompted to set a username. Type in a relevant name and hitEnter. Next, you’ll have to set a password. Do that. Once you’re done with all the credentials, Ubuntu will be all set up.
After everything’s set and done, it’s a good idea to do a quick update for your Ubuntu. Run the following command and hitEnter:
Wait till the update gets completed and by the time you’re done, Ubuntu will be successfully running on your PC. Now you can access the Ubuntu command line whenever you want on Windows 10 or Windows 11.
2. Install Ubuntu on Windows from a USB stick
Installing Ubuntu on Windows through the above method works. But, it doesn’t really give you the complete feel of the Ubuntu operating system, which nowadays comes with a GNOME GUI.
The second method on our list is designed to get around just this problem. You can run Ubuntu on Windows from a USB stick without any difficulties.
All you need is the Ubuntu ISO installation media, a USB drive, and software to make your USB stick bootable and write the ISO file onto the stick. There’s a plethora of apps online that can help make your USB bootable.
For this example, we’ve chosenRufus. You can pick whichever you like.
Let’s first download the Ubuntu ISO file. Head to theofficial Ubuntu download page, and get the file from there. Currently, the latest LTS version is Ubuntu 20.04.3, so we’ll download that.
After you’ve downloaded the relevant file, you now need todownload the Rufus appfrom the official website. When the download is complete, run the application and then insert your USB stick to make it bootable.
On the main menu of Rufus, click onSELECT, and pick the ISO file you’ve just downloaded. Set thePartition schemetoMBRandTarget systemtoBIOS or UEFI. Under theFormat Optionssection, leave everything as default. Then click onSTART.
You might get a dialog box asking you to download some additional files. Click onYesand the files will be downloaded, following which, the ISO copying process will also begin. In the next dialog box, select theWrite in ISO Image mode (Recommended), and click onOK.
The copying will get completed in a few seconds and when everything’s done, click onClose.
Now whenever you need to run Ubuntu on Windows, simply plug in the USB before starting up your PC and the computer will boot up from your USB drive. You’ll then get taken to the Ubuntu installation menu and from there, clickTry Ubuntu.
That’s it! You’ll now be able to run Ubuntu on Windows 10 or Windows 11 whenever you want.
3. Install Ubuntu on Windows from a Virtual Machine (VM)
A Virtual Machine, or just VM for short, is a virtual environment that helps you run a computer within your computer. Think of it as running an operating system inside a specific VM app.
We’ve already covered how you caninstall Windows 11 on a Virtual Machine, so it’s no surprise that in the third method, we’ll install Ubuntu on Windows 10 or Windows 11 with a Virtual Machine.
We’ll be making use of Virtual Box here, an open-source Virtual Machine developed by Oracle. To get started, head to theofficial Virtual Box websiteand download the app from there; then install the app when you’re done with the download.
Now, we also need an Ubuntu ISO file again. You can download it fromofficial Ubuntu download pageas we did in the above step. After the download is complete, launch theVirtualBoxand selectNewfrom the taskbar above.
In the new dialog box, give a specific name to your new virtual machine (I’ll be setting the name asUbuntu), set the type asLinux, choose theVersionasUbuntuand click onNext.
Then decide a specific amount of RAM, which you want to assign to your virtual machine, and click onNext.
Finally, select theCreate a virtual hard disk nowradio box and selectCreate.
In the next dialog box, selectVDI (VirtualBox Disk Image)and click onNext. On the next menu, pickDynamically allocatedand click onNext. Finally, set the size for your virtual hard drive and click onCreate
If you look at the left-hand side of your VirtualBox Manager, you’ll see the name of your virtual machine. To get it up and running, simply click onStartand your VM will be launched.
Now we’ve to pick the Ubuntu ISO file that you downloaded earlier. Click onAdd, choose the Ubuntu image, and selectOpen. Then click onChoose > Start.
Ubuntu will be launched on your Virtual Machine. From there, select the language of your choice, and you’ll see two options again: you can either ‘try’ Ubuntu or you can simply install it.
Pick the one you like, follow the on-screen instructions, and you’ll be able to run to Ubuntu on Windows through the VM from now on.
Ubuntu on Windows
And that’s it, folks. These are some of the easiest ways to install and run Ubuntu on Windows. Hopefully, you found the method that worked best for you and can run the Ubuntu OS without any hiccups.
Radu Tyrsina
Radu Tyrsina has been a Windows fan ever since he got his first PC, a Pentium III (a monster at that time).
For most of the kids of his age, the Internet was an amazing way to play and communicate with others, but he was deeply impressed by the flow of information and how easily you can find anything on the web.
Prior to founding Windows Report, this particular curiosity about digital content enabled him to grow a number of sites that helped hundreds of millions reach faster the answer they’re looking for.
User forum
0 messages
Sort by:LatestOldestMost Votes
Comment*
Name*
Email*
Commenting as.Not you?
Save information for future comments
Comment
Δ
Radu Tyrsina
