Microsoft makes WSL Containers generally available

Microsoft has made WSL Containers generally available, adding a built-in way to run Linux containers through the Windows Subsystem for Linux on Windows. The release includes the wslc command-line tool and enterprise controls that let administrators disable the feature or limit container image downloads to approved registries. The feature is intended to let developers build and run Linux container workloads on Windows without relying on a separate container-management application. Microsoft announced WSL Containers at Build 2026 and tested it in public preview before the general availability release. Existing tools such as Docker Desktop remain an option. The release adds commands for managing containers, including restarting them, copying files in and out, and checking their status. It also supports health checks, live streaming of container events, network controls, and configurable storage locations. A Windows application can also use a WSL Containers API to launch and interact with Linux containers; Microsoft has cited local AI workloads as one potential use.