How to unregister and reset Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) distros on Windows 10

Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is a new feature of Windows 10 that allows you to run Linux command line tools directly on Windows, along with traditional desktop applications and modern Windows Store applications.

When activating Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), you can install WSL distro applications from the Microsoft Store.

This guide will show you how to unregister and reset the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) distro to the default settings in Windows 10.

Unregister and reset the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) distro in Settings

1. To know how to reset the WSL distro application in Settings , see the article: Instructions to reset a program on Windows to the default installation state.

Reset applications in Windows

2. You can now run this WSL distro application to reinstall and set up the distro with the new UNIX username and password.

You can run this WSL distro application to reinstall and set up the distro

Unregister and reset the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) distro in the Command Prompt

1. Open Command Prompt.

2. Copy and paste the command below that corresponds to the version of Windows 10 into the Command Prompt and press Enter. Write down the name of the available WSL distro that you want to unsubscribe.

(For Windows 10 version 1903 and above)

wsl --list --all or wsl -l --all

Or:

(For versions of Windows 10 earlier than 1903)

wslconfig /list /all or wslconfig /l /all

Copy and paste the command corresponding to the Windows 10 version

3. Enter the command below that corresponds to your version of Windows 10 into the Command Prompt and press Enter.

(For Windows 10 version 1903 and above)

wsl --unregister 

Or:

(For versions of Windows 10 earlier than 1903)

wslconfig /unregister 

Replace the above command with the actual WSL distro name (for example, "Ubuntu") from step 2 that you want to unsubscribe.

For example: wsl --unregister Ubuntu

Command to unregister Ubuntu

4. When done, you can close the Command Prompt if you like.

5. You can now run this WSL distro application to reinstall and set up the distro with the new UNIX username and password. 

Reinstall and set up the distro with the new UNIX username and password

Unregister and reset the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) distro in PowerShell

1. Open PowerShell.

2. Copy and paste the command below for your version of Windows 10 into PowerShell and press Enter. Write down the name of the available WSL distro that you want to unsubscribe.

(For Windows 10 version 1903 and above)

wsl --list --all or wsl -l --all

Or:

(For versions of Windows 10 earlier than 1903)

wslconfig /list /all or wslconfig /l /all

Enter the command in Powershell

3. Enter the command below corresponding to Windows 10 version into PowerShell and press Enter. (For Windows 10 version 1903 and above)

wsl --unregister 

Or:

(For versions of Windows 10 earlier than 1903)

wslconfig /unregister 

Replace the above command with the actual WSL distro name (for example, "Ubuntu") from step 2 that you want to unsubscribe.

For example: wsl --unregister Ubuntu

Unregister the WSL distro using PowerShell

4. When done, you can close PowerShell if you like.

5. You can now run this WSL distro application to reinstall and set up the distro with the new UNIX username and password.

Set up the distro with the new UNIX username and password