Errors Occurred During WSL Startup: Fix Common Issues and Boot Failures

Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a powerful tool that lets developers run Linux environments natively on Windows. However, it’s not immune to startup errors—especially when misconfigurations, outdated components, or system conflicts are present. If you’ve encountered errors while trying to launch WSL, this article walks through troubleshoot and restore functionality.

Common Errors You Might See

Startup issues in WSL often present with generic or cryptic messages. Some of the most common include:

• “WSL 2 requires an update to its kernel component”
• “The requested operation could not be completed due to a virtual disk system limitation”
• Error code 0x80370102 (often due to virtualization not being enabled)
• “Access Denied” or 0x80070005
• “WSL initialization failed”

Each of these has distinct causes and potential fixes, which we’ll explore step by step.

Verify WSL Installation and Status

Start by checking whether WSL is correctly installed and what version you’re using. This helps isolate whether the issue lies with WSL itself or a specific Linux distribution.

Run this in PowerShell (as Administrator):

wsl --status

• If WSL isn’t installed, install it using:

wsl --install

• If you’re on WSL 1 and want to upgrade to WSL 2 (recommended):

wsl --set-default-version 2

Update WSL and Kernel Components

Outdated components can often cause incompatibility or failure during startup. To ensure you’re running the latest versions:

1. Update WSL: wsl --update
2. After updating, shut down all instances: wsl --shutdown

This process applies pending updates and resets WSL background services.

Check for Distro-Specific Issues

Sometimes the WSL platform is working fine, but a particular Linux distribution is corrupted or misbehaving.

• Terminate the affected distribution:

wsl --terminate <DistroName>

• If the problem persists, unregister and reinstall it: wsl --unregister <DistroName>

wsl --unregister <DistroName>

Then, reinstall the distro via the Microsoft Store. This clean reinstall can often resolve persistent initialization errors.

Enable Virtualization in BIOS

WSL 2 requires hardware virtualization (Intel VT-x or AMD-V) to be enabled at the BIOS/UEFI level. If it’s not, startup will fail—commonly with error code 0x80370102.

Steps:

1. Restart your PC and enter BIOS/UEFI (commonly using keys like F2, Del, or Esc).
2. Find Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x) or AMD-V.
3. Enable it, save changes, and reboot.

You can verify virtualization is enabled via Task Manager:

• Open Task Manager → Performance tab → Look under CPU → Check “Virtualization: Enabled”.

Resolve Virtual Disk Space Errors

If you’re getting errors related to virtual disk limitations or failures to mount .vhdx files, it may be due to insufficient disk space.

Steps to resolve:

1. Free up space on the drive where WSL distributions are installed.
2. Optionally, compact the WSL disk using diskpart:

wsl --shutdown
diskpart
select vdisk file="%LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\<Distro>\LocalState\ext4.vhdx"
compact vdisk
exit

Replace <Distro> with the actual folder name of your installed distribution.

Disable Conflicting Hypervisors or Security Tools

Third-party hypervisors, aggressive antivirus software, or even Windows’ own Hyper-V can conflict with WSL. If you suspect conflicts, disable Hyper-V temporarily:

bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype off

Reboot your PC and try launching WSL again. If it works, you can re-enable Hyper-V later with:

bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype auto

Reset or Reinstall WSL

If multiple attempts fail, a full WSL reset may be necessary. This is especially helpful when system-level misconfigurations are present.

1. Unregister all installed distros: wsl --unregister <DistroName>
2. Reset the WSL environment: wsl --shutdown wsl --install

Note: Unregistering a distro will delete its data. Backup anything important beforehand.

Check Windows Updates

Outdated Windows builds can introduce compatibility issues with WSL—especially new features in WSL 2.

Steps:

1. Go to Settings → Windows Update.
2. Click Check for updates.
3. Install all pending updates and restart your system.

Review Logs for Further Diagnosis

If the issue still isn’t resolved, check logs to get more detailed error information.

To check system logs relevant to WSL:

Get-EventLog -LogName System -Source *WSL* | Format-List

You can also explore:

• %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Temp
• Windows Event Viewer (eventvwr.msc)

These logs can provide deeper insight into system-level issues that may not appear in PowerShell outputs.

Common Errors and Their Quick Fixes

Final Thoughts

Most WSL startup errors can be fixed by updating, enabling virtualization, or resetting the environment. If you still face issues, check Windows Event Viewer (eventvwr.msc) for detailed logs.

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve WSL startup problems and get back to a seamless development experience.

Did this guide help you? Let us know in the comments!