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How to Fix WSL Installation Error on Windows 11

By: Author Alex Lim

Posted on

Categories Troubleshooting

Learn how to fix the WSL installation error “WslRegisterDistribution failed with error: 0x80370114” on Windows 11 and enable Linux support on your PC.

Problem

Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a feature that allows you to run Linux distributions and applications on Windows 11. However, some users may encounter an error when trying to install WSL on their PC. The error message is “WslRegisterDistribution failed with error: 0x80370114”. This error means that a required feature is not installed on your system. In this article, we will show you how to fix this error and successfully install WSL on Windows 11.

How to Fix WSL Installation Error on Windows 11

What Causes the WSL Installation Error on Windows 11?

The WSL installation error on Windows 11 is caused by the lack of the Virtual Machine Platform feature on your system. This feature is required for WSL to work properly, as it enables the virtualization of Linux on Windows. If you do not have this feature enabled, you will not be able to install WSL or any Linux distribution on your PC.

How to Enable the Virtual Machine Platform Feature on Windows 11?

To enable the Virtual Machine Platform feature on Windows 11, you need to follow these steps:

  1. Open the Start menu and type optionalfeatures.exe. Select the best match result at the top.
  2. In the Windows Features box, scroll down and check the box next to Virtual Machine Platform. Click OK.
  3. Wait for the feature to be installed and restart your PC when prompted.

Alternatively, you can also enable the Virtual Machine Platform feature using PowerShell. To do this, you need to follow these steps:

  1. Open the Start menu and type PowerShell. Right-click the best match result and select Run as administrator.
  2. In the PowerShell window, type the following command and press Enter: 
    Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName VirtualMachinePlatform
  3. Wait for the feature to be installed and restart your PC when prompted.

How to Install WSL on Windows 11 After Enabling the Virtual Machine Platform Feature?

After enabling the Virtual Machine Platform feature, you should be able to install WSL on Windows 11 without any error. To install WSL on Windows 11, you need to follow these steps:

  1. Open the Start menu and type wsl.exe –install. Select the best match result at the top.
  2. Wait for the WSL feature to be installed and restart your PC when prompted.
  3. After restarting your PC, open the Start menu and type wsl.exe –list –online. Select the best match result at the top.
  4. You will see a list of available Linux distributions that you can install on your PC. Choose the one that you prefer and type the following command: 
    wsl.exe --install <Distro>

    For example, if you want to install Ubuntu 20.04 LTS, type:

    wsl.exe --install Ubuntu-20.04
  5. Wait for the Linux distribution to be installed and launched. You will be asked to create a username and password for your Linux account.
  6. Congratulations, you have successfully installed WSL and a Linux distribution on your Windows 11 PC.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Question: What is the difference between WSL 1 and WSL 2?

Answer: WSL 1 and WSL 2 are two versions of the Windows Subsystem for Linux feature. WSL 1 is the original version that uses a translation layer to run Linux binaries on Windows. WSL 2 is the newer version that uses a lightweight virtual machine to run a real Linux kernel on Windows. WSL 2 offers better performance, compatibility, and integration than WSL 1, but it also requires more resources and may have some issues with networking and file system access.

Question: How to check which version of WSL I am running on Windows 11?

Answer: To check which version of WSL you are running on Windows 11, you can use the following command:

wsl.exe --list --verbose

This command will show you the name, version, state, and default status of the Linux distributions installed on your PC. The version number indicates whether you are running WSL 1 or WSL 2. For example, if the version number is 1, you are running WSL 1. If the version number is 2, you are running WSL 2.

Question: How to switch between WSL 1 and WSL 2 on Windows 11?

Answer: To switch between WSL 1 and WSL 2 on Windows 11, you can use the following command:

wsl.exe --set-version <Distro> <Version>

This command will change the version of the specified Linux distribution on your PC. For example, if you want to switch from WSL 1 to WSL 2 for Ubuntu 20.04 LTS, type:

wsl.exe --set-version Ubuntu-20.04 2

You may need to restart your PC for the changes to take effect.

Summary

In this article, we have explained how to fix the WSL installation error on Windows 11 and enable Linux support on your PC. We have also answered some frequently asked questions about WSL and its versions. We hope that this article has helped you to solve your problem and enjoy using Linux on Windows 11.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. We are not responsible for any damage or loss that may result from following the instructions in this article. Please use caution and backup your data before making any changes to your system.