Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a powerful tool that allows you to run a GNU/Linux environment directly on Windows. However, you may eventually need to remove it—whether to free up disk space, fix a corrupted installation, or simply because you no longer use it.
To back up a distribution:
List your installed distributions:
# Disable WSL Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName VirtualMachinePlatform
Uninstalling WSL is not a single click. It involves removing the Linux distributions, the WSL components themselves, and cleaning up leftover files and registry entries. This guide provides a complete, safe method to remove everything WSL-related. If you have any important files, scripts, or configuration data inside your Linux distribution(s), back them up now . Uninstalling will permanently delete all Linux files, home directories, and installed packages. uninstall wsl
For most users, stopping at (unregistering distros and disabling features) is sufficient. Steps 4–6 are for those who want a deep clean or are troubleshooting severe issues. Last updated: 2025
wsl --export <DistributionName> <Filename>.tar # Example: wsl --export Ubuntu-22.04 ubuntu_backup.tar You can later re-import it with wsl --import . First, open PowerShell or Windows Terminal as Administrator (right-click Start > "Windows Terminal (Admin)" or "PowerShell (Admin)"). Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a powerful
wsl --unregister Ubuntu-22.04 Repeat for every distribution. Once unregistered, all files, settings, and the Linux filesystem for that distro are permanently deleted. Even after unregistering, some WSL processes may linger. Run: