WSL issue: "Windows Subystem for Linux has no installed distributions"

Question

I'm trying to get WSL 2 working on my Windows 10 machine. I have followed the "Manual" directions in this page:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install-win10#set-your-distribution-version-to-wsl-1-or-wsl-2

And then downloaded 2 different Ubuntu distros linked in this page:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install-manual

I set the default version to WSL 2.

After invoking "Add-AppxPackage" (with no errors) and restarting, the WSL still reports that I have no installed distributions.

See:

I have confirmed that all Hyper-V options have been enabled in Windows Features, along with Virtual Machine Platform, and Windows Subsystem for Linux.

I have tried "wsl /install" but it simply reports the same "Windows Subsystem for Linux has no installed distributions."

I have tried Add-AppxPackage with both administrator rights and non adminstrator rights with no difference.

How can I get WSL to allow me to install a distro?

Answer 1

I had the same problem this evening, then I realize I didn't open Ubuntu app after downloading wsl. enter image description here

Answer 2

You loaded your distro from the Windows Store, but did you Open it from the Windows Store?

You need to do this to go through the install process, during which you'll create a username and password.

Once you've done this, you should see Ubuntu (or your other distro of preference) listed in wsl -l -v as running, along with the WSL version under which it's running.

Incidentally, if you find it's running under WSL 1 although you'd set the default to WSL 2, use wsl -l -v to get its exact name, then use wsl --set-version MY-DISTRO-NAME 2 (replacing MY-DISTRO-NAME with that exact name given before). Your current instance will be terminated and WSL will spend the next few minutes converting the distro.

Answer 3

After performing all of the steps above, I noticed that "Ubuntu 18.04 LTS" was in my "Recently Added" programs list in the start menu. Double clicking on it finished the installation.