Install Redis on Windows without enabling WSL

The default installation instructions of Redis on Windows 11 asks one to enable WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux).

But an alternate approach exists if you do not/ cannot install WSL.

You can head to https://github.com/microsoftarchive/redis/releases and download the compiled binaries there and install Redis. (NOTE: during installation change the port from default 6379 to 16379. Otherwise you might get an error _^[1])

After the installation is completed, run the redis-server in a Command Prompt (with administrator previliges):

cd "c:\Program Files\Redis"
redis-server.exe

This should start the server and you should see a message similar to this:

Troubleshooting

If you get an error:

HandleServiceCommands: system error caught. error code=1056, message = StartService failed: unknown error

Modify the port in the file and then save it (saving requires admin priviliges), the run the following command:

redis-server redis.windows.conf

Notes

[1] Error: HandleServiceCommands: system error caught. error code=1056, message = StartService failed: unknown error