WSL Containers Now Generally Available on Windows 11

Microsoft has made WSL Containers generally available on Windows 11, allowing developers to run Linux containers without relying on third-party tools like Docker Desktop. This new feature brings built-in Linux container support to Windows through the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), making it easier for developers to jump into their workflows faster.

Until now, developers typically needed to install and manage extra software to run Linux containers on Windows. With WSL Containers, Microsoft is providing a built-in alternative that requires less setup and management. This update has been tested since Build 2026, and new features have been added during testing, including support for container health checks, real-time event streaming, expanded networking controls, configurable storage locations, and several new container management commands.

Microsoft is also adding more enterprise controls to WSL Containers, including Intune policies and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint support. The wslc command-line tool uses familiar commands that will make the transition relatively seamless for developers who already work with containers.