WSL2 - Install an X Server and set DISPLAY

Since WSL2 doesn’t natively support GUI apps, you need an X server to render the GUI on Windows.

Install VcXsrv:

1. Download and install VcXsrv from here.

2. After installation, launch VcXsrv and configure the settings:

   • Select Multiple windows for the display.
   • Select Start no client.
   • Enable Disable access control to allow WSL2 to communicate with the X server without restrictions.

   Click Finish to start the X server.

          

     

 

To make the XLauncher start automatically, copy the saved config file to 'C:\Users\ZhangZhihui\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup'.

 

Set Up the DISPLAY Environment Variable in Ubuntu (WSL2)

1. Open the .bashrc or .zshrc file in Ubuntu to set the DISPLAY variable:

   nano ~/.bashrc

2. Add this line at the end of the file:

   export DISPLAY=$(hostname -I | awk '{print $1}'):0

    

   The above DISPLAY doesn't work. Need to set it as below:

   export DISPLAY=:0.0

    

3. Save and exit (CTRL + X, then Y to confirm, and Enter).

4. Reload the .bashrc file to apply the changes:

   source ~/.bashrc