Move Ubuntu WSL to Another Drive in Windows 11
Moving Ubuntu WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux, a feature that lets you run Linux environments directly on Windows) to another drive frees up space on your main C: drive without losing your files. Windows 11 includes built-in export commands that let you shift your entire Linux setup to a larger or faster storage drive in just a few steps.
You can move Ubuntu WSL to another drive using Windows Settings or the command line. First, shut down WSL with `wsl –shutdown`. Then, use the “Move” option in the Apps settings or the `wsl –move` command.
Transfer WSL distros to another drive
Transferring WSL distros to another drive helps free up space on your main C: drive when your Linux installation grows too large. To move Ubuntu WSL, you first need to shut down the subsystem completely. Open Windows Terminal as an administrator and run the shutdown command before you change anything else to avoid corrupting your files.
The process follows these steps.
Shut down WSL using the command below before starting. Running the Windows Terminal app as an administrator is required for this step.
wsl --shutdown
Open the Settings app and go to Apps Installed apps once WSL shuts down.
Selecting the “Install apps” tile inside the Apps window expands the view.
Scrolling down the installed apps list reveals Ubuntu or whichever Linux distro requires relocation.
Click the three-dot menu next to the distro and choose Move from the drop-down list.
Choosing the desired new drive and clicking 'Move' completes the graphical process.
The distro relocates to the selected drive after a brief moment.
Change the WSL drive using the Move command
Moving a WSL distro using the command line lets you relocate Ubuntu WSL directly through Windows Terminal without exporting files manually. You need to open Windows Terminal as an administrator, check your installed distros, and shut down the service before running the final transfer command to your new drive.
Launch the Windows Terminal app as an administrator first.
Displaying all distros currently on the machine requires running the command below.
wsl --list --all
Shutting down WSL occurs by executing the command below.
wsl --shutdown
Moving the distro to a new drive happens by running the command below.
wsl --manage Ubuntu --move D:WSLUbuntu
The distro relocates to the specified new drive after a brief moment.
Use the Import command to change the WSL distro drive
Importing the distro to a new drive gives you a reliable way to move Ubuntu WSL by backing up your current Linux installation and restoring it in a different folder. After you export your data to a safe location, use the import command in Windows Terminal to point WSL to your new drive.
A separate guide details how to export and import WSL distros.
Importing the distro to a new drive utilizes the command below after completing that guide.
wsl --import Ubuntu D:WSLUbuntu C:Ubuntu-export.tar
The D: drive acts as the destination, while the C: drive points to the location of the exported tar file.
The distro imports to the specified location after a brief moment.
This concludes the process successfully.
Conclusion:
Moving Ubuntu WSL to another drive on Windows 11 manages storage efficiently and can boost performance on the main drive. Keep these main points in mind:
- Multiple Methods: You can move your WSL distribution using the graphical interface in Settings or via the command line with the
--movecommand. - Shut Down WSL: Always shut down your WSL instance before making any moves to avoid data corruption.
- Use Windows Terminal: For advanced users, executing commands in the Windows Terminal is efficient and provides more control over the process.
- Export and Import: For a more manual approach, utilize the export and import commands to relocate your distribution as needed.
- Efficiency: Moving your WSL installation can optimize performance, especially if transitioning to faster storage solutions.
Implementing these steps helps maintain WSL installations and organizes the development environment effectively.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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