Canonical predicts Ubuntu WSL usage will exceed desktop installations

Canonical predicts that the number of Ubuntu users running the operating system via the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) will soon surpass the number of users running Ubuntu as a native desktop installation.

Jon Seager, Vice President of Ubuntu Engineering at Canonical, noted that growth within the WSL user base is significantly faster than that of the desktop version. This trend is driven largely by developers in fields such as web development, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, who utilize WSL to access Linux tools and environments without leaving the Windows interface or needing to manage dual-boot setups.

To support this growing segment, Canonical is increasing its resource allocation for WSL. Recent developments include the integration of Ubuntu Pro for WSL and cloud-init support in Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, allowing enterprises to manage Windows-based Ubuntu installations centrally via Landscape. Microsoft has also contributed to this ecosystem through performance and networking improvements to WSL.