Mount WSL file system in Windows to enable access via cmd.exe or PowerShell

The windows command prompt does not understand UNC (Universal Naming Convention) paths which starts with \\ rather than a drive letter, so mapping a UNC path to a drive will convert it to a drive letter path. Follow the below instruction to do the same:

1. Get the wsl destro version (run command in cmd.exe/powershell)

\> wsl -l

Windows Subsystem for Linux Distributions:
Ubuntu-20.04 (Default)

2. Mount the wsl filesystem as a network drive by below command

net use <drive-name>: \\wsl$\<destro_name>

example:

\> net use z: \\wsl$\Ubuntu-20.04

The drive Z: will be visible as a network drive in windows file system. At above command wsl$ is a special hostname that tells Windows to connect to WSL Ubuntu-20.04 is a distribution name under WSL.

Now you can access/explore wsl filesystem wiith cmd.exe/powershell

Z:

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