wsl: Failed to start the systemd user session for '...'. See journalctl for more details
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- Dominant language
- C++
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Description
### Windows Version
Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.26200.8457]
### WSL Version
2.7.3.0
### Are you using WSL 1 or WSL 2?
- [x] WSL 2
- [ ] WSL 1
### Kernel Version
6.6.114.1-1
### Distro Version
Ubuntu 26.04 LTS
### Other Software
_No response_
### Repro Steps
- `wsl --install Ubuntu-24.04 --name ubuntu_2`
- `wsl --install Ubuntu-24.04 --name bellforeset3`
- `wsl --install Ubuntu --name cshub`
- `wsl --install Ubuntu --name test`
### Expected Behavior
1. `wsl -d cshub` : success
2. `wsl -d test` : **success**
3. `wsl -d ubuntu_2` : success
4. `wsl -d bellforeset3` : success
### Actual Behavior
1. `wsl -d cshub` : success
2. `wsl -d test` : **wsl: Failed to start the systemd user session for 'parapada73'. See journalctl for more details.**
3. `wsl -d ubuntu_2` : success
4. `wsl -d bellforeset3` : success
### Diagnostic Logs
[WslLogs-2026-05-19_15-04-26.tar.gz](https://github.com/user-attachments/files/27987023/WslLogs-2026-05-19_15-04-26.tar.gz)
Contributor guide
First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
Start with the listed WSL 2 reproduction commands and compare the working distributions with the failing `test` distribution. Inspect the attached WslLogs archive and the `journalctl` output for the failed systemd user session. Done means identifying why only this distribution fails and verifying that the reported commands start successfully.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- linux, ubuntu
- Domain
- operating-systems
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Estimated time
- 3-5 days
- Activity status
- Active
- Clarity
- Needs clarification
- Newbie friendliness
- 35/100