WSL Troubleshooting Guide

Common issues and solutions for Windows Subsystem for Linux problems.

Common Installation Issues

Error: "The Windows Subsystem for Linux optional component is not enabled"

Enable WSL feature manually:

dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux /all /norestart

Error: "WSL 2 requires an update to its kernel component"

Download and install the WSL2 Linux kernel update package from Microsoft.

Error: "Please enable the Virtual Machine Platform Windows feature"

Enable Virtual Machine Platform:

dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:VirtualMachinePlatform /all /norestart

Performance Issues

Slow File Operations

Solution: Store your project files in the Linux file system (/home/username/) instead of the Windows file system (/mnt/c/).

High Memory Usage

Solution: Configure memory limits in .wslconfig file:

[wsl2]
memory=4GB

Network Issues

Cannot Access Internet

Solution: Check DNS configuration in /etc/resolv.conf:

nameserver 8.8.8.8
nameserver 1.1.1.1