How to upgrade to Ubuntu 20.10 in WSL on Windows 10

The latest version of Ubuntu isn’t being released on the Microsoft Store for WSL, but you can still get it installed. Here’s how.

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Canonical has released the latest update to Ubuntu, the 20.10 release known as “Groovy Gorilla.” As this isn’t an LTS release it won’t be released into the Microsoft Store for folks to install that way and use with the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL).

Nevertheless, getting 20.10 installed on your machine isn’t too difficult and there are a few different ways to get there. I’ll start with the method I used, followed up with some handy tips from one of Canonical’s Ubuntu on WSL engineers that might be more suited to your own situation.

Before you begin

This guide assumes you already have WSL enabled on your Windows 10 system and that you already have Ubuntu installed.

If you don’t, we have a full guide on getting started which you should check out first, then grab Ubuntu from the Microsoft Store and run through the initial setup process.

Ubuntu

Grab the latest LTS release of Ubuntu from the Microsoft Store to install version 20.04 on your WSL setup.

How to install Ubuntu 20.10 Groovy Gorilla on WSL

Officially, the Ubuntu package you download from the Microsoft Store won’t update to 20.10 as it’s not an LTS (Long Term Support) release. A new LTS version only comes every two years, with interim releases that aren’t supported for as long in between, currently scheduled for every six months. You can read more about it on theUbuntu wiki.

So, to get your Groovy Gorilla on you’ll need to manually make the update. You can use either the standalone Ubuntu shell for this or open one up in Windows Terminal.

One thing to note is that Windows will still recognise it as Ubuntu 20.04, both within WSL and in places like Windows Terminal. It’s not a big deal but you will need to remember that if you’re ever referring to Ubuntu in PowerShell, for example, you’ll still have to refer to it as

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You can quickly verify that the upgrade was successful using a tool like Neofetch, or if you don’t have that use the command

and you’ll see something like the image above.

Other methods

Canonical has actually put together itsown guideon upgrading to Ubuntu 20.10 which goes down a different path to this one, including side-loading images. There’s a ton of detail in there and if for any reason you’re having issues upgrading through the method detailed above, definitely follow along with it and try things that way.

Whichever road you go down the upgrade process doesn’t take that long and you’ll have a bleeding edge Ubuntu system running in WSL afterwards.

Richard Devine is a Managing Editor at Windows Central with over a decade of experience. A former Project Manager and long-term tech addict, he joined Mobile Nations in 2011 and has been found on Android Central and iMore as well as Windows Central. Currently, you’ll find him steering the site’s coverage of all manner of PC hardware and reviews. Find him on Mastodon atmstdn.social/@richdevine