Latest Windows 10 Preview Introduces File Explorer Integration for WSL

Microsoft is today rolling out a new build of Windows 10 to Windows Insiders. The company is releasing build 19603 to Insiders in the Fast Ring, and it includes some changes.

The main new feature in the latest build is FIle Explorer integration for the Windows Subsystem for Linux aka WSL. Microsoft previously enabled the ability to access WSL files from the File Explorer in Windows 10 version 1903, but it’s making it much easier to access those files with direct File Explorer integration.

Windows Intelligence In Your Inbox

Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday — and get free copies of Paul Thurrott's Windows 11 and Windows 10 Field Guides (normally $9.99) as a special welcome gift!

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

[ad unit=’in_content_premium_block’]

In the latest build, File Explorer will now show a “Linux” option on the sidebar in File Explorer. From there, you can see the different Linux distros you have installed. And clicking on any of the distros will take you to the Linux root for that distro. It’s a really nice improvement for WSL users.

The new build also includes a new “User cleanup recommendations” for saving storage space. This new feature will show you some of the unused files and apps on your device that you can get rid of to save some space.

Tagged with

Share post

Please check our Community Guidelines before commenting

Conversation 8 comments

  • ecumenical

    08 April, 2020 - 2:05 pm

    <p>Wow, nice 🙂 </p>

  • oscar90

    08 April, 2020 - 2:28 pm

    <p>Oh Microsoft, just make your own distro and be done with it, you know you want to. You even have a custom made kernel i WSL2, the writing is on the wall. </p><p>Put Windows 10X GUI on that together with the win32 app container that you are working on and you are on a success spree for sure.</p>

    • red77star

      09 April, 2020 - 1:46 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#537525">In reply to oscar90:</a></em></blockquote><p>That's what Linux + Wine is for. Windows should stay Windows. I love Linux and I have machine where Linux is installed.</p>

  • proftheory

    Premium Member
    08 April, 2020 - 5:15 pm

    <p>I'd like to see file explorer browse any partition with ext 2/3/4 format for us dual-booters. I'd even be okay with it only being read-only.</p>

  • red77star

    09 April, 2020 - 9:48 am

    <p>Do we need WSL installed? In dual boot system, will be able to access another drive where Linux is installed? If not, this is useless.</p>

    • Paul Thurrott

      Premium Member
      09 April, 2020 - 9:50 am

      Obviously it needs WSL. That’s the point.

      • red77star

        09 April, 2020 - 1:45 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#537675">In reply to paul-thurrott:</a></em></blockquote><p><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Then it is useless. Also does not answer the question whether I can access drive where Linux is installed in my dual boot system. With third party extension I can read and write to Linux file system from Windows 7, there is nothing special about it.</span></p>

        • ksumatt

          09 April, 2020 - 2:44 pm

          <blockquote><em><a href="#537734">In reply to red77star:</a></em></blockquote><p>Did you read the headline? This is a feature for WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux). The feature is going to be useful for those using WSL – not dual booting.</p>

Windows Intelligence In Your Inbox

Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Thurrott © 2024 Thurrott LLC