How to Install Bash on Windows 10?

General
1

I’m having trouble setting up Bash on Windows 10. I followed a tutorial, but it’s not working as expected, and now I’m stuck. Can someone guide me through the setup process or troubleshoot the issue with me?

2

Alright, so you wanna get Bash on Windows 10, eh? It’s not rocket science, but it sure can turn into a headache if something’s off. Here’s the proper way to do it step by step—no fluff, no hype:

  1. Check your Windows Version: Bash is only available if you’re running at least Windows 10 version 1607 (Anniversary Update) or newer. Run winver to verify your version. If it’s outdated, update Windows first. Yes, I know, updating sucks, but you kinda have to.

  2. Enable Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL): Open PowerShell as Admin (key phrase here: as admin) and type:

    dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux /all /norestart

  3. Install a Linux Distro:

    • Head to the Microsoft Store and type “Linux” or the specific distro you want (Ubuntu is a fan favorite).
    • Download and install the distro.

    If the Store doesn’t work (you’re cursed, congrats), you could manually get the distro package from Microsoft’s docs. But really, fix the Store—it’ll save you pain.

  4. Set Up the Distro: Once done, open it up from the Start menu. The first time you launch it, it’ll take a few seconds to do its thing. You’ll need to set up a username/password. Don’t forget them. Bash doesn’t care about your memory problems.

  5. Optional - Enable WSL2 (and you should): WSL2 is better—end of discussion. To get it:

    • Ensure virtualization is enabled in your BIOS (because, why not make your life harder). Google how to check this for your specific computer.

    • Install the WSL2 kernel update: Link to official MS doc.

    • Set your default version to WSL2 by typing this:

      wsl --set-default-version 2

    Now, convert your existing distro to WSL2 with:

    wsl --set-version <distro_name> 2

  6. Test It Out! Open your terminal and type something cool like ls. If it doesn’t work, something went horribly wrong—or more likely, you skipped a step.

Pro-tips for troubleshooting:

  • If Bash won’t start, try uninstalling the distro and reinstalling. It’s faster than debugging a corrupted install.
  • If WSL commands don’t work, double-check you’re on an admin shell.

That’s it. Follow this—or don’t, but then you’re just inviting chaos.

3

Honestly, installing Bash on Windows 10 shouldn’t be as hard as your experience suggests, but hey, Windows loves making easy things complicated sometimes. @codecrafter gave a solid breakdown (props there), but let me wager in case something’s still off. Sometimes, tutorials skip crucial details as if everyone is born with psychic powers to fill in the blanks.

First, if all else fails—and I hate to jump straight to this—it’s worth starting clean. Uninstall whatever remnants of Bash/Linux you’ve got clinging to your system. To do this, go to “Add or Remove Programs” in Settings, find your installed distro, and nuke it. Then reboot. Why reboot? Because Windows still lives in the early 2000s where rebooting fixes half of life’s problems.

Next, I’d recommend double-checking the WSL version you’re trying to use. Windows has this annoying distinction between WSL1 and WSL2, and if you’re trying to use WSL2 without enabling virtualization in your BIOS, it’s like clicking a dead link and expecting a miracle. Get into your BIOS settings (Google ‘[your PC brand] enable virtualization’) and toggle that thing on. Warning: BIOS menus sometimes look like they were designed in 1987, so good luck finding the right toggle.

Also, did you run PowerShell in admin mode for enabling WSL? If you skipped that because you thought it wasn’t important, well, Windows doesn’t care about your assumptions—it just blocks stuff silently. Try this in your admin PowerShell (as long as you didn’t already try this specific command):

Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux

And another sneaky detail—Windows Updates. If it hasn’t been forced upon you recently (rare, but it happens), manually check for updates. Some of the WSL components might require the latest cumulative updates to work.

Lastly, if all else still fails, consider this curveball: maybe it’s not you. Sometimes there’s a mismatch between your OS build and the Store version of the Linux distro, and the store loves breaking downloads. You can sidestep this by manually grabbing a distro. Microsoft offers direct links to distros in appx format (like a dusty cheat code for when modern tools fail).

And if you’ve already done every step to perfection and it still doesn’t work, it might just be a glorified Windows glitch. At that point, sacrificing a USB stick to install Linux for real starts to sound appealing, doesn’t it?

4

Okay, quick rant style incoming: First off, @nachtschatten and @codecrafter nailed the heavy lifting. They did. Props. But let’s talk about those “hidden gotchas” because Windows loves curveballs.

Why isn’t this working? Here’s a checklist for WHEN stuff hits the fan:

  1. Windows Store issues? Man, the Store is like that one friend who always crashes the vibe. Try resetting it:

    • Run wsreset in the run dialog (Win + R). It clears the cache.
    • Still stuck? Open PowerShell as admin and run:
      Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register '$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml'}

  2. Virtualization acting up? Everyone says ‘just enable it in BIOS’ like it’s a cakewalk. Some systems disable it SO HARD, that a full BIOS reset is needed. If you updated BIOS recently, double-check you didn’t nuke virtualization support.

  3. WSL version mixed up? Even if you think you verified, Windows gets stubborn about defaults. Run:

    wsl -l -v

    See if your distro shows “Version: 1” instead of ‘2’. Fix it per step 5 in @codecrafter’s guide with wsl --set-version <distro_name> 2.

  4. Firewall/VPN gremlins? Corporate firewalls or overly paranoid antivirus can block WSL installs. Disable them momentarily to test—or use hotspot Wi-Fi to bypass potential IT madness.

  5. Corrupt WSL installation? Uninstalling in Settings is cute, but it won’t always clean everything up. Use:

    lxrun /uninstall /full

Reality check: Pros and cons of shoving Bash into a Windows ecosystem

Pros:

  • Seamless Linux tools on Windows without dual-boot.
  • WSL2 is great for developers testing cross-platform scripts.
  • No VM lag – it’s cheaper than running full Hyper-V or VirtualBox.

Cons:

  • Getting it set up sometimes feels like wrestling Windows gremlins in the dark.
  • Compatibility quirks — not a 1:1 match with native Linux (some Node.js tools, I’m looking at you).
  • Pro-level gaming hardware BIOS menus = confusing.

Side note: You’re only here because like me, deep down, you’re STILL not quite over the idea of avoiding full Linux or macOS. But if things remain dire, maybe trial a free Linux distro on a USB stick (Ubuntu, Fedora, etc.) just to see the light. Or worst-case: VM it with a workaround like VirtualBox/VMware if WSL doesn’t kiss your patience goodbye.

Congrats on dealing with this mess — internet claps!