New WSL release candidate brings memory, storage, and security improvements

WSL allows you to run various Linux distributions on Windows, and it’s an incredibly useful feature for developers.

The latest pre-release version of WSL is here, so let’s dive into it and see what’s new.

The latest WSL version will bring memory, storage, and networking improvements

Microsoft showcased easier distro management in WSL during the Build conference, but unfortunately, these features aren’t available yet to the public.

On the other hand, Microsoft has moved other experimental settings to default in the pre-release version of WSL.

You can now automatically release stored memory in WSL back to Windows with the following setting: autoMemoryReclaim=dropCache

Networking capability is improved on Windows 11 thanks to the dnsTunneling=true

There are some experimental features as well such as: – wsl --manage <distro> --set-sparse <true/false>

With it, you can enable automatic disk space reclaim. You can also use – wslconfig with networkingMode=mirrored

This will allow you to use new mirrored networking mode and new features such as IPv6 support.

The WSL Settings GUI app isn’t available yet, but it’s coming soon, so you won’t have to manually edit .wslconfig file anymore. Using the app, you’ll see WSL settings in labeled categories, making the management easier.

WSL in Dev Home is also still in development, so we have to wait for a bit longer before we see it in action.

Lastly, with WSL Zero trust comes the support for enterprises using WSL. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint’s WSL 2 support is generally available, and it’s now possible to manage WSL settings via Intune.

Lastly, Microsoft Entra ID will get integration with WSL as the public preview will start in July and August. This will allow users to use Microsoft’s Authentication Library to communicate with WSL securely.

For more information, we suggest reading the Microsoft Developer blog.

As for Linux, many are threatening to switch to it after voicing their displeasure with Windows Recall. If you choose to make a switch, use a reliable distro, and not something like Deepin Linux V23.