Source: Windows Central
What you need to know
- Microsoft backported Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 to older Windows 10 versions.
- Windows 10 versions 1909 and 1903 can now use WSL 2 distros.
- The update is available to install now via Windows Update.
Windows 10 version 2004 is no longer a necessary upgrade if you want to take advantage of the Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (WSL 2). Microsoft announced this week (via ZDNet) that WSL 2 has been backported to older Windows 10 versions. Specifically, Windows 10 versions 1903 and 1909 can now take advantage of WSL 2.
"We heard how much you liked WSL 2 and wanted to expand its accessibility, and over the last few months we worked on bringing it back to 1903 and 1909," Microsoft said in its announcement. As pointed out by Microsoft, WSL 2 has several improvements over WSL 1:
- File system performance now on par with Mac and Linux speeds
- Improved System Call Support for all Linux applications notably: Docker, FUSE, rsync, etc.
- Full Linux kernel built into WSL 2
- Docker Desktop has added support to use WSL 2 as its engine, giving faster startup speeds and improved resource usage.
For now, WSL 2 on versions 1909 and 1903 is only available for x64 systems. ARM64 users will have to upgrade to Windows 10 version 2004 for full access.
The backport should be available via Windows Update. You can check whether you have WSL 2 by viewing your Windows 10 build number. Look for minor version 1049 as the last four digits in your build number to verify.
We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.

How does the new XPS 13 Plus compare to the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x (Gen 2)?
Dell's new XPS 13 Plus is finally here, with Lenovo's new ThinkBook 13x (Gen 2) still coming soon. They're both 13-inch devices starting at around the same price; how do they compare otherwise?

Intel beta driver mentions upcoming Arc desktop GPUs
A recent beta driver from Intel mentions a handful of Arc desktop GPUs from the company. Support the new graphics may be an indication that the GPUs are close to shipping.

Microsoft may soon let you create your own dynamic themes for Xbox and PC
A new app called "Xbox Dynamic Themes Editor" has appeared, thanks to a reliable Microsoft leakster. Here's what it looks like.

The best photo editing apps for Windows 10
Whether you need to remove red eyes or do heavy duty editing, these are the best photo editing apps for Windows 10.