ArchWSL is a Windows Subsystem for Linux distribution that runs Arch Linux on Windows 10 and Windows 11.
ArchWSL addresses the need to run a full Arch Linux environment natively on Windows through WSL. It is built on wsldl, a framework for creating WSL distributions, and provides a pre-configured Arch Linux rootfs that can be installed and managed directly from Windows. The distribution supports multiple concurrent installations by allowing users to rename the executable file to create separate instances with different names, each registered independently with WSL.
ArchWSL suits developers and system administrators who want access to Arch Linux tools and package management on Windows without dual-booting or virtual machines. It works with both WSL1 and WSL2, though WSL1 users must replace the glibc package on first run. Installation is straightforward through three methods: extracting a zip file and running the executable, installing an appx package after trusting a certificate, or using Scoop package manager. The tool integrates with Windows Terminal and respects Windows file permissions, requiring installation to a user-accessible directory rather than system locations like Program Files. Updates are handled by downloading new files and overwriting existing ones, or reinstalling the appx package.
The project maintains active documentation covering setup, certificate installation, and known issues. Development activity shows ongoing maintenance with multiple language translations of the README available, indicating sustained attention to user accessibility across different regions.
