Learn the essentials about accessing Linux files from Windows in this chapter of the WSL series.

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Learn how to seamlessly access and manage Linux files from Windows using WSL. This guide covers various methods including using Windows Explorer and the command line. It also explains how to open Linux files in Windows apps like Notepad, and how to transfer files between Windows and WSL using the `cp` command.

How to Access WSL Files in Windows

💡 Tip: Open the current Linux directory location in Windows

I’m genuinely curious and I don’t want to be condescending or anything, but I’ve seen a couple of those articles and I wonder: is there a reason there’s an article for “how to access WSL files in Windows”?
I mean they’re right there in Explorer, literally in the same sidebar every other filesystem and drive shows up, it’s not like you need to activate some obscure option to see them.
And I kinda refuse to believe that someone somehow would have enough knowledge and experience to look up and install WSL but then get stuck at “hmm, how do I access WSL files”, without noticing the Linux file system showing up in Explorer, in the same exact section every other drive/file system shows up.
Not that it’s complicated in any way, but if you’ve installed WSL at least you’ve gone out of your way to find out about it, decide you want to use it for some reason, activate it via the extra features function, and install a distro of your choice. None of those things are directly advertised in Windows or preinstalled (which is fine, most Windows users won’t really care).