WSLg

WSLg, short for Windows Subsystem for Linux GUI, is a feature of Microsoft’s Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) that enables Linux graphical user interface applications to run directly on Windows. It provides native-looking windows for Linux GUI apps alongside Windows applications, with integrated input, clipboard sharing, and audio support.

Under the hood, WSLg runs a Wayland server, an X server, and a PulseAudio server inside the Linux environment. A Windows-side component bridges the Linux GUI toolchain to the Windows windowing system, transmitting input events, rendering output, and streaming audio. The rendering path leverages the Windows graphics stack to present Linux windows on the desktop, allowing seamless interoperability with Windows apps and features such as high-DPI scaling and multi-monitor setups.

Features include launching GUI Linux apps from the Windows Start menu or the Linux terminal, automatic window management, clipboard sharing between Linux and Windows, and audio input/output for Linux applications. Linux GUI apps can access Linux file systems and Windows files via standard path mappings, and can interact with Windows tools and services through shared interop.

Requirements and use: WSLg requires the Windows Subsystem for Linux version 2 and a supported Windows build. It is delivered as part of the Windows update that includes WSL improvements, and users install a Linux distribution from the Microsoft Store, enable the necessary Windows features (Windows Subsystem for Linux and Virtual Machine Platform), and then update the Linux environment to access GUI tools. WSLg has been integrated into Windows as part of ongoing WSL enhancements.

History: WSLg was announced by Microsoft in 2021 as part of the WSL 2 project and began shipping with Windows in subsequent updates. It has since been refined to improve stability, performance, and compatibility with a broader range of Linux GUI applications.