how to launch wsl 32 bit version in wsl,How to Launch WSL 32-bit Version in WSL

How to Launch WSL 32-bit Version in WSL

Are you looking to run 32-bit applications on your Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)? If so, you’ve come to the right place. WSL is a fantastic feature that allows you to run a GNU/Linux environment on a Windows 10 or Windows 11 system. However, by default, WSL only supports 64-bit applications. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the process of launching a 32-bit version of WSL. Let’s get started!

Understanding WSL and its Versions

how to launch wsl 32 bit version in wsl,How to Launch WSL 32-bit Version in WSL

Before diving into the process, it’s essential to understand what WSL is and the different versions available. WSL is a compatibility layer developed by Microsoft that allows you to run Linux binary executables directly on Windows 10 and Windows 11. There are two main versions of WSL: WSL 1 and WSL 2.

Version Description
WSL 1 Based on a compatibility layer that runs a lightweight Linux kernel inside a Windows VM. It supports 64-bit applications but not 32-bit applications.
WSL 2 Based on a real Linux kernel, which is directly integrated into the Windows kernel. It supports both 64-bit and 32-bit applications.

As you can see from the table, WSL 2 is the version you want to use if you want to run 32-bit applications. Now, let’s move on to the steps to install and launch WSL 2.

Step 1: Enable WSL 2

Before you can launch a 32-bit version of WSL, you need to ensure that WSL 2 is enabled on your system. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Open PowerShell as Administrator.
  2. Run the following command:
wsl --set-version 2

This command will enable WSL 2 on your system. Once enabled, you may need to restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

Step 2: Install a Linux Distribution

Now that WSL 2 is enabled, you need to install a Linux distribution. You can choose from various distributions, such as Ubuntu, Debian, openSUSE, and more. To install a distribution, follow these steps:

  1. Open PowerShell as Administrator.
  2. Run the following command to install the distribution of your choice:
wsl --install -d distribution_name

Replace “distribution_name” with the name of the Linux distribution you want to install. For example, to install Ubuntu, you would run:

wsl --install -d Ubuntu

This command will download and install the selected Linux distribution. Once the installation is complete, you can launch the distribution by running:

wsl distribution_name

Step 3: Install 32-bit Application Support

Now that you have a Linux distribution running on WSL 2, you need to install the necessary packages to support 32-bit applications. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Open your Linux distribution’s terminal.
  2. Run the following command to install the necessary packages:
sudo apt-get updatesudo apt-get install wine32

This command will install Wine, a compatibility layer that allows you to run Windows applications on Linux. Wine32 is the 32-bit version of Wine.

Step 4: Launch a 32-bit Application

Now that you have installed the necessary packages, you can launch a 32-bit application. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Open your Linux distribution’s terminal.
  2. Run the following command to launch the 32-bit application:
wine application_name.exe

Replace “application_name.exe” with the name of the 32-bit application you want to run. For example, to run Microsoft Office 2010, you would run:

wine "C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOffice14OUTLOOK.EXE