After Windows Update 24H2 cannot access WSL from File explorer #12444

Paoloncino · 2025-01-07T15:21:32Z

Windows Version

24H2

WSL Version

2.3.26.0

Are you using WSL 1 or WSL 2?

WSL 2
WSL 1

Kernel Version

5.15.167.4-microsoft-standard-WSL2 11.2.0

Distro Version

Ubuntu 22.04

Other Software

No response

Repro Steps

Update to Windows 24H2.

Expected Behavior

Access WSL directories via quick access directories within File explorer. Access wsl.localhost network within File explorer.

Actual Behavior

After updating to Windows 24H2, I am unable to access WSL directories via quick access WSL directories within File explorer. additionally, within File explorer, "Network" does not show wsl.localhost, which can only be accessed via running "explorer.exe ." within WSL terminal.

Diagnostic Logs

No response

github-actions · 2025-01-07T15:22:13Z

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View similar issues

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!

Open similar issues:

wsl fails to start after 24H2 installed (#12355), similarity score: 0.75

Closed similar issues:

Unable to access WSL filesystem from File Explorer after updated to Win11 Insider Preview 10.0.26058.1100 (#11171), similarity score: 0.79
Quick Access pins broken after 24H2 update (#12173), similarity score: 0.79
Windows 11 22H2 WSL error - Windows cannot access \wsl.localhost (#8983), similarity score: 0.76
Can't access wsl in File Explorer + Possible Fix (#9010), similarity score: 0.76

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

ctlila · 2025-01-09T14:25:43Z

I've found a workaround.
Map your WSL network drive to a local drive in windows, following these instructions. WSL may not appear in the network browsed options, just type \\wsl.localhost\Ubuntu (or your corresponding distribution) in the 'Folder' field.
Then your WSL directory will be accessible from the local drive letter you've assigned to it (for instance W:).

Cremesis · 2025-01-13T11:14:04Z

I'm getting the same error: after the update to 24H2 my quick links for WSL folders in the windows 11 file explorer stopped working. I've found that I can still access the WSL file system by typing "\\wsl.localhost\<wsl_name>" in the address bar of the file explorer.

kudlav · 2025-01-13T18:10:31Z

Same here after upgrade to 24H2. Cannot access WSL directories from pinned quick access items throws an error: explorer.exe Element not found.

edimax19830707 · 2025-01-14T08:08:06Z

How to Reset and Clear Quick Access Pinned Folders in Windows 11

Details

go to
%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations

delete
f01b4d95cf55d32a.automaticDestinations-ms

restart file explorer

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/175936-how-reset-clear-quick-access-pinned-folders-windows-10-a.html

Akash47007 · 2025-01-24T17:23:24Z

I mapped it as a network drive from the above given address and it works. But running explorer.exe on the linux cmd line would open windows explorer in home directory instead of current directory (i.e the default windows home not linux home directory)

joshsedl · 2025-01-30T10:00:25Z

Just ran into the exact same issue. I can still access WSL through \\wsl.localhost\Ubuntu, but not through my former nor newly pinned quick access item. I get the exact same error as @kudlav: explorer.exe Element not found.

tonymet · 2025-02-04T19:41:13Z

I started experiencing this issue with the upgrade to 24H2. Here are my build details for wsl2

WSL version: 2.3.26.0
Kernel version: 5.15.167.4-1
WSLg version: 1.0.65
MSRDC version: 1.2.5620
Direct3D version: 1.611.1-81528511
DXCore version: 10.0.26100.1-240331-1435.ge-release
Windows version: 10.0.26120.3073

wsl --list
Windows Subsystem for Linux Distributions:
Debian (Default)
docker-desktop

joshsedl · 2025-02-12T11:47:06Z

Weird, it magically fixed itself for me. I am unsure if I recently updated Windows or not...

Although it seems, that I have a newer WSL version than the one of @tonymet, so eventually they fixed it in the newest WSL version?

WSL-Version: 2.4.10.0
Kernelversion: 5.15.167.4-1
WSLg-Version: 1.0.65
MSRDC-Version: 1.2.5716
Direct3D-Version: 1.611.1-81528511
DXCore-Version: 10.0.26100.1-240331-1435.ge-release
Windows-Version: 10.0.26100.2894

Windows Subsystem für Linux-Distributionen:
Ubuntu (Standard)

angrosan · 2025-02-12T12:25:01Z

Same for me. Everything works again.

Weird, it magically fixed itself for me. I am unsure if I recently updated Windows or not...

Although it seems, that I have a newer WSL version than the one of @tonymet, so eventually they fixed it in the newest WSL version?
WSL-Version: 2.4.10.0
Kernelversion: 5.15.167.4-1
WSLg-Version: 1.0.65
MSRDC-Version: 1.2.5716
Direct3D-Version: 1.611.1-81528511
DXCore-Version: 10.0.26100.1-240331-1435.ge-release
Windows-Version: 10.0.26100.2894

Windows Subsystem für Linux-Distributionen:
Ubuntu (Standard)

tonymet · 2025-02-12T17:11:35Z

thanks @angrosan & @joshsedl . the latest wsl2 update worked. It worked so well that the Linux Icon restored itself during wsl --update . no restart was needed

how to fix

wsl --update

working version

 wsl --version
WSL version: 2.4.10.0
Kernel version: 5.15.167.4-1
WSLg version: 1.0.65
MSRDC version: 1.2.5716
Direct3D version: 1.611.1-81528511
DXCore version: 10.0.26100.1-240331-1435.ge-release
Windows version: 10.0.26120.3073

Cremesis · 2025-02-13T07:57:30Z

I confirm that this is working for me too, now

WSL version: 2.4.10.0
Kernel version: 5.15.167.4-1
WSLg version: 1.0.65
MSRDC version: 1.2.5716
Direct3D version: 1.611.1-81528511
DXCore version: 10.0.26100.1-240331-1435.ge-release
Windows version: 10.0.26100.3194

ffes · 2025-02-18T08:14:17Z

After upgrading to 24H2 yesterday I'm experiencing the same problem as the OP.

I am running a more recent version of WSL2 then @tonymet and @Cremesis but still no Linux-icon. When I try to use a pinned directories I can an error Element not found.

WSL-versie: 2.4.11.0
Kernelversie: 5.15.167.4-1
WSLg-versie: 1.0.65
MSRDC-versie: 1.2.5716
Direct3D-versie: 1.611.1-81528511
DXCore-versie: 10.0.26100.1-240331-1435.ge-release
Windows-versie: 10.0.26100.3194

For now I added couple of shortcuts to my desktop, to workaround the problem.

tonymet · 2025-02-18T19:24:02Z

WSL-versie: 2.4.11.0

@ffes i've updated to this version, and Linux icon is still working. my windows version = 10.0.26120.3073 (older)

HowellBP · 2025-02-18T22:59:45Z

Still an issue for me as well. No linux icon in the Explorer side bar. I'm also on the most recent version according to wsl --update:

WSL version: 2.4.11.0
Kernel version: 5.15.167.4-1
WSLg version: 1.0.65
MSRDC version: 1.2.5716
Direct3D version: 1.611.1-81528511
DXCore version: 10.0.26100.1-240331-1435.ge-release
Windows version: 10.0.26100.3194

esikgabi · 2025-02-21T14:57:47Z

Hi All,

I was in the same situation when installed the 24H2 I had the latest WSL version: 2.4.11.0.
After the Windows update the Linux folder disappeared from the Explorer and TotalCommander also.

I could solve the problem in the following way:

install back the 2.4.10.0 version manually (download it from GitHub)
after the installation finished I restarted Explorer and the Linux folder appeared again
installed back the 2.4.11.0 via command line (wsl --update --pre-release)

So a fresh install (mostly independent of the version) solved the issue for me.
Maybe it can help others also.

github-actions bot added the needs-author-feedback label Jan 7, 2025

craigloewen-msft assigned OneBlue Jan 14, 2025

craigloewen-msft added bug and removed needs-author-feedback labels Jan 14, 2025

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After Windows Update 24H2 cannot access WSL from File explorer #12444

After Windows Update 24H2 cannot access WSL from File explorer #12444

Paoloncino commented Jan 7, 2025

github-actions bot commented Jan 7, 2025

ctlila commented Jan 9, 2025 •

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Cremesis commented Jan 13, 2025 •

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kudlav commented Jan 13, 2025

edimax19830707 commented Jan 14, 2025 •

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Akash47007 commented Jan 24, 2025 •

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joshsedl commented Jan 30, 2025

tonymet commented Feb 4, 2025 •

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joshsedl commented Feb 12, 2025

angrosan commented Feb 12, 2025

tonymet commented Feb 12, 2025 •

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Cremesis commented Feb 13, 2025

ffes commented Feb 18, 2025

tonymet commented Feb 18, 2025

HowellBP commented Feb 18, 2025

esikgabi commented Feb 21, 2025

After Windows Update 24H2 cannot access WSL from File explorer #12444

After Windows Update 24H2 cannot access WSL from File explorer #12444

Comments

Paoloncino commented Jan 7, 2025

Windows Version

WSL Version

Are you using WSL 1 or WSL 2?

Kernel Version

Distro Version

Other Software

Repro Steps

Expected Behavior

Actual Behavior

Diagnostic Logs

github-actions bot commented Jan 7, 2025

Logs are required for review from WSL team

View similar issues

Open similar issues:

Closed similar issues:

ctlila commented Jan 9, 2025 • edited Loading

Cremesis commented Jan 13, 2025 • edited Loading

kudlav commented Jan 13, 2025

edimax19830707 commented Jan 14, 2025 • edited Loading

Akash47007 commented Jan 24, 2025 • edited Loading

joshsedl commented Jan 30, 2025

tonymet commented Feb 4, 2025 • edited Loading

joshsedl commented Feb 12, 2025

angrosan commented Feb 12, 2025

tonymet commented Feb 12, 2025 • edited Loading

how to fix

working version

Cremesis commented Feb 13, 2025

ffes commented Feb 18, 2025

tonymet commented Feb 18, 2025

HowellBP commented Feb 18, 2025

esikgabi commented Feb 21, 2025

ctlila commented Jan 9, 2025 •

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Cremesis commented Jan 13, 2025 •

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edimax19830707 commented Jan 14, 2025 •

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Akash47007 commented Jan 24, 2025 •

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tonymet commented Feb 4, 2025 •

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tonymet commented Feb 12, 2025 •

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