Use WSL’s built-in wsl --export and wsl --import commands to save and restore a Linux distribution. Export creates a tar archive by default; for a WSL 2 distribution, you can also export a VHDX. Keep the original distribution until you have confirmed the backup and tested the restored copy: wsl --unregister permanently deletes the distribution’s data, settings, and software.
Before you start: identify the distribution and choose a destination
Open PowerShell or Command Prompt and list your installed distributions:
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wsl --list --verboseUse the exact distribution name shown in the list in the commands below. The output also identifies whether each distribution uses WSL 1 or WSL 2, which matters because VHDX export is available only for WSL 2. Choose a destination with enough free space and create its parent folder first; for example, make sure D:Backups exists before exporting to it.
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Export a backup
Option 1: Create a tar archive
Run the following in PowerShell or Command Prompt, replacing Ubuntu with your distribution’s exact name and adjusting the destination as needed:
wsl --export Ubuntu D:BackupsUbuntu.tarwsl --export creates a snapshot file and uses tar format by default. Microsoft documents the syntax as wsl --export <Distribution Name> <FileName>. Keep the resulting archive in a safe location; you can copy it to another machine before importing it there.
Option 2: Export a WSL 2 distribution as VHDX
For a WSL 2 distribution, you can export its virtual disk instead:
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wsl --export Ubuntu D:BackupsUbuntu.vhdx --vhdMicrosoft’s command reference documents the --vhd option, while its FAQ also shows the equivalent format selection as --format vhd. VHDX export requires WSL 2 and can use substantial disk space. Use this option when you want a disk-based backup or plan to register the VHDX directly at its final location.
Restore a tar archive
Import the archive with a registered distribution name and an installation directory. This example explicitly selects WSL 2:
wsl --import Ubuntu-Restored D:WSLUbuntu-Restored D:BackupsUbuntu.tar --version 2The arguments are the new distribution name, its installation location, and the archive path. Use --version 1 or --version 2 to select the intended WSL version; include the flag rather than relying on a default when the version matters. You can choose another registered name or installation directory, provided the destination is suitable and available.
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Restore a VHDX backup
Import the VHDX into an installation directory
Use --vhd when importing a VHDX backup:
wsl --import Ubuntu-Restored D:WSLUbuntu-Restored D:BackupsUbuntu.vhdx --vhdRegister an existing VHDX in place
If the VHDX is already at the location where you intend to keep it, register it directly with:
wsl --import-in-place Ubuntu-Restored D:BackupsUbuntu.vhdxThe virtual hard disk used with --import-in-place must use the ext4 filesystem. WSL 2 distributions use ext4 virtual disks stored as VHDX files, as described in Microsoft’s WSL disk-space guidance. Because an in-place import registers the disk at its current path, leave the file in its intended permanent location.
Move a distribution to another drive
For a move, export the WSL 2 distribution as VHDX, verify the export, unregister the original, and then import the VHDX in place from the new drive. A typical sequence is:
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Export the distribution:
wsl --export Ubuntu D:BackupsUbuntu.vhdx --vhd. -
Check that the export completed and the VHDX exists at the destination. Keep an independent copy if you can.
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Only when you are satisfied the backup is intact, unregister the original:
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Move or copy the VHDX to its intended permanent location, then register it there:
wsl --import-in-place Ubuntu D:WSLUbuntu.vhdx. -
Start the imported distribution and confirm that it is usable before removing any remaining backup copy.
Microsoft warns that, once a distribution is unregistered, all data, settings, and software associated with it are permanently lost. Do not run the unregister command as a way to test a backup, and do not delete your only export until you have confirmed the restored distribution works.
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| Need | Documented choice | Constraint |
|---|---|---|
| Keep a conventional archive or restore from a tar file | Export to tar, then use wsl --import. |
Import requires a distribution name and installation location; specify the WSL version if it matters. |
| Save or transfer a WSL 2 virtual disk | Export to VHDX, then import with --vhd. |
VHD export and import require WSL 2; the full transfer can require substantial disk space. |
| Register a VHDX from its final location | Use wsl --import-in-place. |
The VHDX must use ext4 and should remain at the registered path. |
| Transfer only selected files when storage is limited | Use file transfer and reinstall packages, as described in Microsoft’s WSL FAQ. | This does not create a complete distribution export. |
Keep the backup separate from the original
For a backup you may need later, retain the exported tar or VHDX somewhere separate from the distribution’s installation files. For a transfer, copy the export to the destination computer and import it there using the matching method above. Before deleting an original or backup, verify that the export completed and that the restored distribution starts and contains the data you need.
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