should mention selecting WSL version before running wsl --install -d Ubuntu-20.04

[therobyouknow]

problem with instructions on page: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install

first of all, parameters need to be specified, as per issue #1375

and also best to specify WSL 2 version (which is the best and fastest, improvements on WSL 2), before running the install command

and to specify the specific Ubuntu version (related issue #1377 )

So to get a specific recent version of Ubuntu, e.g. 20.04 installed with WSL 2, do:

wsl --set-default-version 2

then

wsl --install -d Ubuntu-20.04

(in Administrator Power Shell)

tip:

if from
wsl -l -v you find that you had installed a distro like Ubuntu with WSL1 (listed as 1 under VERSION) then you can uninstall it in the standard uninstaller.

PS C:\Windows\system32> wsl -l -v
  NAME                   STATE           VERSION
* Ubuntu                 Stopped         1
  docker-desktop         Running         2
  docker-desktop-data    Running         2
  Ubuntu-20.04           Running         2
PS C:\Windows\system32>

in the uninstall apps windows window ('Apps & Features') click on the app you want to uninstall to reveal the uninstall button.

before uninstall of superfluous wsl1 and distro

after

---

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

[craigloewen-msft]

We've improved this in the Microsoft Store version of WSL! https://aka.ms/wslstorepage