If you use WSL Ubuntu (Windows Subsystem for Linux) on Windows 11 and it’s not working well, don’t worry! This guide will show you how to fix it easily by either repairing or resetting the app.

WSL lets you run Linux right inside Windows without extra software. You can use many Linux commands and tools easily.

Sometimes the Ubuntu app inside WSL can act up. You can repair it to fix problems without losing your files. If that doesn’t work, you can reset it to start fresh (but this will erase your data).

How to Repair WSL Ubuntu

Repairing WSL Ubuntu restores some settings but keeps your files and data safe.

Follow these simple steps:

1. Open the Settings app. You can click the Start menu and choose Settings, or press Windows key + I on your keyboard.
2. In Settings, click Apps on the left side.
3. Click on Installed apps (or Install apps) on the right.
4. Scroll down and find the Ubuntu app in the list.
5. Click the three dots

   

   next to Ubuntu, then select Advanced options.
6. On the new page, scroll down and click the Repair button.
7. Wait a little while for Windows to fix the app. When done, try opening Ubuntu again.

How to Reset WSL Ubuntu

If repairing doesn’t help, you can reset the Ubuntu app. This will delete all your files and settings inside Ubuntu, so only do this if you have backups or don’t mind losing your data.

To reset Ubuntu, follow the same steps as repairing (Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Ubuntu > Advanced options), but this time click the Reset button.

Wait until the reset finishes, then open Ubuntu again to check if it works better.

Alternative: Reset WSL Ubuntu Using Windows Terminal

You can also reset Ubuntu using the Windows Terminal app as an administrator:

1. Open Windows Terminal as admin:
   • Click the Start menu, type Windows Terminal.
   • Right-click it and choose Run as administrator.
2. In the terminal window, type this command and press Enter to see all installed WSL Linux distributions:
   

   wsl --list

   
   
3. To reset Ubuntu, type this command and press Enter:
   

   wsl --unregister Ubuntu

   
   

This will remove Ubuntu from WSL, and you can reinstall it fresh from the Microsoft Store.

Summary

• You can fix problems with WSL Ubuntu on Windows 11 by repairing or resetting it.
• Repairing keeps your files and resets some settings.
• Resetting deletes all your Ubuntu files and settings, giving you a clean start.
• Use the Windows Settings app for easy repair and reset options.
• Or use Windows Terminal as an admin to remove and reinstall Ubuntu.

If you want to learn more about WSL and installing Ubuntu, check out this helpful guide: How to Install WSL on Windows 11.