Issues with WSL File Access Sidebar in File Explorer After Windows Update

Question

Issues with WSL File Access Sidebar in File Explorer After Windows Update

Saeid Shahriari 75

Hello Microsoft Support Team,

I am experiencing an issue with the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) after performing a recent Windows update (some days ago). Previously, when I clicked on the Linux icon in the left sidebar of File Explorer, I could access my WSL distributions (e.g., Ubuntu and docker) directly from the sidebar. However, after updating Windows, these WSL distributions no longer appear in the File Explorer sidebar.

Windows 11 Home

Version 24H2

Shane Turner 5 Reputation points

2024-12-08T04:55:47.6233333+00:00

I'm having the same issue.

While we wait, the following command will open File Explorer in the current WSL/distro directory.

explorer.exe .
Priyanshu Gupta 0 Reputation points

2024-12-16T06:56:26.85+00:00

I'm facing the same issue.
Martin Svoboda 0 Reputation points

2024-12-16T13:12:35.09+00:00

The same. After yesterday update
WhyWindows-6970 0 Reputation points

2024-12-20T09:16:30.4133333+00:00

Same issue after last major windows update. All bookmarks in explorer stopped worked and its not possible to remove them in the GUI. Please fix..
Robert Schlackman 0 Reputation points

2025-01-21T21:22:24.92+00:00

I've spent a lot of time trying to fix this one. I've unregistered all my distros, uninstalled wsl and reinstalled. Nothing works short of blowing away my whole pc and rebuilding.
Michael Neumann 0 Reputation points

2025-01-30T22:59:12.4633333+00:00

Just ran into this issue myself. Linux share (WSL) does not show in the Explorer side panel. This is quite frustrating as I use this to navigate the share quite often.

Tried several so-called fixes, but nothing works.

Update 2/4/2025 - Just nuked my install and reinstalled. That worked.
Igor Willems 55 Reputation points

2025-02-04T19:47:18.0933333+00:00

Windows Version 24H2 broke the File Explorer WSL folder access feature under network drive indeed.

Any fix on the horizon?
Saeid Shahriari 75 Reputation points

2025-02-16T09:54:49.6133333+00:00

https://github.com/microsoft/WSL/releases

Check this link and resolve the issue
Sylvester Podrebersek 0 Reputation points

2025-10-02T20:11:43.6833333+00:00

Seeing same issue after update to 25H2. It does not help running wsl --update anymore.

Answer accepted by question author

3 additional answers

Your answer

Shane Turner 5 Reputation points

2024-12-08T04:55:47.6233333+00:00

I'm having the same issue.

While we wait, the following command will open File Explorer in the current WSL/distro directory.

explorer.exe .
Priyanshu Gupta 0 Reputation points

2024-12-16T06:56:26.85+00:00

I'm facing the same issue.
Martin Svoboda 0 Reputation points

2024-12-16T13:12:35.09+00:00

The same. After yesterday update
WhyWindows-6970 0 Reputation points

2024-12-20T09:16:30.4133333+00:00

Same issue after last major windows update. All bookmarks in explorer stopped worked and its not possible to remove them in the GUI. Please fix..
Robert Schlackman 0 Reputation points

2025-01-21T21:22:24.92+00:00

I've spent a lot of time trying to fix this one. I've unregistered all my distros, uninstalled wsl and reinstalled. Nothing works short of blowing away my whole pc and rebuilding.
Michael Neumann 0 Reputation points

2025-01-30T22:59:12.4633333+00:00

Just ran into this issue myself. Linux share (WSL) does not show in the Explorer side panel. This is quite frustrating as I use this to navigate the share quite often.

Tried several so-called fixes, but nothing works.

Update 2/4/2025 - Just nuked my install and reinstalled. That worked.
Igor Willems 55 Reputation points

2025-02-04T19:47:18.0933333+00:00

Windows Version 24H2 broke the File Explorer WSL folder access feature under network drive indeed.

Any fix on the horizon?
Saeid Shahriari 75 Reputation points

2025-02-16T09:54:49.6133333+00:00

https://github.com/microsoft/WSL/releases

Check this link and resolve the issue
Sylvester Podrebersek 0 Reputation points

2025-10-02T20:11:43.6833333+00:00

Seeing same issue after update to 25H2. It does not help running wsl --update anymore.

Answer 1

x me 85

After updating to Windows 11 24H2, I encountered the same issue as you. I read https://github.com/microsoft/WSL/issues/10872 and found the simplest solution: go to https://github.com/microsoft/WSL/releases/tag/2.4.8, download the corresponding installation package, install it, and then restart Explorer.

I found an even simpler solution: just run wsl --update in PowerShell. This eliminates the need to manually download and install WSL.

Saeid Shahriari 75 Reputation points

2025-02-16T09:36:32.84+00:00

Thank you! it solved
洁松邓 0 Reputation points

2025-02-24T09:29:16.92+00:00

Thank you a lot!
x me 85 Reputation points

2025-03-19T11:56:04.63+00:00

I found an even simpler solution: just run wsl --update in powershell. This eliminates the need to manually download and install WSL.

Answer 2

Igor Willems 55

Some things regarding WSL2 + File Explorer and Win 11 Version 24H2 have changed.

To get back the Linux tab in File Explorer, press Start and search + open the 'WSL' system app. Once you're in the terminal, reboot your Windows. Linux tab will be back in the File Explorer.

Дмитрий Антонов 5 Reputation points

2025-02-08T20:37:58.5066667+00:00

Oh, thanks a lot! That advice helps me finally fix this issue
Ed Burley 0 Reputation points

2025-02-11T19:15:36.17+00:00

Nice! Actually works first try.
Sven Dries 0 Reputation points

2025-02-19T21:59:13.96+00:00

upvote this one... tis is accually the most suited solution without downloading extra packages.
Peter Bullock 0 Reputation points

2025-03-31T08:10:37.7966667+00:00

This did it for me, wsl --update (accepted answer) reported that it was already up to date on my computer. Thanks!
Pierre Berryer 5 Reputation points

2025-04-25T16:30:29.2233333+00:00

This worked for me. Note that it will shut down WSL during the process and then restart it. I Used Task Manager to restart Windows Explorer and was able to get this fixed without a reboot.
Vasili Savin 0 Reputation points

2025-05-22T16:29:27.85+00:00

thanks. that helped
Dmytro Shalimov 0 Reputation points

2025-07-25T08:41:21.3766667+00:00

Worked for me

Agenda:
Win10 with WSL Ubuntu
upgrade from 10 to 11, Ubuntu link hided from MyComputer.

Answer 3

Gabriel Augusto Ferreira Oliveira 20

Hi! I found a workaround to get rid of the issue:

Enter "\\wsl$" (withour quotes) in explorer
It will open all your wsl distros
Map the distro as a network drive
1. Right Click in the distro name and map it as a network drive
2. PS: It seems that file transfers now are too much slower than previously.

Gabriel Augusto Ferreira Oliveira 20 Reputation points

2024-12-17T01:15:09.4766667+00:00

I edited the answer to correct the command in step 1.
Gabriel Augusto Ferreira Oliveira 20 Reputation points

2024-12-17T01:16:23.76+00:00

"\wsl$" without quotes
Ed Burley 0 Reputation points

2025-02-11T19:15:14.1966667+00:00

See Igor's fix. This one works, but doesn't actually fix it.

Answer 4

Deepak Potsangbam 0

Is there an official solution to this. I dont have the linux/ubuntu in my left side nav in explorer . Nor can my windows vs code can add wsl projects into workspace. I tried multiple work around suggested here but doesn't helped. Is this fixed in 25H2 or is this the new norm?

cheers

Dee

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Issues with WSL File Access Sidebar in File Explorer After Windows Update

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