Problem installing WSL: Error code: Wsl/WSL_E_DEFAULT_DISTRO_NOT_FOUND

[mwoodpatrick]

Version

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.22621.1028]

WSL Version

• WSL 2
• WSL 1

Kernel Version

5.15.79.1

Distro Version

Ubuntu (allegedly)

Other Software

No response

Repro Steps

On new system I ran

wsl --install

It installed wsl and says it installed Ubuntu however running

wsl -l

I get

wsl -l
Windows Subsystem for Linux has no installed distributions.

Use 'wsl.exe --list --online' to list available distributions
and 'wsl.exe --install ' to install.

Distributions can also be installed by visiting the Microsoft Store:
https://aka.ms/wslstore
Error code: Wsl/WSL_E_DEFAULT_DISTRO_NOT_FOUND

Running

wsl --install Ubuntu

I get

Ubuntu is already installed.
Launching Ubuntu...

and then in a new window I get

Installing, this may take a few minutes...
WslRegisterDistribution failed with error: 0x80370114
Error: 0x80370114 The operation could not be started because a required feature is not installed.

Press any key to continue...

Expected Behavior

WSL and Ubuntu would be installed

Actual Behavior

WSL is installed but Ubuntu is not

Diagnostic Logs

No response

[mwoodpatrick]

The system did another update based on yesterday's insider release and WSL completed the install on reboot

[bhoamikhona]

how did you solve this problem?

[mwoodpatrick]

I just reran

wsl --update

There was a new update and after it had completed the system behaved as expected. I'm not sure what the underlying problem was but with the versions below wsl is working for me

PS C:\Users\mlwp> wsl --version

WSL version: 1.0.3.0
Kernel version: 5.15.79.1
WSLg version: 1.0.47
MSRDC version: 1.2.3575
Direct3D version: 1.606.4
DXCore version: 10.0.25131.1002-220531-1700.rs-onecore-base2-hyp
Windows version: 10.0.22623.1095

[prasanthkollipara]

how did you solve this problem?
If you are trying to create a virtual environment of Linux on Windows, the problem with the code is that our WSL is unable to reach the repo in which the distros are supposed to be. So, to solve this issue, I manually downloaded the ubuntu image from the Microsoft store.
NOTE: The problem was not solved totally but I got what I was looking for (Ubuntu environment on Windows)

[kevinwmerritt]

I'm having the exact same problem as Mark Wood-Patrick (@mwoodpatrick) originally reported.

wsl --version

WSL version: 1.0.3.0
Kernel version: 5.15.79.1
WSLg version: 1.0.47
MSRDC version: 1.2.3575
Direct3D version: 1.606.4
DXCore version: 10.0.25131.1002-220531-1700.rs-onecore-base2-hyp
Windows version: 10.0.22621.1105

Installing, this may take a few minutes...
WslRegisterDistribution failed with error: 0x80370114
Error: 0x80370114 The operation could not be started because a required feature is not installed.

Press any key to continue...

[csraul]

I'm with the same problem, but in other moment a mensage say that already ubuntu instaled.

Error code: Wsl/Service/CreateInstance/GetDefaultDistro/WSL_E_DEFAULT_DISTRO_NOT_FOUND

[CeSiumUA]

+1
Fresh W11 installation....
I have exact the same situation as 2 people above.
Installed Debian, catching:

Installing, this may take a few minutes...
WslRegisterDistribution failed with error: 0x80370114
Error: 0x80370114 The operation could not be started because a required feature is not installed.

Press any key to continue...

And while typing wsl --list:

Windows Subsystem for Linux has no installed distributions.

Use 'wsl.exe --list --online' to list available distributions
and 'wsl.exe --install <Distro>' to install.

Distributions can also be installed by visiting the Microsoft Store:
https://aka.ms/wslstore
Error code: Wsl/WSL_E_DEFAULT_DISTRO_NOT_FOUND

UPD: I've also turned on Hyper-V in Windows features, restarted, and it seems to work now

[cladoulis]

I have been experiencing this same issue with Windows 10 21H2.
Ubuntu will not load, Docker Desktop will not start, even ever Hyper-V/WSL2/Docker uninstall & reinstalls. Still trying to resolve.

[Joaquin-Gajardo]

I had the same issue. Search for "Turn Windows features on or off" in the Windows search bar and ensure that "Windows Subsystem for Linux" and "Virtual Machine Platform" are on, then restart. This solved it for me.

[colby-vickerson]

I needed to go into my Bios and enable CPU Virtualization and after a restart it worked.

Steps to fix:

1. Enable CPU Virtualization in the BIOS (restart machine)
2. Open terminal and run: wsl.exe --install Ubuntu

[symya]

How to solve this question?

[imtahiriqbal]

First, check the list of distributions by entering command in PowerShell: wsl.exe --list.
If Ubuntu shows in the list, it means Ubuntu is installed and just reboot your system.

Otherwise, If there is no distributions follow these steps:

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator and run command: wsl.exe --update
2. Go through this article and enable CPU Virtualization.
3. Open PowerShell as Administrator and run command: wsl.exe --install Ubuntu

100% Fixed!

[symya]

thanks

[mlartab]

thank you @TahirIqbalGit it was very helpful