Resolving the Issue of Running .exe Files in Windows Subsystem for Linux

Discover how to run `.exe` files from your `/home` directory in Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) with this comprehensive guide. --- This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/63590048/ asked by the user 'mpettis' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/1022967/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/63601845/ provided by the user 'WSLUser' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/10559356/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions. Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: Cannot run .exe when under /home but can when under /mnt/c Also, Content (except music) licensed under CC BY-SA https://meta.stackexchange.com/help/l... The original Question post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license, and the original Answer post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license. If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com. --- How to Run .exe Files in Windows Subsystem for Linux from /home If you've been exploring the capabilities of the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), you might have encountered a frustrating situation: you can run .exe files seamlessly when working in the /mnt/c directory, but those same files seem inaccessible while you're in the /home directory. This can be perplexing, especially if you're transitioning between these file structures frequently. But fear not! In this guide, we will address this common issue and guide you through the solution step by step. Understanding the Problem When operating under WSL, Windows and Linux interact through a specific file organization. Here’s a brief breakdown: /mnt/c: This directory is where your Windows files are accessible within WSL. /home: This folder is where your Linux files reside. Here, you may want to execute Windows applications but find that they do not respond as expected. The issue arises primarily because the interop feature, which allows interaction between Windows and Linux applications, may not be adequately configured in your WSL setup. Solution Overview To allow the execution of .exe files from the /home directory, we need to configure the wsl.conf file correctly. This configuration file enables interop functionalities and ensures Windows applications can be called while you are in the Linux filesystem. Step-by-Step Configuration Follow these simple steps to create and configure the wsl.conf file: Open WSL: Start your WSL terminal. Create/Edit the wsl.conf file: Enter the following command to open or create the configuration file: [[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]] Insert the Configuration: Copy and paste the following into the file: [[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]] Save and Exit: In nano, press CTRL + X, then Y to save, and finally Enter to exit. Restart WSL: Close your terminal and restart WSL for the changes to take effect. You can do this by running wsl --shutdown in a Command Prompt or PowerShell window, and then relaunching your WSL terminal. Important Considerations The interp section: By enabling interop, you're telling WSL that you want to run Windows applications, like .exe files, from within the Linux environment. This is crucial for resolving the issue at hand. WSL2 Users: If you are on WSL2 and using systemd modifications, be aware that your interop capabilities may break, which could affect executing applications like .exe files. Conclusion By following the steps outlined above, you should now be able to execute .exe files from the /home directory without issues. This enhancement greatly increases the flexibility of using Windows applications alongside your Linux tools, enriching your overall productivity in the WSL environment. If you continue to have problems, make sure to double-check your wsl.conf settings and confirm you have restarted WSL properly. Happy coding!