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bostrot/wslmanager

A free, open source GUI for managing WSL distros on Windows, and native Linux/macOS VMs on Mac.

Open-source alternative to:Docker Desktop

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What is it?

WSL Manager is a graphical app for the Windows Subsystem for Linux. It lets you install, copy, rename, move, back up and delete distros without memorising wsl.exe flags, and it can package a configured distro as a portable .wsl file, edit .wslconfig, mount physical disks or VHDs, and sync instances between machines over SSH.

On macOS, the same app manages Linux and macOS virtual machines through Apple's Virtualization framework. Linux VMs can be created from an installer ISO, a cloud image or a template, and commands can be run inside them over auto-provisioned SSH. macOS guest support is limited to Apple Silicon.

The core management features are free. A one-time-purchase Pro tier adds an AI assistant that calls the same tools exposed by an MCP server, a web dashboard reachable from other devices, and an AI Workspace. AI features use the user's own OpenAI-compatible API key.

Key features

  • 01Install distros from a built-in catalogue or your own rootfs, including Docker images
  • 02Copy, rename, move, back up and delete instances, and restore them on another PC
  • 03Configure systemd, default user, and .wslconfig options per distro
  • 04Mount physical disks or VHDs into WSL with partition and filesystem control
  • 05Open Windows Terminal, VS Code or Explorer directly inside a distro
  • 06Create, start, stop and clone Linux VMs on macOS through Apple's Virtualization framework (beta)

Use cases

  • Managing several WSL distros on a Windows machine without using the command line
  • Backing up a configured WSL setup and restoring it on another computer
  • Letting an AI agent inspect and operate a WSL environment through MCP
  • Running Linux VMs on a Mac with a GUI instead of manual Virtualization framework setup

Topics

#wsl#windows-subsystem-for-linux#gui#virtual-machine#macos#mcp#virtualization#developer-tools#ai#docker

FAQ

What is wslmanager?
A free, open source GUI for managing WSL distros on Windows, and native Linux/macOS VMs on Mac. WSL Manager is a graphical app for the Windows Subsystem for Linux. It lets you install, copy, rename, move, back up and delete distros without memorising wsl.exe flags, and it can package a configured distro as a portable .wsl file, edit .wslconfig, mount physical disks or VHDs, and sync instances between machines over SSH.
Is wslmanager free to use? What license does it have?
wslmanager is open source under the Other license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is wslmanager still maintained?
Actively maintained. The last commit to wslmanager was on Oct 1, 2026.
What can I use wslmanager for?
Managing several WSL distros on a Windows machine without using the command line Backing up a configured WSL setup and restoring it on another computer Letting an AI agent inspect and operate a WSL environment through MCP Running Linux VMs on a Mac with a GUI instead of manual Virtualization framework setup
Where can I get wslmanager?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/bostrot/wslmanager

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