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An XDA Developers writer reports that WSL 3.0.1’s new wslc command can pull and run Linux containers directly from Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt, without Docker Desktop. The writer tested an Nvidia GPU workload and found container performance close to a native run, but wslc currently lacks Compose and supports Linux containers only.

Windows 11 users can run Linux containers without Docker Desktop using the wslc command added in WSL 3.0.1, according to a hands-on report published by XDA Developers on October 23. The writer tested the setup from PowerShell, including a container that accessed an Nvidia GPU, offering developers a simpler option for individual containers and quick tests, though key features such as Compose are not yet available.

The XDA writer says the basic setup requires checking the installed WSL version with wsl –version and, if necessary, running wsl –update. On a fresh Windows 11 installation without WSL, the report says users must first run wsl –install. After updating, the writer verified the new command with wslc version and ran a test image using wslc run –rm hello-world. The test printed its greeting in under 10 seconds on the writer’s PC, including the image download. That timing is a result from one system, not a general performance guarantee.

The report also tested GPU access using an Nvidia CUDA container and the –gpus all option. The container’s nvidia-smi output identified the writer’s RTX 4070 Ti Super, its 16GB of VRAM and driver version 617.14, matching the version shown in Windows. The writer says no separate Linux Nvidia driver or container toolkit was needed for this test; the existing Windows driver provided GPU access through WSL.

For a performance comparison, the writer ran the official CUDA container for llama.cpp against the same Gemma 4 E4B model file used in a native run. Both tests used Q4_K_M quantization, full GPU offload, a 128K context, the same prompt and a 256-token response. The native run produced 128 to 132 tokens per second across two trials; the container run produced 124 tokens per second in both trials. These figures describe the writer’s particular setup and test conditions, not a broader benchmark.

A Simpler Route to Linux Containers

The development gives Windows developers another way to run Linux containers directly from the command line, without installing Docker Desktop for basic tasks. That can reduce setup steps for people who need to test an image, run a one-off service or use a containerized GPU workload. The reported test also suggests that, on the writer’s system and workload, GPU access and inference performance were close to a native run.

The practical trade-off is that wslc is not a full Docker Desktop replacement for every workflow. Users who depend on multi-container setups managed with Compose, or who need Windows containers, may still require another tool. The report frames wslc as an additional option for simpler Linux-container use rather than a universal substitute.

From Docker Desktop to WSLC

The report says Microsoft previously recommended Docker Desktop in a WSL container tutorial, while its Microsoft Learn guidance now teaches the wslc workflow. WSL provides a way to run Linux environments within Windows, and the new command lets users manage containers from Windows shells rather than relying on a separate desktop application.

The writer tested the feature on a PC with an AMD Ryzen 5 7600X and Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti Super. Their account is a personal hands-on report, not an independent, multi-system evaluation. The listed command sequence and benchmark results are useful examples, but behavior and performance may differ with other Windows builds, hardware, drivers and container images.

““The whole installation process is one command.””

— XDA Developers writer

Compose Support Remains Pending

The report does not give a timeline for Compose support, nor does it specify which WSL releases or Windows configurations will receive the feature beyond describing WSL 3.0.1 and the update process. It also does not provide a multi-device test, independent verification of the benchmark, or results for other Nvidia cards and container workloads. The reported 124-token-per-second result should be read as a single writer’s test configuration, not a promised level of performance.

It remains unclear whether wslc will eventually cover every workflow offered by Docker Desktop. The source specifically identifies the absence of Compose and support for Windows containers as current limitations; it does not establish that those gaps will be addressed beyond the reported work on Compose.

Watch for Compose and Further Tests

The next reported development to watch is Microsoft’s work on running existing Compose files through wslc. The source gives no target date, so users who rely on Compose will need to check for future WSL updates and Microsoft documentation rather than assume support is imminent.

For now, readers can use the documented commands to check their WSL version and try a basic Linux container, while treating GPU access and speed as system-specific. Further testing across hardware and more complex workloads would help clarify how well wslc fits different development setups.

Key Questions

Can Windows 11 run containers without Docker Desktop?

Yes. According to the XDA Developers report, WSL 3.0.1 adds wslc, which can pull and run Linux containers from PowerShell or Command Prompt without Docker Desktop.

How do I set up wslc?

Check the WSL version with wsl –version. If needed, update with wsl –update; if WSL is not installed, the report says to start with wsl –install. Then verify the command with wslc version and test it with a hello-world image.

Can wslc containers use an Nvidia GPU?

The XDA writer reports that a CUDA container accessed an RTX 4070 Ti Super through WSL using –gpus all and the existing Windows driver. The report does not establish results for every GPU or configuration.

Does wslc support Docker Compose or Windows containers?

The report says Compose is currently missing and wslc runs Linux containers only. It says Microsoft is working on Compose support, with a stated goal of running existing files without changes, but gives no release date.

Source: XDA Developers