Windows 11: Updating WSL to the Latest Verson

In this vlog I will show you how to update your WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) on a Windows host.

I found myself using a backup laptop for a project. I ran the following to check the WSL version from a PowerShell terminal window running as administrator:

wsl --version

The output was as follows:

WSL version: 2.3.26.0

Kernel version: 5.15.167.4-1

WSLg version: 1.0.65

MSRDC version: 1.2.5620

Direct3D version: 1.611.1-81528511

DXCore version: 10.0.26100.1-240331-1435.ge-release

Windows version: 10.0.26100.6584

ChatGPT Pointed out my WSL was released November 2024: 

WSL 2.3.26 with kernel 5.15.167.4

The latest version is WSL 2.5.10 , released August 2025.

I ran the following from the PowerShell terminal:

wsl --update

Which installed WSL 2.6.1, so ChatGPT was incorrect saying 2.5.10 was the latest.

Out of caution I ran:

wsl --shutdown

The double-checked with:

wsl --version 

This showed I was up to date with WSL 2.6.1:

WSL version: 2.6.1.0

Kernel version: 6.6.87.2-1

WSLg version: 1.0.66

MSRDC version: 1.2.6353

Direct3D version: 1.611.1-81528511

DXCore version: 10.0.26100.1-240331-1435.ge-release

Windows version: 10.0.26100.6584