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I'm running a preview version of Windows Server 2019, version 2004, build 20262.1000

I've installed WSL, including a Ubuntu distro. The wsl --help command perfectly lists the --set-default-version <Version> and --set-version <Distro> <Version> commands.

However, when I execute any of these commands with <Version> set to 2, it seems to completely ignore the command and just print the help file. It doesn't even say Invalid command line option:, just prints help.

It seems to be completely aware of the command, throwing errors when specifying other versions like 1, 3, 4, etc. But 2 seems to do absolutely nothing.

Example:

PS C:\Users\Administrator> wsl -l -v
  NAME      STATE           VERSION
* Ubuntu    Stopped         1
PS C:\Users\Administrator> wsl --set-version Ubuntu 1
Conversion in progress, this may take a few minutes...
No such interface supported
PS C:\Users\Administrator> wsl --set-version Ubuntu 4
A version number could not be parsed.
PS C:\Users\Administrator> wsl --set-version Ubuntu 2
Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Usage: wsl.exe [Argument] [Options...] [CommandLine]

Arguments for running Linux binaries:

    If no command line is provided, wsl.exe launches the default shell.

    --exec, -e <CommandLine>
        Execute the specified command without using the default Linux shell.

    --
        Pass the remaining command line as is.

Options:
... [rest of help file] ...

Same thing for --set-default-version:

PS C:\Users\Administrator> wsl --set-default-version 2
Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Usage: wsl.exe [Argument] [Options...] [CommandLine]

Arguments for running Linux binaries:
...

How can I start using WSL2 on my Windows Server installation?

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  • which is the windows version you have installed? WSL 2 is only available in the 2004 update or greater.
    – BANJOSA
    Commented Nov 30, 2020 at 11:52
  • You do understand you don’t actually have 2004 installed right? 20262 Is 21H1 which is an Insider Preview build. You do understand setting the version to anything other than 1 or 2 isn’t supposed to work right? Please edit your question to indicate what Windows features you have installed
    – Ramhound
    Commented Nov 30, 2020 at 12:08
  • @BANJOSA as stated in the first line , my system reports 2004, build 20262. It's the latest available preview build for Windows Server. Ramhound I guess I don't understand then. Why does Windows say it's version 2004, but you're telling me this build number is not version 2004?
    – René
    Commented Nov 30, 2020 at 12:52
  • @René - Microsoft doesn’t update the version information until it’s closer to release but I can promise you that your not running 2004 based on that build number
    – Ramhound
    Commented Dec 3, 2020 at 3:31
  • @Ramhound what the hell, that's so confusing. It LITERALLY says "Version: 2004" and then that build number after it. So that version number is completely meaningless? What's the point to this number even?
    – René
    Commented Dec 4, 2020 at 8:57

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
1

I believe you have to update your windows build to 202011 or higher. Try joining the insiders program to get this build and it will work fine after an update.

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