C:>wsl --help
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Usage: wsl.exe [Argument] [Options...] [CommandLine]
Arguments for running Linux binaries:
If no command line is provided, wsl.exe launches the default shell.
--exec, -e <CommandLine> Execute the specified command without using the default Linux shell.
--shell-type <Type> Execute the specified command with the provided shell type.
Types:
standard Execute the specified command using the default Linux shell.
login Execute the specified command using the default Linux shell as a login shell.
none Execute the specified command without using the default Linux shell.
-- Pass the remaining command line as-is.
Options:
--cd <Directory> Sets the specified directory as the current working directory.
If ~ is used the Linux user's home path will be used. If the path begins
with a / character, it will be interpreted as an absolute Linux path.
Otherwise, the value must be an absolute Windows path.
--distribution, -d <Distro> Run the specified distribution.
--user, -u <UserName> Run as the specified user.
--system Launches a shell for the system distribution.
Arguments for managing Windows Subsystem for Linux:
--help Display usage information.
--install <Distro> [Options...] Install a Windows Subsystem for Linux distribution.
For a list of valid distributions, use 'wsl.exe --list --online'.
Options:
--no-launch, -n Do not launch the distribution after install.
--web-download Download the distribution from the internet instead of the Microsoft Store.
--pre-release Download a pre-release version if available. Implies --web-download.
--mount <Disk> Attaches and mounts a physical or virtual disk in all WSL 2 distributions.
Options:
--vhd Specifies that <Disk> refers to a virtual hard disk.
--bare Attach the disk to WSL2, but don't mount it.
--name <Name> Mount the disk using a custom name for the mountpoint.
--type <Type> Filesystem to use when mounting a disk, if not specified defaults to ext4.
--options <Options> Additional mount options.
--partition <Index> Index of the partition to mount, if not specified defaults to the whole disk.
--set-default-version <Version> Changes the default install version for new distributions.
--shutdown Immediately terminates all running distributions and the WSL 2
lightweight utility virtual machine.
--status Show the status of Windows Subsystem for Linux.
--unmount [Disk] Unmounts and detaches a disk from all WSL2 distributions.
Unmounts and detaches all disks if called without argument.
--update Update the Windows Subsystem for Linux package.
Options:
--web-download Download the update from the internet instead of the Microsoft Store.
--version, -v Display version information.
Arguments for managing distributions in Windows Subsystem for Linux:
--export <Distro> <FileName> [Options] Exports the distribution to a tar file.
The filename can be - for standard output.
Options:
--vhd Specifies that the distribution should be exported as a .vhdx file.
--import <Distro> <InstallLocation> <FileName> [Options]
Imports the specified tar file as a new distribution.
The filename can be - for standard input.
Options:
--version <Versio> Specifies the version to use for the new distribution.
--vhd Specifies that the provided file is a .vhdx file, not a tar file.
This operation makes a copy of the .vhdx file at the specified install location.
--import-in-place <Distro> <FileName> Imports the specified .vhdx file as a new distribution.
This virtual hard disk must be formatted with the ext4 filesystem type.
--list, -l [Options] Lists distributions.
Options:
--all List all distributions, including distributions that are
currently being installed or uninstalled.
--running List only distributions that are currently running.
--quiet, -q Only show distribution names.
--verbose, -v Show detailed information about all distributions.
--online, -o Displays a list of available distributions for install with 'wsl.exe --install'.
--set-default, -s <Distro> Sets the distribution as the default.
--set-version <Distro> <Version> Changes the version of the specified distribution.
--terminate, -t <Distro> Terminates the specified distribution.
--unregister <Distro> Unregisters the distribution and deletes the root filesystem.