Source: Dev.to

Moving WSL 2 Distributions to Another Drive

WSL 2 distributions default to your C: drive. That’s fine when you have a single small Ubuntu install, but it quickly becomes a problem when you have several distros each with a 20‑50 GB virtual disk and your system drive is running low on space.

Good news: you can move distributions to any drive.
Less‑good news: there are a few ways to do it, and the right method depends on your WSL version.

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Where Are My Distributions Stored?

Before moving anything, locate where your distros currently live. WSL stores each distribution’s virtual hard disk (VHDX) in a base path registered in the Windows Registry:

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Lxss\{GUID}\BasePath

Common default locations

You can check the size of each VHDX from PowerShell:

Get-ChildItem -Path "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\wsl" -Recurse -Filter "ext4.vhdx" |
  Select-Object FullName,
                @{N='SizeGB';E={[math]::Round($_.Length/1GB, 2)}}

Or list all your distributions with their WSL versions:

wsl --list --verbose

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Method 1 – wsl --manage --move (Recommended)

The simplest way to move a distribution is the built‑in move command. It relocates the VHDX file and updates the registry in one step.

Step 1 – Stop the distribution

wsl --terminate Ubuntu

Verify it’s stopped:

wsl --list --verbose

You should see Stopped next to the distro name.

Step 2 – Move it

wsl --manage Ubuntu --move "D:\WSL\Ubuntu"

WSL will create the destination folder if needed and move the VHDX file. Large VHDX files (e.g., 50 GB) may take several minutes depending on disk speed.

Step 3 – Verify

wsl -d Ubuntu
whoami
ls ~

If the commands run correctly, your distribution is now on D: and WSL knows where to find it. All files, packages, and configuration are preserved.

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Method 2 – Export & Import

Use this when --manage --move isn’t available, or when you want to rename the distro. It works on all WSL 2 installations.

Step 1 – Export the distribution

You have three format options:

• TAR (default, universal)

  wsl --export Ubuntu D:\Backups\ubuntu-backup.tar

• VHD (faster, preserves disk structure)

  wsl --export Ubuntu D:\Backups\ubuntu-backup.vhdx --format vhd

• Compressed TAR (smaller file)

  wsl --export Ubuntu D:\Backups\ubuntu-backup.tar.gz --format tar.gz

The VHD format copies the VHDX directly and is considerably faster for large distros.

Step 2 – Unregister the old distribution

wsl --unregister Ubuntu

Warning: This removes the distro from WSL’s registry and deletes the original VHDX. Make sure the export completed successfully (check the file size) before running this command.

Step 3 – Import to the new location

From a TAR export

wsl --import Ubuntu "D:\WSL\Ubuntu" D:\Backups\ubuntu-backup.tar

From a VHD export

wsl --import Ubuntu "D:\WSL\Ubuntu" D:\Backups\ubuntu-backup.vhdx --vhd

The syntax is: wsl --import .

Step 4 – Fix the default user (only needed for TAR imports)

When importing from a TAR archive, WSL defaults to root. Set your default user by editing /etc/wsl.conf:

wsl -d Ubuntu -u root
cat >> /etc/wsl.conf  **Caution:** This method bypasses the safety checks performed by `--export`/`--import`. Ensure the VHDX is not corrupted and that the destination folder contains only the VHDX (no extra files).

After importing, verify the distro works as described in **Method 1, Step 3**.

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## Quick Reference Cheat‑Sheet

| Task | Command |
|------|---------|
| List distros & versions | `wsl --list --verbose` |
| Stop a distro | `wsl --terminate ` |
| Move (WSL ≥ 0.58) | `wsl --manage  --move ""` |
| Export (TAR) | `wsl --export  .tar` |
| Export (VHD) | `wsl --export  .vhdx --format vhd` |
| Unregister | `wsl --unregister ` |
| Import (TAR) | `wsl --import  "" .tar` |
| Import (VHD) | `wsl --import  "" .vhdx --vhd` |
| Set default user | Edit `/etc/wsl.conf` with `[user] default=` |
| Delete backup file | `Remove-Item ` |

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Now you can free up space on your system drive without reinstalling your WSL 2 distributions. Happy hacking!

## Move a VHDX File to a New Location  

You can register the VHDX directly without copying it again:

```powershell
wsl --import-in-place Ubuntu "D:\WSL\Ubuntu\ext4.vhdx"

This tells WSL to use the VHDX at its current location.
The file must be ext4‑formatted (all WSL 2 VHDX files are).
It’s the fastest option if you have already moved the file yourself.

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Choosing the Right Method

Recommendation: For most people, --manage --move is the right choice. Use export/import when you need to rename the distro or are on an older WSL version.

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Installing New Distros on a Different Drive

Prevent the need to move later by specifying the location during installation:

wsl --install Ubuntu --location "D:\WSL\Ubuntu"

The VHDX is created on D: from the start.

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The Easy Way: WSL UI

WSL UI provides a point‑and‑click way to move distributions.

Move Distribution dialog

• Shows the current location and disk size
• Lets you browse to a new location
• Handles stopping the distro, moving the files, and updating the registry
• Shows progress for large moves

No command line, no manual registry edits. It uses WSL’s native move command under the hood, preserving files, settings, default user, and configuration.

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Troubleshooting

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Summary

Moving a distro is a one‑time (or occasional) task, but it can free up a lot of space on a crowded C: drive.

*Originally published at *