WSL gets a new icon and updated Linux kernel in the latest update

Last month, Microsoft released Windows Subsystem for Linux to the Microsoft Store, providing users with a more convenient way to install the subsystem. Previously, to install Windows Subsystem for Linux on Windows, users had to use the not-so-easy to find the "Turn Windows Features on or off" window or the winget package manager in Windows Terminal. Now you can install WSL with a single click in the Microsoft Store. The latest update for the subsystem brings a new icon and Linux kernel.

Tip: Windows Subsystem for Linux is an operating system within an operating system. In a nutshell, WSL allows regular users and developers to execute Linux binaries in the Windows environment without installing virtual machines or creating a dual-boot computer. Microsoft introduced WSL in 2016 and has been actively improving the user experience since then.

Windows Subsystem for Linux 0.50.2 is now available with a brand-new penguin icon to replace a generic executable file icon. Besides, it offers an updated version of the Linux kernel (5.10.74.3). Finally, users will welcome a host of various fixes and minor improvements. Here is the full changelog.

What's new in WSL 0.50.2

• Added new logo for Windows Subsystem for Linux
• Enable hardware performance counters if the hardware supports them [GH 4678] A USERPROFILE%\.wslconfig option has been added to opt-out:
• Fix issue when printing system error messages that contain inserts.
• Update the user tile to launch in the user's home directory instead of C:\WINDOWS\System32
• Restore default signal dispositions for /etc/wsl.conf boot.command process to prevent zombie processes [GH 7575]
• Switch to using a static CRT for Windows binaries
• Use store API to download distributions via wsl.exe --install
• Add --no-launch option to wsl.exe --install
• Many updates to localized strings.
• Switch to an updated tar for importing / exporting WSL2 distributions.
• Update to the official 22000 sdk
• Strip Linux symbols for release builds
• Update Linux kernel to 5.10.74.3
• Update to upstream stable kernel release 5.10.74
• Enable BPF Type Format (CONFIG_DEBUG_INFO_BTF) for use by eBPF tools [GH 7437]
• Changed Dxgkrnl version to 2110
• Implemented D3DKMTShareObjectWithHost
• Fixed QueryStatistics VM bus alignment issue for the result
• Implemented D3DKMTCreateSyncFile
• Address upstream submission feedback
• Moved d3dkmthk to include/uapi/misc
• Replaces u32 by __u32 and u64 by __u64
• Added "_" in front of the enumerator values to support including both WDK and Linux headers
• Removed holes in the user mode visible structures to be compatible with 32 bit apps
• Replaces pointer in the user mode visible structures with a define to be u64 for user mode apps
• Fix build failure with GCC versions older than 8.1 [GH 7558]
• Enable the Buffer Sharing and Sync File Frameworks (CONFIG_DMA_SHARED_BUFFER, CONFIG_SYNC_FILE) for Dxgrknl usage.

You can download Windows Subsystem for Linux from the Microsoft Store using this link. Note the update is rolling out in stages, which means it might take a few days for your device to receive it.

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