How to install Ubuntu WSL on Windows 11 without a Microsoft account?

The Ubuntu WSL page page only links to the Microsoft store page.

The installation of apps from the Microsoft Store requires a Microsoft account on Windows 11. Is it possible to install Ubuntu in WSL without a Microsoft Account?

Related issue:

1 Answer

Update: Windows 11 and Windows 10 21H2 now include the ability to install some distributions directly from the command-line without a Microsoft Account.

wsl --list --online # Or wsl -l -v

... to get a list of available distributions to install.

wsl --install --distribution Ubuntu

... to install Ubuntu directly.

Older Windows versions:

From the Downloading distributions section in the Install docs:

There are some scenarios in which you may not be able (or want) to, install WSL Linux distributions using the Microsoft Store.

Summary -- Just download the package from the link provided on that page, then Add-AppxPackage the resulting download:

Invoke-WebRequest -Uri -OutFile Ubuntu.appx -UseBasicParsing
Add-AppxPackage .\app_name.appx

or, from the GUI:

• Download the Appx package from your browser.
• Open the downloaded .appx file. Windows will will ask if you want to install it.