Cannot Update from WSL 1 to WSL 2

[dostarora97]

Environment

Windows build number: Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.19041.508]
Your Distribution version: Ubuntu 16.04
Linux version 4.4.0-19041-Microsoft ([email protected]) (gcc version 5.4.0 (GCC) ) #488-Microsoft Mon Sep 01 13:43:00 PST 2020

Steps to reproduce

I need to update from WSL 1 to WSL 2.

I have read and followed these instructions : Windows Subsystem for Linux Installation Guide for Windows 10

These commands were run in Powershell(administrator) :

1. wsl -l -v
   

2. dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux /all /norestart
   

3. System Restart...

4. dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:VirtualMachinePlatform /all /norestart
   

Virtualization Enabled as seen in Task-Manager:

5. System Restart...

6. wsl --set-default-version 2
   
   I guess this is not the Expected output, because here it says the output should be : WSL 2 requires an update to its kernel component. For information please visit https://aka.ms/wsl2kernel

7. wsl -l -v
   

WSL logs: https://aka.ms/AA9olbc

Expected behavior

The WSL should update from version 1 to version 2. That is after running command wsl -l -v in Powershell(administrator), it should say 2 under VERSION

Actual behavior

Even after following the instructions to update WSL, it's version still remains 1

[MathijsNL]

Did you enable this Windows update option? I believe you need it enabled.

Edit:
And also, what is the output for the following command in PowerShell?

wsl cat /proc/version

[dostarora97]

I have that Windows option Enabled

> wsl cat /proc/version
Linux version 4.4.0-19041-Microsoft ([email protected]) (gcc version 5.4.0 (GCC) ) #488-Microsoft Mon Sep 01 13:43:00 PST 2020

[power4]

I have the same problem.the same win version(Version 10.0.19041.508).i can't upgrade to wsl2 always

[therealkenc]

6. wsl --set-default-version 2

You want wsl.exe --set-version Legacy 2. The --set-default-version switch does just that; it changes the default. It doesn't change the version of the currently installed distro(s). The output in the OP is correct. Docs to set your distribution version here.

As an aside, "Legacy" is not all that common to have around anymore. The --set-version 2 should take, but all things being equal, installing a new distro from the Store is probably not a bad idea in the circumstance.

[molxyz]

I had the same issue and tried wsl.exe --set-default-version 2 several times but it didnot work. So I deleted Ubuntu 18-04-LTS and installed Ubuntu 20-04-LTS from Microsoft store and it shows version 2.

[therealkenc]

wsl.exe --set-default-version 2

You need --set-version on the existing distro same #6505. Your newly installed distro (Ubuntu-20.04) took on the default.

[Gunnnn]

wsl.exe --set-default-version 2

You need --set-version on the existing distro same #6505. Your newly installed distro (Ubuntu-20.04) took on the default.

In my similar case it doesn't work eiether. No error message, only dumb links

.

[rearming]

DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /All /FeatureName:Microsoft-Hyper-V

[Norlandz]

You want wsl.exe --set-version Legacy 2.

For an visual example, see https://admcpr.com/how-to-upgrade-wsl-1-to-wsl-2/