# The Evolution of WSL Support in JetBrains IDEs

DevFeed: [The Evolution of WSL Support in JetBrains IDEs](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/the-evolution-of-wsl-support-in-jetbrains-ides-8806.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://blog.jetbrains.com/platform/2026/09/the-evolution-of-wsl-support-in-jetbrains-ides/>)

Author: Kristina Pchelintseva

Published: 2026-09-09T10:39:49Z

Content type: article

Language: en

Sources: [The JetBrains Blog](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/the-jetbrains-blog.md>)

Topics: [IntelliJ IDEA](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/intellij-idea.md>), [Processes](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/processes.md>)

Tags: [2026-2](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/2026-2.md>), [architecture](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/architecture.md>), [debug](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/debug.md>), [ecosystem](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ecosystem.md>), [engineering](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/engineering.md>), [ide](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ide.md>), [idea](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/idea.md>), [intellij-idea](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/intellij-idea.md>), [intellij-platform](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/intellij-platform.md>), [linux](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/linux.md>), [phpstorm](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/phpstorm.md>), [remote-development](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/remote-development.md>), [support](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/support.md>), [webstorm](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/webstorm.md>), [windows](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/windows.md>), [wsl](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/wsl.md>)

## AI overview

JetBrains describes its evolution of WSL integration and recommends Native mode from version 2026.2. In this mode, supported IDEs remain Windows applications while an agent in WSL handles project files and processes.

## Source excerpt

JetBrains IDEs have worked with WSL for many years, and over time, several ways of using it have emerged across our products. Depending on the entry point, the IDE could rely on a different underlying architecture, leading to a different experience. Starting with the 2026.2 release, there is one recommended entry point. In IntelliJ IDEA, [...]