> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.magnitude.dev/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Windows and WSL

> Use Magnitude on Windows from agents inside WSL.

Magnitude runs on Windows. Agents installed inside a WSL distribution run in a separate Linux environment with its own network, so `127.0.0.1` inside WSL is the distribution, not Windows. **Connections** cannot detect or configure agents inside WSL; configure them by hand as shown under **Configuration** on the agent's page; see [Other devices](/api/other-devices#configure-the-app-or-agent).

## Mirrored networking

On Windows 11 22H2 and later, WSL can mirror the Windows network. With mirrored networking, `http://127.0.0.1:10100` works inside WSL exactly as on Windows, and Magnitude's network access setting is not needed.

Enable it in **WSL Settings → Networking → Networking mode → Mirrored**, or add to `%USERPROFILE%\.wslconfig`:

```ini theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
[wsl2]
networkingMode=mirrored
```

Then run `wsl --shutdown` in PowerShell and start the distribution again.

Inside WSL, use `http://127.0.0.1:10100/inference/v1` as the base URL. No API key is needed.

## NAT networking

In the default NAT mode, WSL reaches Windows through the host address.

1. In Magnitude, open **Settings → Network access**, turn it on, and copy the API key. Keep **All interfaces** selected. Restart Magnitude.

2. Inside WSL, find the Windows host address:

   ```sh theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
   ip route show default | awk '{print $3}'
   ```

3. Use `http://HOST_ADDRESS:10100/inference/v1` as the base URL and the API key as the key.

If the connection is refused, allow inbound connections through the Hyper-V firewall from an administrator PowerShell:

```powershell theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
New-NetFirewallHyperVRule -Name "Magnitude" -DisplayName "Magnitude" -Direction Inbound -VMCreatorId '{40E0AC32-46A5-438A-A0B2-2B479E8F2E90}' -Protocol TCP -LocalPorts 10100
```

The host address can change when WSL restarts. Mirrored networking avoids this.

## The CLI inside WSL

WSL can run Windows programs, so `magnitude.exe` works from a WSL shell. It controls the Windows installation and edits Windows configuration files, not files inside the distribution.