WSL Manager for Windows

Getting started with the WSL Manager file interface

WSL Manager is a lightweight tool that lets you run Linux distributions on a Windows host without a full VM layer. The manager exposes a web-based file interface that listens on your local loopback address; point a browser to https://localhost:1234 to open it.

Keep in mind that while client packages exist for Windows and macOS, the Linux compatibility driver or runtime components must be installed on the host for the service to function.

Prerequisites and required drivers

Before launching WSL Manager, make sure:

• Your machine has the necessary Linux runtime/driver components installed.
• The firewall or browser is configured to allow access to the local HTTPS endpoint (localhost:1234).
• If you’re using macOS, install the macOS-specific helper and any required Linux compatibility layers.

Install the driver or runtime once on the PC (or Mac) and verify the service starts before attempting to connect via the browser.

Installing a Linux distribution

You can get and register a Linux distribution in one of two ways:

• Import an existing tar archive with the wsl --import command; the tarball can reside on a network share.
• Install a distribution directly from the Microsoft Store, then optionally export or import via tar if you need a custom image; local disk archives work as well.

When importing with wsl --import, use the --version option to select the WSL version (for example, --version 1 or --version 2).

Checking and listing installed distributions

WSL provides commands to list and inspect installed distros. Use the list command (wsl --list) which can also be invoked as wsl -l -v to show version details and runtime state. Variant flags include:

• --running — show only distributions that are currently active
• --quiet — print only distribution names
• --all — list every installed distribution, regardless of state

The output includes each distribution’s name, assigned WSL version, and its current status.

Display and graphics support

WSL Manager supports X11-based graphical applications. If you plan to run GUI Linux apps, ensure an X server or appropriate X11 forwarding is available and configured on your system.

Suggested alternative: ZArchiver (free)

If you only need a simple archive manager or a lightweight file manager alternative, consider ZArchiver (free). It offers basic archive handling and a minimal interface for browsing and extracting files when a full WSL file manager is more than you require.