If you're new to Ubuntu and WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux), you might be wondering where your Ubuntu installation is located on your Windows machine. This article will help you find the Ubuntu WSL install location and provide some useful information about WSL.
What is WSL?
WSL is a compatibility layer for running Linux binary executables natively on Windows 10 and Windows Server 2019. It allows you to run Linux distributions, like Ubuntu, alongside Windows applications without the need for a virtual machine or dual-boot setup.
Ubuntu WSL Install Location
The Ubuntu WSL install location varies depending on the version of Windows you are using and the method you used to install Ubuntu. By default, Ubuntu is installed in the system's default location for applications, which is typically:
%localappdata%\Packages\CanonicalGroupLimited.UbuntuonWindows_79rhkp1fndgsc\LocalState
You can open this location by pasting the above path into the Windows File Explorer address bar and hitting Enter. This will take you to the root directory of your Ubuntu installation. From here, you can navigate to the directories you need, such as the home directory, which is located at:
%localappdata%\Packages\CanonicalGroupLimited.UbuntuonWindows_79rhkp1fndgsc\LocalState\rootfs\home
The home directory is where your user files, like documents, pictures, and downloads, are stored. You can also use the cd command in the Ubuntu terminal to navigate to these directories. For example, to navigate to the home directory, you can use the following command:
cd ~
Moving the Ubuntu Install Location
If you would like to move the Ubuntu install location to a different directory, you can use the wsl --import command in the Windows Command Prompt or PowerShell. For example, to move the Ubuntu installation to the D:\ubuntu directory, you can use the following command:
wsl --import Ubuntu D:\ubuntu \path\to\ubuntu.tar --version 2
This command will create a new Ubuntu installation in the D:\ubuntu directory and import the contents of the ubuntu.tar file. Make sure to replace \path\to\ubuntu.tar with the actual path to the Ubuntu installation file.
In this article, we have covered the Ubuntu WSL install location and how to find it. We have also discussed how to move the Ubuntu installation to a different directory. WSL is a powerful tool for running Linux applications on Windows, and understanding the location of your Ubuntu installation is an important step in getting the most out of WSL.
References
| Title | URL |
|---|---|
| Windows Subsystem for Linux Installation Guide for Windows 10 | https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install-win10 |
| Ubuntu on Windows | https://ubuntu.com/wsl |
| wsl --import | https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/wsl-config#import-a-linux-distribution |