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I have WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) set up on my computer with Ubuntu.  When I want a Linux session, I hit Win+R and type bash because it's short and quick.  However, it always drops me into /mnt/c/Users/Michael.  I want it to drop me into my Ubuntu home directory (~) instead.

I've tried adding cd ~ to my .bash_profile, but then whenever I try to run bash from the command line, it always takes me to ~, instead of opening bash in the current directory.

I can get around this by running ubuntu from the Run Dialog, but it takes longer and is harder to spell.

How can I get bash to open ~ when run from the run dialog, and the current working directory when run from Command Prompt or PowerShell? Or, what are some good workarounds?

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  • Probably all you need is to create a command (bat, shortcut, whatever) for windows that will force a shell to open where you want (your home). Than to call it from Dialog. From this answer you can execute the equivalent of a sh -c 'cd ~/Documents; exec "${SHELL:-sh}"' (you may want to substitute sh with bash and delete Documents too since you want only ~ )... But I hope you get the hint.
    – Hastur
    Commented Mar 13, 2020 at 10:47
  • @Hastur The problem with that is that it will always open in that same directory then, even when I run bash from the command line.
    – Michael Kolber
    Commented Mar 16, 2020 at 2:02
  • I believe that you’ve misunderstood Hastur’s suggestion.  I believe that their suggestion is that you create a batch file with a new name (e.g., wsl.bat or runbash.bat) containing the sh -c '…' command, and then run that from the Run dialog, while continuing to use bash from Command Prompt or PowerShell.  Or create a Windows shortcut, and put that in your Start menu or on your desktop.
    – Scott - Слава Україні
    Commented Mar 16, 2020 at 2:15
  • Oh, I understand now
    – Michael Kolber
    Commented Mar 16, 2020 at 2:47

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
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A simple kludge (workaround) would be to put

if [ "$PWD" = '/mnt/c/Users/Michael' ]
then
    cd
fi

into your .bash_profile.  That way, if you’re in your Windows home directory (C:\Users\Michael) when you run bash, it will go to your Ubuntu home directory.  If you’re anywhere else, it will stay there.

This is a kludge/workaround inasmuch as, if you manually go to C:\Users\Michael in Command Prompt or PowerShell, bash will still cd to ~.

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