WSL2 starting as root when starting with wsl.exe

[Aulos]

• Your Windows build number: Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.18932.1000]

• What you're doing and what's happening: > wsl.exe -d my-wsl2-distro

• What's wrong / what should be happening instead:
  It starts as root, even after my-wsl2-distro.exe config --default-user my-user. my-wsl2-distro.exe starts as the default-user. It is quite problematic when using Remote-WSL on vscode, because it runs as the root user.

[craigloewen-msft]

Which distro are you using? Is this a general problem across distros or just on one specific distro? If you switch back to WSL 1 and try to change the default user does that work?

[Aulos]

Ubuntu 18.04.

I may add that this is imported WSL1 distro as WSL2 distro - I couldn't convert my old WSL1 distro.

I'll have to check.

[craigloewen-msft]

I'm unable to repro your issue. I was able to set the default user using ubuntu1804.exe config --default-user root and back to my original user in both WSL 1 and WSL 2. I'd be interested if this issue was reproducible across other distros, and across distros backed by WSL 1 or WSL 2.

[Aulos]

Ok, so this is how it went:

• I had a WSL1 distro with default user X
• I try to convert it and it fails due to compression issues
• So I try to export this distro and then reimport it with version set to 2
• After successfully importing it, the default user is root (and for some reason after running it I have to hit Ctrl-C - only then shell starts)

[craigloewen-msft]

To resolve your immediate issue please see issue #3974 .
Specifically go to:

• Find your UID for your username in your Linux distro typing in the command id -u <yourUserName>. Remember this value.
• Open registry edit and navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Lxss\{MY-UUID}. Please be careful when editing registry keys!
• Replace the DefaultUid value with the UID value of the user in your distro.

[Aulos]

Yup, that worked, but why setting user doesn't do anything, without any error?

[craigloewen-msft]

At the time of writing this wsl --import doesn't provide a ..exe, as described in #3974. We'll track adding that feature to make it easier to change the default user in that other thread. I'll mark this issue as closed since your immediate problem seems resolved, but if it isn't please feel free to reopen!

[cspotcode]

@Aulos I still have the Ctrl-C issue you described:

After successfully importing it, the default user is root (and for some reason after running it I have to hit Ctrl-C - only then shell starts)

Did you figure out how to fix the Ctrl-C issue?

I have successfully changed the default user via RegEdit. I did the same as you: --export and --import to convert my distro to WSL2, since --set-version failed.

[benhillis]

I have recently added the ability to specify the default user in the /etc/wsl.conf file. That change is making its way to Insider builds.

[Biswa96]

Should not that default user option be in %UserProfile%\.wslconfig file? Because it's like Windows-controlled-thing?

[benhillis]

@Biswa96 - .wslconfig is for global settings, /etc/wsl.conf is per-distro settings.

[cspotcode]

Turns out the Ctrl-C issue I was seeing was due to an unrelated WSL bug: Windows interop being broken. Pengwin has a /etc/profile.d/00-pengwin.sh script that tries to call cmd.exe, piping the output to a linux process. This is currently broken, so it was hanging. Fix was to remove that line from 00-pengwin.sh. There are other tickets tracking the interop bug.

[cpbotha]

For anyone else wondering how the default user specification in wsl.conf as implemented by @benhillis works, see https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/release-notes#build-18980

[user]
default=default_username

You will probably have to wsl --shutdown and then restart to see the change.

[thomasfrobieter]

It may should mentioned that the /etc/wsl.conf file needs to be created manually.

This fixed it! thx!

[ZealousMacwan]

For WSL2
Added this wsl.config
[user]
default=root

And did wsl.exe --shutdown

Still logging in using zealous@Desktop

<distro_name>.exe config --default-user root
returns command not found,
Is it for WSL2 or WSL ?

[liuyongAlive]

Not Ubuntu-20.04.exe
Is ubuntu2004.exe

Ubuntu2004.exe config --default-user root

[ZealousMacwan]

Still not working, Command not found. I doubt is it because I have installed distro manually ? And not from Windows Store

[Deeptwix]

Just to add a different context :
I've had the same issue while importing a distro from WSL2 to WSL2, but the registry value changed did it for me.
As a PSA, just be careful when you edit the DefaultUid value to either put it in hexadecimal, or to change the default format to decimal. Because id -u gives you a decimal value, and the DefaultUid field takes an hexadecimal value as a default.

[woss]

for reference this approach can be used to fix when you mess up something with the root, like introducing the syntax error in the sudoers file.

if you have few distros you can easily find to see which one is yours.

Open registry edit and navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Lxss{DISTRO-UUID. Please be careful when editing registry keys!
Replace the DefaultUid value with the UID value of the user in your distro, my normal user is 1000 and root is 0. Use the Decimal entry and change it to the root user. open the distro and fix the bug. ( you might do the wsl --shutdown ) then change back to the 1000 r what ever was before, wsl --shutdown again and enjoy fixed system

[craigloewen-msft]

To accomplish this feature please add this section to your /etc/wsl.conf file:

[user]
default=<yourUserNameGoesHere>

Replace with your Linux username.

Here's a link to the docs:
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/wsl-config#user

[woss]

i know it's mentioned but that didn't work for me @craigloewen-msft
did it work for you?

[craigloewen-msft]

Please make sure you are using Windows 10 Build 19041 or higher to use that feature.

[junkuan-coder]

for reference this approach can be used to fix when you mess up something with the root, like introducing the syntax error in the sudoers file.

if you have few distros you can easily find to see which one is yours.

Open registry edit and navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Lxss{DISTRO-UUID. Please be careful when editing registry keys!
Replace the DefaultUid value with the UID value of the user in your distro, my normal user is 1000 and root is 0. Use the Decimal entry and change it to the root user. open the distro and fix the bug. ( you might do the wsl --shutdown ) then change back to the 1000 r what ever was before, wsl --shutdown again and enjoy fixed system

it works,thank you

[ReySys]

I report this issue with Fedora distro I installed yesterday from the store. Ask for change of default password for root never accepted any password I typed. Closed an open the session. Already in root. Later let me to change the password. But always in root. Different from the other distros I installed. Ubuntu, Pengwin, Debian.

I think is a theme with the username cannot be the same with windows.

[moracabanas]

For WSL2
Added this wsl.config
[user] default=root

And did wsl.exe --shutdown

Still logging in using zealous@Desktop

<distro_name>.exe config --default-user root
returns command not found,
Is it for WSL2 or WSL ?

I had the same issue and it is caused by a typo.

instead /etc/wsl.config you should write /etc/wsl.conf
note the extension change

[TerminatedProcess]

As of 8/1/2021, with windows 11 and wsl2, this issue still exists. Exported Ubuntu. Imported it back and it goes straight to root. I did make the registry key change and this resolved it for me.

[amirhp110]

This issue has nothing to do with import.
On a new Windows I install WSL ubuntu using "wsl.exe --install -d Ubuntu" in PowerShell and start Ubuntu from Start menu, it is root, does not even asked for setup username and password, I am in as root.

[maxisam]

in windows 11,

wsl -d xxxx -u root

[gmankab]

Not Ubuntu-20.04.exe Is ubuntu2004.exe

Ubuntu2004.exe config --default-user root

works, thank you

[gabrielsimas]

For anyone else wondering how the default user specification in wsl.conf as implemented by @benhillis works, see https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/release-notes#build-18980

[user]
default=default_username

You will probably have to wsl --shutdown and then restart to see the change.

Same in 2022... works for me! Thanks!

[TerminatedProcess]

I also use this command. It's in my restore script for restoring a WSL2 backup. See the last line.. YOURUSERNAME is the username you want to switch too.

`
wsl --shutdown

wsl --unregister ubuntu

wsl --import Ubuntu D:\wsl2distros C:\wslbackups%1%.tar

ubuntu config --default-user YOURUSERNAME

`

[lucit21]

Step 1.) In your WSL/Linux Distribution enter command: id YOURUSERNAME (RECORD THE VALUE)

Step 2.) Right click the start menu and select run, then type regedit and hit enter

Step 3.) In the left panel navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Lxss\

Step 4.) In the left panel click on the drop down arrow next to the Lxss folder and select your Linux Distribution

Step 5.) Locate the value titled "DefaultUid" and double click it

Step 6.) In the box that appears enter the value you recorded in step 1 and select "Decimal" then hit enter

MAKE SURE YOUR VALUE MATCHES THE RETURNED VALUE FROM STEP ONE AND MAKE SURE "DECIMAL" IS SELECTED

If you've followed every step described above and you issue remains, throw your computer away and take up knitting

[DOM779]

Step 1.) In your WSL/Linux Distribution enter command: id YOURUSERNAME (RECORD THE VALUE)

Step 2.) Right click the start menu and select run, then type regedit and hit enter

Step 3.) In the left panel navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Lxss\

Step 4.) In the left panel click on the drop down arrow next to the Lxss folder and select your Linux Distribution

Step 5.) Locate the value titled "DefaultUid" and double click it

Step 6.) In the box that appears enter the value you recorded in step 1 and select "Decimal" then hit enter

MAKE SURE YOUR VALUE MATCHES THE RETURNED VALUE FROM STEP ONE AND MAKE SURE "DECIMAL" IS SELECTED

If you've followed every step described above and you issue remains, throw your computer away and take up knitting

Showwwwww. Omg

[korenmic]

To resolve your immediate issue please see issue #3974 . Specifically go to:

• Find your UID for your username in your Linux distro typing in the command id -u <yourUserName>. Remember this value.
• Open registry edit and navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Lxss\{MY-UUID}. Please be careful when editing registry keys!
• Replace the DefaultUid value with the UID value of the user in your distro.

@craigloewen-msft - that registry path does not exist in windows 11, I could create it, but it feel as the wrong solution if it did not come pre-existing with windows.

For anyone else wondering how the default user specification in wsl.conf as implemented by @benhillis works, see https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/release-notes#build-18980

[user]
default=default_username

You will probably have to wsl --shutdown and then restart to see the change.

@cpbotha - that did not work, after wsl shutdown and start again I still came back as root
I thought wsl --shutdown was not good enough so I tried taskkill /f /im wslservice.exe, but even that was not good enough.

OH I thought the ~/.wslconfig file! No! it was the /etc/wsl.conf file, that actually worked!

[MalcolmAnderson]

To resolve your immediate issue please see issue #3974 . Specifically go to:

• Find your UID for your username in your Linux distro typing in the command id -u <yourUserName>. Remember this value.
• Open registry edit and navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Lxss\{MY-UUID}. Please be careful when editing registry keys!
• Replace the DefaultUid value with the UID value of the user in your distro.

Thanks for this, saved my life.
Just a note, that this is the last day of August in 2023, so this issue is still on going 4 years later.

[jglathe]

[user]
default=default_username

This helped, thanks.
Why does this still happen , in 2023?

[TheMagicNacho]

@jglathe , I don't know about you, but this only happened to me when I changed the which drive WSL2 lived on.

[jglathe]

I actually changed the SSD in the box, so a UUID change might be possible deep down in the partition UUIDs. I restored a backup image, the IDs oft the GPT will at least have partially changed due to the restore method. Seen some other issues (power management related) though, did a recovery image restore, replaced the Windows partition with the backed-up one. Managed to repair the boot config with bcdboot. This didn't bring up the issue again - probably due to the fix being in place already.

[omarmciver]

Not Ubuntu-20.04.exe Is ubuntu2004.exe

Ubuntu2004.exe config --default-user root
or
Ubuntu2204.exe config --default-user root

This ^^^ After exporting and importing to move WSL disk to a new location.

[ScoutmanPt]

Howdy to all , try this psmodule https://github.com/pnp/wsl2 or Import-Module PnP.Wsl2 , a way to manage wsl2 instances easy\peasy . There's the Import\Export cmdlet and the Copy that fix the resizing ... and actually solve the export lock problem bug ( im adding some updates this weekend) (#12434 (comment)) that is not solved still