In > Apps > Installed apps , search for Windows Subsystem for Linux . Select Uninstall .
To verify the complete removal of the system: how to uninstall wsl
After the reboot, Alex ran wsl --status . The command was dead. Good. But his disk space hadn't changed. He opened File Explorer and navigated to the hidden lair: C:\Users\Alex\AppData\Local\Packages He deleted any folder starting with CanonicalGroupLimited or TheDebianProject . Then, the real grave: C:\Users\Alex\AppData\Local\Docker and C:\Users\Alex\AppData\Local\wsl . He held Shift + Delete. In > Apps > Installed apps , search
The uninstallation of WSL is a multi-layered process involving the removal of user-space distributions, the disabling of kernel-level Windows features, and the manual cleanup of file system artifacts. By following the procedures outlined in this paper—specifically utilizing the wsl --unregister command followed by the disabling of optional Windows components—administrators can ensure that the system is fully reverted and storage resources are reclaimed without leaving residual data or configuration bloat. The command was dead
If your goal is to free up space or reset a specific environment without breaking WSL itself, use this method. Via Settings (Recommended) Open . Go to Apps > Installed Apps (or Apps & Features). Search for your distribution (e.g., Ubuntu, Kali, Debian).