when installing with wsl --install, linux icon in windows explorer is missing

[uishon]

Windows Version

Microsoft Windows (Version 10.0.22631.2715)

WSL Version

2.0.12.0

Are you using WSL 1 or WSL 2?

• WSL 2
• WSL 1

Kernel Version

5.15.133.1-1

Distro Version

Ubuntu 22.04

Other Software

No response

Repro Steps

Install Windows Subsystem for Linux using wsl --install (fresh install). Linux icon does not show up in Windows Explorer. Not even after reboot. Wsl itself working well.

To work around this, go to add windows feature from Settings and check the Windows Subsystem for Linux checkbox, reboot and then it showed up.

Expected Behavior

Linux icon should show up in Windows Explorer side bar after running wsl --install.

Actual Behavior

No linux icon.

Diagnostic Logs

No response

[github-actions]

Hi I'm an AI powered bot that finds similar issues based off the issue title.

Please view the issues below to see if they solve your problem, and if the issue describes your problem please consider closing this one and thumbs upping the other issue to help us prioritize it. Thank you!

Open similar issues:

• Unable to install Windows Subsystem for Linux (wsl) (#5182), similarity score: 0.78

Closed similar issues:

• WSL 2 - linux icon is missing from explorer (#5400), similarity score: 0.90
• No Linux entry in Explorer with Store WSL version (#7520), similarity score: 0.80
• WSL Linux Images fail to install (#4487), similarity score: 0.79
• wsl --install doesn't work. (#9328), similarity score: 0.78
• WSL --install requires elevtation (#7821), similarity score: 0.78
• WSL does not allow to install any Linux distributive (#5434), similarity score: 0.78
• WSL doesn't appear on Windows features (#10554), similarity score: 0.77
• No GUI or icon in WSL under Windows 10 (#4880), similarity score: 0.77
• Can't install WSL from the command prompt (#9314), similarity score: 0.77

Note: You can give me feedback by thumbs upping or thumbs downing this comment.

[fitrarhm]

I also got the same problem when update WSL through Microsoft Store recently too.

[WinkelCode]

I installed WSL2 via the Windows Store and I just coincidentally noticed that the "Linux" item was missing from the Explorer sidebar. I could've sworn it was there before, for the last year or so I only ever installed WSL2 via the Windows Store.

However, I can confirm that the item is displayed after installing the Windows Subsystem for Linux Windows Feature.

Also, it doesn't seem to affect the ability to do stuff like open an Explorer window in a WSL filesystem (i.e. \\wsl.localhost\Alpine_Linux\root paths), it truly appears to only be about the clickable entry in the sidebar.

[trolledbypro]

This is happening to me, installed using wsl --install on Windows 11

[ghost]

this is happening to me as well, I've checked the registry and make sure that WSL in optional features is checked and correct.
But there's no difference.

[ColorfulRhino]

This might be the same issue as #11026

See my comment on this issue: #11026 (comment)

I can confirm this issue (missing Linux shortcuts in explorer) exists for me in some WSL2 versions. I tested the few latest ones:

The issue persists in versions: 2.0.15, 2.1.0, 2.1.3, 2.1.4
However, the issue does not exist in versions 2.0.14 and 2.1.1.

Downgrading from WSL 2.1.3 to 2.1.1 immediately makes the shortcuts appear in the explorer (without restarting Windows or the explorer).

System info:
Windows 11 build: 22631.3155
WSL kernel for both WSL 2.1.1 and 2.1.3: 5.15.146.1-2

@uishon @fitrarhm @WinkelCode @trolledbypro As a workaround, you can try installing version 2.1.1 from here: https://github.com/microsoft/WSL/releases/tag/2.1.1 (simply download wsl.2.1.1.0.x64.msi and install it)
If it works for you, a short feedback comment may help solving this issue in future releases :)

[ghost]

It didn't work for me actually.
I've checked the registry editor as well, and namespace is '1', I've also checked WSL in optional features, but the icon doesn't appear for me at all.

[ColorfulRhino]

It didn't work for me actually. I've checked the registry editor as well, and namespace is '1', I've also checked WSL in optional features, but the icon doesn't appear for me at all.

Which versions did you try? I edited my comment since I tried a few versions. 2.0.14 (latest stable release) and 2.1.1 work for me without the explorer issue.
You said you changed some other things as well though, maybe there is a possibility that this broke some other things?

Edit: I have not done any registry tweaks to WSL and have not activated the optional Windows feature for WSL.

[ghost]

I've tried version 2.1.1.0. It didn't actually work for me, the only things I've changed since uninstalling it previously was double checking if the registry was '0/1', editing that, and turning on/off WSL in optional features.

I've installed WSL about a year ago, then, I still have the Linux icon, I've uninstalled it since and reinstalled it this year, and the icon didn't appear for me.

[ColorfulRhino]

I've tried version 2.1.1.0

Try version 2.0.14 which is the latest stable release. This worked for me. Since 2.1.1 did not work for you, I'm not sure how 2.0.14 will behave.

[leograba]

2.1.1 and 2.0.14 didn't work for me:

# Before
PS C:\Users\leonardo.veiga> wsl --version
WSL version: 2.1.4.0
Kernel version: 5.15.146.1-2
WSLg version: 1.0.60
MSRDC version: 1.2.5105
Direct3D version: 1.611.1-81528511
DXCore version: 10.0.25131.1002-220531-1700.rs-onecore-base2-hyp
Windows version: 10.0.22631.3155
# After downgrade 1
PS C:\Users\leonardo.veiga> wsl --version
WSL version: 2.1.1.0
Kernel version: 5.15.146.1-2
WSLg version: 1.0.60
MSRDC version: 1.2.5105
Direct3D version: 1.611.1-81528511
DXCore version: 10.0.25131.1002-220531-1700.rs-onecore-base2-hyp
Windows version: 10.0.22631.3155
# After downgrade 2
PS C:\Users\leonardo.veiga> wsl --version
WSL version: 2.0.14.0
Kernel version: 5.15.133.1-1
WSLg version: 1.0.59
MSRDC version: 1.2.4677
Direct3D version: 1.611.1-81528511
DXCore version: 10.0.25131.1002-220531-1700.rs-onecore-base2-hyp
Windows version: 10.0.22631.3155

And the Linux icon is still missing.

I just closed and reopened Explorer, but didn't reboot the machine.

[ColorfulRhino]

It seems quite difficult to pinpoint the problem.

For me, the latest version 2.1.4 does also have this issue. Reverted back to 2.1.1 for me, icons appear again.

[bilal-akbar-9]

Guide to get the icon in windows 11, but the process should be somewhat similar to windows 10 as well.

1. Click on the following icon and choose "Add a network location"
   
2. Choose a custom network location and add "\wsl.localhost<distroname>" e.g., "\wsl.localhost\Debian".
   
   And the network location will appear in the file explorer
   

[ColorfulRhino]

Guide to get the icon in windows 11

Thanks! This is just a temporary workaround though.
Helps short term, but it does not solve the underlying issue. The real shortcuts are on the left pane of explorer and are grouped under a little penguin (Linux) icon.

[bilal-akbar-9]

Guide to get the icon in windows 11

Thanks! This is just a temporary workaround though. Helps short term, but it does not solve the underlying issue. The real shortcuts are on the left pane of explorer and are grouped under a little penguin (Linux) icon.

Yeah the shortcut in the left panel disappeared for me too, since then using the one mentioned above.

[OneBlue]

Fixed in 2.2.1

[okineadev]

This might be the same issue as #11026

See my comment on this issue: #11026 (comment)

I can confirm this issue (missing Linux shortcuts in explorer) exists for me in some WSL2 versions. I tested the few latest ones:
The issue persists in versions: 2.0.15, 2.1.0, 2.1.3, 2.1.4
However, the issue does not exist in versions 2.0.14 and 2.1.1.
Downgrading from WSL 2.1.3 to 2.1.1 immediately makes the shortcuts appear in the explorer (without restarting Windows or the explorer).
System info:
Windows 11 build: 22631.3155
WSL kernel for both WSL 2.1.1 and 2.1.3: 5.15.146.1-2

@uishon @fitrarhm @WinkelCode @trolledbypro As a workaround, you can try installing version 2.1.1 from here: https://github.com/microsoft/WSL/releases/tag/2.1.1 (simply download wsl.2.1.1.0.x64.msi and install it) If it works for you, a short feedback comment may help solving this issue in future releases :)

True, I installed the latest version of WSL (https://github.com/microsoft/WSL/releases/tag/2.2.1) and that helped - now there is a "linux" section in explorer

If suddenly someone gets an error when installing the .msi or "wsl --install" package, here is the solution - #11319 (comment)