WSL Failed to Start
- Dominant language
- C++
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Description
### Windows Version
Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.26200.7623]
### WSL Version
2.6.3.0
### Are you using WSL 1 or WSL 2?
- [x] WSL 2
- [x] WSL 1
### Kernel Version
6.6.87.2-1
### Distro Version
_No response_
### Other Software
_No response_
### Repro Steps
1. Launch Terminal (I have powershell as default)
2. invoke wsl by typing `wsl`
3. waiting for wsl to start
### Expected Behavior
Expecting to see Ubuntu (my installed kernel distro) to launch, but stuck waiting.
### Actual Behavior
Logs:
[WslLogs-2026-02-05_21-23-17.zip](https://github.com/user-attachments/files/25097341/WslLogs-2026-02-05_21-23-17.zip)
### Diagnostic Logs
[WslLogs-2026-02-05_21-23-17.zip](https://github.com/user-attachments/files/25097341/WslLogs-2026-02-05_21-23-17.zip)
Contributor guide
Research direction
Start by reproducing the reported launch sequence in PowerShell with WSL 2 and the installed Ubuntu distribution. Inspect WslLogs-2026-02-05_21-23-17.zip alongside the Windows, WSL, and kernel versions; done means identifying the cause of the startup hang and documenting a verified resolution.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- linux, powershell
- Domain
- operating-systems
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Estimated time
- 3-5 days
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Needs clarification
- Newbie friendliness
- 30/100