Windows Installation Guide | Kamiwaza Docs

System Requirements

Minimum Requirements

Recommended for Optimal Performance

Prerequisites Setup

Step 1: Enable WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux)

If WSL is not already installed on your system:

  1. Open PowerShell as Administrator

    • Right-click Start button → "Windows PowerShell (Admin)"

  2. Install WSL 

    wsl --install

  3. Restart your computer when prompted

  4. Verify WSL installation 

    wsl --version

Step 2: Install Docker Desktop

If you do not already have Docker installed, download Docker Desktop from the official website.

Configure WSL Integration

After Docker Desktop is installed:

  1. Go to Settings → General
    • Enable "Use the WSL 2 based engine"
  2. Go to Settings → Resources → WSL Integration
    • Enable "Enable integration with my default WSL distro"
  3. Click Apply & Restart

Verify Docker Installation

From PowerShell or Command Prompt: 

docker --version

Verify Docker works within WSL: 

wsl docker --version

Both commands should return the Docker version. If the WSL command fails, check that WSL integration is properly enabled in Docker Desktop settings.

Step 3: Verify GPU Access (If Applicable)

Note: GPU verification will be performed automatically during installation. The installer will detect and configure GPU access for supported hardware.

Supported GPUs:

Step 4: Install Windows Terminal (Optional but Recommended)

Download from Microsoft Store or GitHub releases

Download and Installation

Step 1: Download Kamiwaza Installer

Download the Windows MSI installer:

Step 2: Run the Installer

  1. Locate the downloaded MSI file in your Downloads folder
  2. Double-click to run the installer
  3. When prompted by Windows User Account Control, click "Yes" to allow the installer to make changes to your device
  4. Follow the installation wizard

Configuration Options:

Step 3: Installation Process

The installer will automatically:

Expected Installation Time:

Step 4: GPU Driver Restart

If GPU acceleration was configured, you'll be prompted to restart your device. It is recommended to restart immediately to ensure proper GPU driver initialization.

Access Your Installation

Option 1: System Tray Access (Primary Method)

After installation, Kamiwaza will automatically launch and appear in your system tray. Right-click the Kamiwaza system tray icon to access the following options:

Option 2: WSL Command Line Access

Access the Kamiwaza WSL environment and start the platform:

wsl -d kamiwaza

kamiwaza start

Option 3: Start Menu Shortcuts

After installation, find these shortcuts in Start Menu → "Kamiwaza":

Option 4: Direct Browser Access

Once running, access Kamiwaza at:

Platform Management

Primary Method: System Tray

The easiest way to manage Kamiwaza is through the system tray icon. Right-click the Kamiwaza icon in your system tray to access all management options.

Alternative Method: Command Line

From PowerShell or Command Prompt:

# Start Kamiwaza
wsl -d kamiwaza -- kamiwaza start

# Stop Kamiwaza
wsl -d kamiwaza -- kamiwaza stop

# Restart Kamiwaza
wsl -d kamiwaza -- kamiwaza restart

# Check status
wsl -d kamiwaza -- kamiwaza status

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Installation Fails with "WSL not found"

Ubuntu-24.04 Distribution Not Found

Memory Allocation Errors

GPU Detection Issues

Network Access Problems

Getting Help

Check Installation Logs

WSL logs:

wsl -d kamiwaza -- journalctl -t kamiwaza-install

Windows logs:

Installation and other logs should also be located on your Windows device at: C:\Users\[USER]\AppData\Local\Kamiwaza\logs

GPU Status Check

wsl -d kamiwaza -- /usr/local/bin/kamiwaza_gpu_status.sh

Support Contact

Uninstallation

Option 1: Use Windows Settings

  1. Settings → Apps → Find "Kamiwaza Installer" → Uninstall

Option 2: Use Start Menu shortcut

  1. Start Menu → Kamiwaza → "Cleanup WSL (Uninstall)"

Option 3: Manual cleanup if needed

wsl --unregister kamiwaza

Last Updated: September 3th, 2025