{"id":27125,"date":"2022-08-15T11:15:43","date_gmt":"2022-08-15T05:45:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/198.58.113.91\/blog\/?p=27125"},"modified":"2022-12-20T14:20:05","modified_gmt":"2022-12-20T08:50:05","slug":"wsl-no-installed-distributions-error","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wsl-no-installed-distributions-error\/","title":{"rendered":"Windows Subsystem for Linux has no installed distributions"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you launch Windows Subsystem for Linux (wsl.exe<\/code>) for the first time on a Windows 11 computer, the following message appears:<\/p>\n

Windows Subsystem for Linux has no installed distributions.\r\nDistributions can be installed by visiting the Microsoft Store:\r\nhttps:\/\/aka.ms\/wslstore<\/pre>\n
Let’s see how to fix this error.
\n<\/p>\n
Download and Install a Linux Distro for WSL<\/h2>\n
Method 1: Install Linux Distro for WSL via Microsoft Store<\/h3>\n
Open the https:\/\/aka.ms\/wslstore<\/code> link as mentioned in the above notification. The link resolves to ms-windows-store:\/\/collection\/?CollectionId=LinuxDistros<\/code> and launches the Store app.<\/p>\n
You’ll see the available Linux distros in the Microsoft Store app. Pick the one you want and install it.<\/p>\n
\"linux<\/p>\n
On some systems, the Microsoft Store shows the following error:<\/p>\n
Wait a while, then try that again. Something happened on our end.<\/pre>\n
\"linux<\/p>\n
If your Windows 10 or 11 device’s Country or Region is set to “United States”, the Store app lists some distros. However, only three distros were listed when I tried.<\/p>\n
\"linux<\/p>\n
In that case, here are the Store app links for each individual distro:<\/p>\n
https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/store\/apps\/9N9TNGVNDL3Q - Ubuntu 18.04 LTS\r\nhttps:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/store\/apps\/9n6svws3rx71 - Ubuntu 20.04 LTS\r\nhttps:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/store\/apps\/9PN20MSR04DW - Ubuntu 22.04 LTS\r\nhttps:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/store\/apps\/9NJFZK00FGKV - openSUSE Leap 15.1\r\nhttps:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/store\/apps\/9MZ3D1TRP8T1 - SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5\r\nhttps:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/store\/apps\/9PN498VPMF3Z - SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1\r\nhttps:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/store\/apps\/9PKR34TNCV07 - Kali Linux\r\nhttps:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/store\/apps\/9MSVKQC78PK6 - Debian GNU\/Linux\r\nhttps:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/store\/apps\/9n6gdm4k2hnc - Fedora Remix for WSL\r\nhttps:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/store\/apps\/9NV1GV1PXZ6P - Pengwin\r\nhttps:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/store\/apps\/9N8LP0X93VCP - Pengwin Enterprise\r\nhttps:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/store\/apps\/9p804crf0395 - Alpine WSL\r\nhttps:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/store\/apps\/9msmjqd017x7 - Raft(Free Trial)\r\n<\/pre>\n
(Src<\/a>)<\/p>\n
Alternatively, you can quickly install a Linux distro for WSL using the manual procedure below.<\/p>\n
\n
Method 2: Install Linux Distro for WSL Manually<\/h3>\n
First, you need to pick a Linux distro (e.g., Ubuntu, Debian, OpenSUSE, etc) and download it. To see the list of available options, run the following command:<\/p>\n
wsl --list -o<\/pre>\n
\"\"<\/p>\n
Let’s say you want to install “Ubuntu<\/code>” distro. To do that, run the following command:<\/p>\n
\"Windows<\/p>\n
wsl --install --d Ubuntu<\/pre>\n
The Ubuntu distribution is now installed on WSL.<\/p>\n
RELATED:<\/strong> WSL Error 0x80070426 – The service has not been started<\/a><\/div>\n
\n
Setting up the distro for WSL<\/h3>\n
This section applies regardless of any method you used to install the Linux distribution for WSL.<\/p>\n
If you get an error when launching Ubuntu or the Ubuntu window closes, then switch back to your Command Prompt window and type:<\/p>\n
wsl<\/pre>\n
If it shows the same error (“Windows Subsystem for Linux has no installed distributions”,) it means that the components are missing on your computer:<\/p>\n