WSL Reveal in File Explorer
A VS Code extension that seamlessly opens Windows File Explorer from WSL, allowing you to reveal files and folders in the native Windows file manager with a simple right-click.
☕ Support
If this extension helps you, consider supporting the development:
Your support helps maintain and improve this extension!
🚀 Features
- Zero Configuration Required - Works out of the box with any WSL distribution
- Context Menu Integration - Right-click any file or folder to reveal it in Windows Explorer
- Automatic WSL Detection - Dynamically detects your WSL distribution name
- Reliable Path Translation - Converts WSL paths to Windows-compatible UNC paths
- Cross-Distribution Support - Works with Ubuntu, Debian, Alpine, and other WSL distributions
📋 Prerequisites
- Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) or WSL2
- Visual Studio Code running in WSL mode
- PowerShell available on Windows (included by default)
🌟 Show Your Support
If you find this extension useful:
Every star, review, and coffee means a lot and helps keep this project alive! 🚀
🎯 Usage
- Open VS Code in WSL - Make sure you're running VS Code in WSL mode
- Right-click any file or folder in the VS Code explorer panel
- Select "Reveal in File Explorer" from the context menu
- Windows File Explorer opens showing the selected file/folder location
That's it! No configuration needed.
🔧 How It Works
The extension automatically:
- Detects your WSL distribution name
- Converts Linux paths to Windows UNC format (
\\wsl$\Distribution\path)
- Uses PowerShell to reliably open Windows File Explorer
- Handles path escaping and special characters
🛠️ Development
To contribute or modify this extension:
# Clone the repository
git clone <repository-url>
cd vscode-wsl-reveal-explorer
# Open in VS Code
code .
# Press F5 to run in Extension Development Host
# Test the functionality by right-clicking files in the explorer
🐛 Troubleshooting
If the extension doesn't work:
- Ensure you're running VS Code in WSL mode (not Windows)
- Verify that PowerShell is available on your Windows system
- Check that Windows File Explorer can access
\\wsl$\<distribution> paths manually
📄 License
This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.
👨💻 Author
Feras Abdalrahman
