Move WSL2 file system to another drive

(I don’t have WSL 2 to try.)

WSL supports exporting and importing distributions, like this:

wsl --export Debian C:\temp\Debian.tar
wsl --import MovedDebian C:\WSL\Debian C:\temp\Debian.tar --version 2

Note how I can specify a parameter called InstallLocation (C:\WSL\Debian). Keep in mind that in my example, the “Debian” distribution still exists, so I select a different name when importing. You can use the wsl utility to manage your WSL environments.


If you want to move WSL2 Linux distro(Ubuntu) from C: drive D: below are the steps.

Export Ubuntu

  • mkdir D:\backup
  • wsl --export Ubuntu D:\backup\ubuntu.tar

Unregister the same distribution to remove it from the C: drive:

  • wsl --unregister Ubuntu

Import Ubuntu

  • mkdir D:\wsl
  • wsl --import Ubuntu D:\wsl\ D:\backup\ubuntu.tar

By default Ubuntu will use root as the default user, to switch back to previous user

Go to the Ubuntu App Folder run command to set default user

  • cd %userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps
  • ubuntu config --default-user <username>

Tags:

Windows Subsystem For Linux

Wsl2

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