This is the privacy policy for the WSL UI application. For information about cookies and analytics on this website, see the Website Privacy Policy.
WSL UI Privacy Policy
Last updated: January 2026
Overview
WSL UI is a desktop application for managing Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) distributions. This privacy policy explains how we handle your data.
Analytics (Optional)
WSL UI includes optional, privacy-focused analytics powered by Aptabase. This is disabled by default and only enabled if you choose to opt in.
What We Collect (When Enabled)
If you opt in to analytics, we collect:
| Data | Purpose |
|---|---|
| App version | Understand which versions are in use |
| Windows version | Ensure compatibility |
| Distribution counts by source | Understand how users install distributions (e.g., 2 from Store, 1 container) |
What We Never Collect
- Distribution names or paths
- File contents or paths
- Personal information
- IP addresses (Aptabase anonymizes these)
- Device identifiers
Your Control
- First Launch: You'll be asked whether to enable analytics
- Settings: Toggle analytics on/off anytime in Settings → Privacy
- No Account Required: Analytics work without any login or registration
Why Aptabase?
We chose Aptabase because it's:
- Privacy-first by design
- GDPR compliant
- Open source
- Does not sell or share data
- Hosted in the EU
Local Storage
The application stores user preferences locally on your device:
- Windows:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\wsl-ui\
This includes:
- Application settings (theme, polling intervals)
- Custom action configurations
- Window state preferences
- Analytics preference (enabled/disabled)
You can delete this folder at any time to remove all stored preferences.
Network Access
WSL UI may access the network in these situations:
User-Initiated
- Installing distributions from Docker Hub - Downloads container images
- Installing from custom rootfs URLs - Downloads files you specify
- WSL updates - Triggers Windows' built-in WSL update mechanism
Analytics (If Enabled)
- Sends anonymous usage events to Aptabase servers
- All data is transmitted securely over HTTPS
- No personal or identifying information is included
All user-initiated network requests go directly to the relevant service (Microsoft, Docker Hub, or URLs you provide). WSL UI does not proxy or intercept this traffic.
Third-Party Services
When using certain features, data is sent to third-party services:
| Feature | Service | Data Sent |
|---|---|---|
| Install from Docker | Docker Hub | Image name requested |
| Install from Store | Microsoft | Distribution name |
| Custom rootfs | Your specified URL | HTTP request |
| Analytics (opt-in) | Aptabase | Anonymous usage data |
WSL UI does not control these third-party services. Please review their respective privacy policies:
Permissions
WSL UI requires the following system access:
- Full trust (runFullTrust) - Required to execute WSL commands and access WSL filesystems
- File system access - To import/export distributions and browse WSL files
Children's Privacy
WSL UI is a developer tool and is not directed at children under 13.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this privacy policy from time to time. Changes will be posted in the application repository and noted in release notes.
Contact
For privacy concerns or questions:
- GitHub Issues: https://github.com/octasoft-ltd/wsl-ui/issues
- Website: https://www.octasoft.co.uk
Source Available
WSL UI is free and open source software licensed under GPL-3.0. You can review the complete source code at: