microsoft/wslg

Analysis updated 2026-06-24

★ 11,651C++Audience · developerComplexity · 2/5Setup · easy

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((WSLg))
    What it does
      Linux GUI on Windows
      Native window look
      Copy paste support
    How it works
      Hidden Linux container
      Display and audio servers
      Windows renders pixels
    Setup
      wsl install command
      wsl update command
      GPU driver required
    Audience
      Developers
      Linux users on Windows

mindmap root((WSLg)) What it does Linux GUI on Windows Native window look Copy paste support How it works Hidden Linux container Display and audio servers Windows renders pixels Setup wsl install command wsl update command GPU driver required Audience Developers Linux users on Windows

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What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Run Linux GUI tools like GIMP or a Linux browser directly on Windows 10 or 11 without a virtual machine.

USE CASE 2

Use Linux GUI apps alongside Windows apps with copy-paste between them and GPU-accelerated rendering.

USE CASE 3

Test Linux desktop applications on Windows during development without switching machines or booting separately.

USE CASE 4

Set up Linux graphical apps launchable from the Windows Start menu for everyday developer use.

What is it built with?

C++LinuxWaylandPulseAudio

How does it compare?

	microsoft/wslg	colmap/colmap	quipnetwork/cpp-sdk
Stars	11,651	11,664	11,612
Language	C++	C++	C++
Setup difficulty	easy	moderate	hard
Complexity	2/5	3/5	5/5
Audience	developer	researcher	developer

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 30min

Requires Windows 10 or 11 with an up-to-date GPU driver for hardware acceleration, basic setup is a single wsl --install command.

The explanation does not specify the license for this project.

In plain English

WSLg stands for Windows Subsystem for Linux GUI. It is a project from Microsoft that lets you run Linux graphical applications directly on a Windows desktop, with the windows appearing alongside your regular Windows apps rather than in a separate virtual machine window. Windows already included a way to run Linux command-line tools through WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux). WSLg extends that to apps with graphical interfaces. You can open a Linux text editor, image editor, browser, or any other Linux GUI program and it behaves like a regular Windows window, complete with an entry in the taskbar and the ability to copy and paste between Windows and Linux applications. Installing WSLg is straightforward on Windows 10 and Windows 11. Running the command wsl --install from an administrator prompt sets up everything needed. If you already have WSL installed, running wsl --update adds WSLg support. Once set up, Linux GUI applications can be installed through your Linux distribution's package manager and launched from the Windows Start menu or from the Linux terminal. Under the hood, WSLg runs a small hidden Linux container alongside your main Linux distribution. That container hosts the display and audio servers that Linux applications connect to. The actual pixels are handed off to Windows for rendering, which is what makes Linux app windows appear native on the Windows desktop. GPU acceleration is supported when you have an up-to-date graphics driver installed. The project is open source and the README includes architecture diagrams and detailed documentation for anyone who wants to understand how the pieces fit together. The full README is longer than what was shown.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1

I just ran wsl --install on Windows 11, how do I install a Linux GUI app like GIMP and launch it from the Windows Start menu?

Prompt 2

Explain how WSLg routes Linux app pixels to Windows for rendering and what role the hidden Linux container plays.

Prompt 3

I already have WSL installed but Linux GUI apps don't appear, walk me through running wsl --update and verifying that WSLg is active.

Prompt 4

How do I enable GPU acceleration for Linux GUI apps in WSLg and which graphics driver versions are required?

Frequently asked questions

What is wslg?

WSLg lets you run Linux apps with graphical interfaces directly on a Windows desktop, a Linux image editor or browser opens as a regular Windows window, with copy-paste support and GPU acceleration.

What language is wslg written in?

Mainly C++. The stack also includes C++, Linux, Wayland.

What license does wslg use?

The explanation does not specify the license for this project.

How hard is wslg to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated easy, with roughly 30min to a first successful run.

Who is wslg for?

Mainly developer.

Open on GitHub → Explain another repo

This repo across BitVibe Labs

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