How to Disable the Windows Subsystem for Linux Feature and Remove the Linux Icon from File Explorer

Summary: Learn how to disable the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) feature to remove the Linux icon from the File Explorer navigation pane.

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.
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Instructions

Affected Platforms:

  • Precision 3490
  • Precision 3580
  • Precision 3590
  • Precision 3591
  • Precision 5490
  • Precision 5690
  • Precision 7680
  • Precision 7780
  • Dell Pro Max 14 MA14250
  • Dell Pro Max 16 MA16250
  • Dell Pro Max 16 Plus MB16250
  • Dell Pro Max 18 Plus MB18250
  • Dell Pro Max 14 Premium MC14250
  • Dell Pro Max 16 Plus MC16250
  • Dell Pro Max MC14255
  • Dell Pro Max MC16255
  • Dell Pro Precision 7 16 PW716260
  • Dell Pro Precision 7 14 PW714260

When the WSL feature is enabled, a Linux icon appears in the left navigation pane of File Explorer. To remove the icon, disable the WSL feature and uninstall the WSL app package using the steps below.

Disable the WSL feature:

  1. Open the Control Panel.
  2. Select Programs > Programs and Features.
  3. On the left side, click Turn Windows features on or off.
  4. Clear the checkboxes for the following items, then click OK:
    • Virtual Machine Platform
    • Windows Subsystem for Linux
      Clear the checkboxes for Virtual machine Platform and Windows Subsystem for Linux, then click OK
      Note: The computer will restart automatically after applying these changes.

Uninstall the WSL application package:

  1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
  2. Run the following command: wsl.exe --uninstall
    Run wsl.exe --uninstall

Affected Products

Dell Pro Max 14 Premium MA14250, Dell Pro Max 16 Premium MA16250, Dell Pro Max 16 Plus MB16250, Dell Pro Max 18 Plus MB18250, Dell Pro Max 14 MC14250, Dell Pro Max 14 MC14255, Dell Pro Max 16 MC16250, Dell Pro Max 16 MC16255 , Dell Pro Precision 7 14 PW714260, Dell Pro Precision 7 16 PW716260, Precision 3490, Precision 5490, Precision 3580, Precision 3590, Mobile Precision 3591, Mobile Precision 5690, Precision 7680, Precision 7780 ...
Article Properties
Article Number: 000492253
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 24 Jul 2026
Version:  1
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