'wsl --install' is not installing default distribution (Ubuntu)

[vvavrychuk]

Page https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install says that from Windows 10 version 2004 and higher (Build 19041 and higher) command wsl --install should install Ubuntu by default, but it is not the case for me

C:\Users\vvavr>wsl --install
Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Usage: wsl.exe [Argument] [Options...] [CommandLine]

Arguments for running Linux binaries:

    If no command line is provided, wsl.exe launches the default shell.

    --exec, -e <CommandLine>
        Execute the specified command without using the default Linux shell.

    --
        Pass the remaining command line as is.

Options:
    --cd <Directory>
        Sets the specified directory as the current working directory.
        If ~ is used the Linux user's home path will be used. If the path begins
        with a / character, it will be interpreted as an absolute Linux path.
        Otherwise, the value must be an absolute Windows path.

    --distribution, -d <Distro>
        Run the specified distribution.

    --user, -u <UserName>
        Run as the specified user.

    --system
        Launches a shell for the system distribution.

Arguments for managing Windows Subsystem for Linux:

    --help
        Display usage information.

    --install [Options]
        Install additional Windows Subsystem for Linux distributions.
        For a list of valid distributions, use 'wsl --list --online'.

        Options:
            --distribution, -d [Argument]
                Downloads and installs a distribution by name.

                Arguments:
                    A valid distribution name (not case sensitive).

                Examples:
                    wsl --install -d Ubuntu
                    wsl --install --distribution Debian

    --set-default-version <Version>
        Changes the default install version for new distributions.

    --shutdown
        Immediately terminates all running distributions and the WSL 2
        lightweight utility virtual machine.

    --status
        Show the status of Windows Subsystem for Linux.

    --update [Options]
        If no options are specified, the WSL 2 kernel will be updated
        to the latest version.

        Options:
            --rollback
                Revert to the previous version of the WSL 2 kernel.

Arguments for managing distributions in Windows Subsystem for Linux:

    --export <Distro> <FileName>
        Exports the distribution to a tar file.
        The filename can be - for standard output.

    --import <Distro> <InstallLocation> <FileName> [Options]
        Imports the specified tar file as a new distribution.
        The filename can be - for standard input.

        Options:
            --version <Version>
                Specifies the version to use for the new distribution.

    --list, -l [Options]
        Lists distributions.

        Options:
            --all
                List all distributions, including distributions that are
                currently being installed or uninstalled.

            --running
                List only distributions that are currently running.

            --quiet, -q
                Only show distribution names.

            --verbose, -v
                Show detailed information about all distributions.

            --online, -o
                Displays a list of available distributions for install with 'wsl --install'.

    --set-default, -s <Distro>
        Sets the distribution as the default.

    --set-version <Distro> <Version>
        Changes the version of the specified distribution.

    --terminate, -t <Distro>
        Terminates the specified distribution.

    --unregister <Distro>
        Unregisters the distribution and deletes the root filesystem.

    --mount <Disk>
        Attaches and mounts a physical disk in all WSL2 distributions.

        Options:
            --bare
                Attach the disk to WSL2, but don't mount it.

            --type <Type>
                Filesystem to use when mounting a disk, if not specified defaults to ext4.

            --options <Options>
                Additional mount options.

            --partition <Index>
                Index of the partition to mount, if not specified defaults to the whole disk.

    --unmount [Disk]
        Unmounts and detaches a disk from all WSL2 distributions.
        Unmounts and detaches all disks if called without argument.

On the other hand, wsl --install -d Ubuntu works fine.

I have windows version dev (os build 21390.2025).

---

Document Details

⚠ Do not edit this section. It is required for docs.microsoft.com ➟ GitHub issue linking.

• ID: 0cc9a77f-e6a1-a719-c337-7ff7506a1ac8
• Version Independent ID: 7ed8fb81-5b8f-4d56-7b89-bf600ce6080a
• Content: Install WSL
• Content Source: WSL/install.md
• Product: dev-environment
• Technology: windows-subsystem-for-linux
• GitHub Login: @craigloewen-msft
• Microsoft Alias: crloewen

[mab0189]

I had the same experience with version 21H1 (Build 19043.1288).

[SimpleSamples]

Thank you! I got the same using wsl --install and the workaround works for me too. This is with 20H2.

[slonopotamus]

On the other hand, wsl --install -d Ubuntu works fine.

No, it doesn't. Page says:

This command will enable the required optional components, download the latest Linux kernel, set WSL 2 as your default, and install a Linux distribution for you (Ubuntu by default, see below to change this).

wsl --install -d Ubuntu does neither of those three items on Windows 20H2.

UPDATE: The situaton is a bit trickier. It is true that wsl --install -d Ubuntu will do all listed actions on a clean OS. But if you have already installed WSL1 in the past (via Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux in elevated PowerShell, for example), then wsl --install -d Ubuntu won't install WSL2, won't enable WSL2 by default and won't download WSL2 kernel.

[slonopotamus]

Okay, things are even more complicated.

With clean Windows 20H2, no-arg wsl --install does work from an elevated console. But if you have WSL1 (Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux feature) or WSL2 (VirtualMachinePlatform feature) installed, no-arg wsl --install no longer works.

Note that wsl --install also works if you uninstall WSL1+2 and then reboot.

[slonopotamus]

I'd score quality of implementation of this feature as -2 on 0-10 scale. @microsoft please, hire better programmers and QA.

[crramirez]

@slonopotamus, I still don't understand your point. wsl --install with no arguments is made to install WSL. If you already have WSL installed, you don't need no-arg wsl --install; you need only to install distros. If you want to update the kernel run wsl --update

wsl --install as you are requesting would be very difficult to implement and error-prone. For example, if you already have WSL1 installed and run wsl --install, why it would assume that you want to install WSL2. If you have WSL2, why does running wsl --install would make WSL2 by default, etc.

"@microsoft please, hire better programmers and QA." it is not a bug; the command is made on purpose in that way.

[crramirez]

Also check this comment for clarifications: #1408 (comment)

[slonopotamus]

If I don't have network connection, wsl --install installs VirtualMachinePlatform and then... Stops. Now you have half-installed WSL2, without kernel and without distro. And you can't wsl --install anymore, because (remember?) wsl --install only works when you don't have WSL at all. And now user needs to download kernel MSI manually. And he goes to this bugtracker and asks "wtf, why I need to do steps for older distros when I have the latest 21H2?"

if you already have WSL1 installed and run wsl --install, why it would assume that you want to install WSL2

It doesn't need to assume anything. Don't try to outsmart the user. I'll quote again:

This command will enable the required optional components, download the latest Linux kernel, set WSL 2 as your default, and install a Linux distribution for you (Ubuntu by default, see below to change this).

So, your docs clearly indicate that no-arg wsl --install is a way to get WSL2.

If you already have WSL installed, you don't need no-arg wsl --install; you need only to install distros.

Wrong. If I already have WSL1 installed, I may still want to install WSL2.

[craigloewen-msft]

As others have said this is because WSL is already installed! We put in a note on the main page to make sure that this is seen by other users, and have fixed this error code in later versions of the product.
#1433

Thanks for filing this!