WSL set default distro

What Does “WSL Set Default Distro” Mean?

When you have multiple Linux distributions installed on your system (e.g., Ubuntu, Debian, Kali, etc.), Windows needs to know which one to launch by default when you type wsl in the command line.

The default WSL distro is:

• The Linux version that launches when you just type wsl
• The target of integrations like Windows Terminal profiles (unless explicitly set otherwise)
• The primary environment for scripts that call WSL without specifying a distribution

Pros

• 
  Easily change your primary WSL environment with one command.
• Scripts and commands using plain wsl will run in your chosen distro automatically.
  Developers can temporarily switch to a clean or isolated distro for testing without disrupting others.
• Useful for users managing multiple environments (e.g., Ubuntu for dev, Kali for security).
• Prevents accidental commands running in the wrong distro when multiple are installed.

Cons

• Terminal profiles need to be manually updated if you want them to reflect the new default distro.
  If the default distro is uninstalled, WSL might fail to start or auto-switch to an unintended one.
• If scripts expect a specific environment, changing the default distro could break them.
• The command executes silently unless you check with wsl -l -v, which can be confusing.
  Distro names are case-sensitive, leading to potential user errors.
  No built-in GUI for setting the default (unless using third-party tools).

Why You Might Want to Change the Default Distro

• You installed a newer or preferred distro (e.g., switched from Ubuntu 18.04 to Ubuntu 22.04)
• You’re testing a script or service and want it to use a specific environment
• You need different distros for different tasks (e.g., development in Ubuntu, pentesting in Kali)

How to Set the Default WSL Distro

Step-by-step via Command Line:

List your installed distros:

bash

wsl --list --verbose or

bash

wsl -l -v

Set the default:

bash

wsl --set-default <DistroName>

Example:

bash

wsl --set-default Ubuntu-22.04

Verify it worked:
Run:

bash

wsl

It should now open your selected distro.

Common Issues or Gotchas

READ ALSO: How to uninstall wsl?

Advanced Usage Tips

• Use this command inside scripts:

wsl -d <DistroName> — <your command here>

• Set default in PowerShell script for automation:

wsl.exe –set-default Debian

• Use wsl.conf inside your distro to customize mounts, networking, etc.

Summary

FAQs