Upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11: what happens to WSL2 installations

I am running the current version of Windows 10. I use Ubuntu on WSL2 daily as I’m enrolled in a software engineering Bootcamp. I have many directories of files that I work with. When upgrading to Windows 11:

  • Are existing WSL2 installs ported to Windows 11 (All of your files are in the same place) or…
  • Will I need to install WSL fresh and either rebuild the directories from a backup? or…
  • Restore an exported image (if this is even possible to take a Windows 10 WSL image and restore it to Windows 11)?
  • Even if any of the above is true, are there reasons that installing Ubuntu fresh and rebuilding from scratch is a better option?

I’ve done a lot of online searching and I can’t seem to find any answers.

Thanks to anyone with insight.

Kep

Conversation 2 comments

  • LT1 Z51

    Premium Member
    19 April, 2022 - 12:10 pm

    <p>I don’t use mine that often but I had WSL2 on Windows 10 and upgraded to Windows 11 without touching my WSL install.</p>

  • beckoningeagle

    Premium Member
    20 April, 2022 - 9:35 am

    <p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">When I upgraded I had no issues with the WSL installation. I did an export of the WSL images before upgrading just in case, but I did not have to use them.</span></p>

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