Additionally, if you don't wish to use the Microsoft Store you can download the distro packages individually. [0] You then open/unzip the '.appx' package with

Additionally, if you don't wish to use the Microsoft Store you can download the distro packages individually. [0] You then open/unzip the '.appx' package with any archiver such as 7Zip and place the files in a folder of your choosing; simply launching the distro executable ('ubuntu1804.exe' for example) to install and register the distro. You can then use that same executable to launch WSL for that distro in its own window, which makes it easy to add the icon as a shortcut to your taskbar for quick access like you would any Windows program, without having to open command line first. Added benefit is that you can store all your distros as folders (with individual rootfs and config files) in a parent location of your choosing such as a fast external array, without having to use the MS Store or an MS Account. [0] https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install-manual https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install-manual