📦 Moving WSL Distribution to Another Drive

🚀 This guide explains the process of moving a Linux distribution installed on Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) to another drive. In this example, we will be moving an Ubuntu 22.04 distribution, and the steps are outlined below.

🛠️ Prerequisites

• Windows operating system with WSL 2 installed.

📋 Instructions

1. Check the existing WSL installations
   Run the following command in a WSL or Command Prompt window to view your current WSL distributions and their versions:

   wsl --list -v

   If the installation you want to move is currently running, stop it using the wsl -t command. For example:

   wsl -t Ubuntu-22.04

2. Export the WSL distribution
   Export the distribution to a .tar file. For example, to export Ubuntu 22.04 as ubuntu-ex.tar to the D:\wsl_export directory:

   wsl --export Ubuntu-22.04 "D:\wsl_export\ubuntu-ex.tar"

3. Unregister the existing WSL installation
   Remove the Ubuntu 22.04 distribution from the WSL list using:

   wsl --unregister Ubuntu-22.04

4. Import the WSL Installation to a New Location

To move the exported WSL distribution to a new folder, you need to import the .tar file created in the previous step. When you import a distribution, it can be set to either WSL version 1 or version 2. By default, if no version is specified, it may import as version 1. To explicitly ensure that it is imported as WSL version 2, you should use the --version flag.

Command to Import

Use the following command to import the WSL distribution:

wsl --import <distro_name> <install_location> <path_to_tar_file> --version 2

• <distro_name>: The name you want to assign to the imported distribution. This is how it will be referenced in the WSL list and commands.
• <install_location>: The folder path where you want the distribution to be installed. This is typically a location on the drive where you want to store the distribution, such as D:\wsl_import\ubuntu.
• <path_to_tar_file>: The path to the exported .tar file created earlier, e.g., D:\wsl_export\ubuntu-ex.tar.
• --version 2: Specifies that the distribution should be imported as WSL version 2.

Example

To import the Ubuntu 22.04 distribution to the folder D:\wsl_import\ubuntu using the exported .tar file D:\wsl_export\ubuntu-ex.tar, run:

wsl --import Ubuntu-22.04 "D:\wsl_import\ubuntu" "D:\wsl_export\ubuntu-ex.tar" --version 2

Important Notes:

• Ensure the Target Directory Exists: The target folder D:\wsl_import\ubuntu should either exist or be automatically created by the command. However, it's good practice to manually verify that the directory exists and is writable.

• Specifying the Version: If you do not include the --version flag, the imported distribution may default to version 1, especially if that was the default version for your WSL environment. Including --version 2 ensures that the distribution will run as WSL 2, providing better performance and full system compatibility.

• Checking Import Status: After the import is complete, you can verify the success and version of the distribution using:

  wsl --list -v

  This command will show the current state and version of all registered WSL distributions.

• Naming Conflicts: Ensure the <distro_name> you choose does not conflict with existing distributions to avoid errors.

Following these steps ensures a smooth and precise import process with full control over the distribution’s version and location.

5. Check and Set the WSL Version (if needed)
   Verify the version of your imported distribution using:

   wsl --list -v

   If the version shows as 1 instead of 2, update it with the following command:

   wsl --set-version Ubuntu-22.04 2

6. Set the Default User (optional)
   To avoid login prompts when launching the distribution, set the default user. Use the following command, replacing me with your actual username:

   ubuntu2204.exe config --default-user me

7. Set the Default Distribution (optional)
   If you have multiple distributions registered and want the newly imported one to be the default, set it using:

   wsl --setdefault Ubuntu-22.04

🎉 Congratulations! You have successfully moved your WSL distribution to another drive and ensured it is running on WSL 2. You can now start the distribution and continue using it at the new location.

🛠️ Don't hesitate to create pull requests if you have suggestions for improvements to this guide. Your contributions are greatly appreciated!