How do I install the Wsl2 Distro Management skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add loopyluci/wsl2-distro-management in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

What does the Wsl2 Distro Management skill do?

Use when managing WSL2 distributions: import, export, backup. It is listed under Coding & Dev Tools on SkillMD.

Is Wsl2 Distro Management safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. Independent scanners report: SkillSpector: PASS, Skill Scanner: PASS. Capability flags: docs only. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Wsl2 Distro Management?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Wsl2 Distro Management free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Wsl2 Distro Management?

LoopyLuci (@loopyluci) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Wsl2 Distro Management by loopyluci

Name: Wsl2 Distro Management
Rating: 4.2 (5 reviews)
Author: LoopyLuci

File contents

WSL2 Distro Management

Managing WSL2 distributions: import, export, register, unregister, backup.

Basic Commands

# List all distros with status
wsl --list --verbose

# Set default version (1 or 2)
wsl --set-default-version 2

# Set default distro
wsl --set-default Ubuntu

# Run a command in a specific distro
wsl -d Ubuntu -- ls -la

# Terminate a distro
wsl --terminate Ubuntu

# Shutdown all WSL2
wsl --shutdown

# Check WSL2 status
wsl --status

Export / Import (Full Backup)

# Export distro to tar file
$backupDir = "C:\WSLBackups"
New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path $backupDir -Force
wsl --export Ubuntu "$backupDir\Ubuntu_$(Get-Date -Format yyyyMMdd).tar"

# Import distro from tar
wsl --import MyUbuntu "C:\WSL\MyUbuntu" "$backupDir\Ubuntu_20240101.tar" --version 2

# Import with specific name and path
wsl --import DockerDesktop "C:\ProgramData\Docker\wsl" docker-desktop.tar --version 2

Clone a Distro

# Export existing
wsl --export Ubuntu "$env:TEMP\clone.tar"
# Import as new
wsl --import Ubuntu-Dev "C:\WSL\Ubuntu-Dev" "$env:TEMP\clone.tar" --version 2
# Cleanup temp
Remove-Item "$env:TEMP\clone.tar"

Unregister (Delete Entire Distro)

# WARNING: This PERMANENTLY DELETES all data in the distro
wsl --unregister Ubuntu

Manual Distro Registration

# You can download and import any Linux distro .tar:
# 1. Download from official sources (Alpine, Ubuntu, Debian, etc.)
# 2. Import with custom name
wsl --import Alpine "C:\WSL\Alpine" "C:\Downloads\alpine.tar" --version 2

Set Distribution as Docker Backend

# Docker Desktop uses two internal distros
# These are managed by Docker Desktop -- don't modify directly
wsl --list --verbose | Select-String docker

# Restart Docker WSL2 distros:
# Docker Desktop > Troubleshoot > Restart Docker Desktop
# Or:
wsl --terminate docker-desktop
# Docker Desktop auto-restarts it

Pitfalls

wsl --shutdown terminates all WSL2 distros, including Docker
Export creates large files (multi-GB for Docker data distros)
Import path is the install location, not the tar file path
Version 1 to 2 conversion can take time for large distros
VHDX files grow over time but rarely shrink -- compact with diskpart or wsl --shutdown + Optimize-VHD

---name: wsl2-distro-managementdescription: Use when managing WSL2 distributions: import, export, backup.---# WSL2 Distro ManagementManaging WSL2 distributions: import, export, register, unregister, backup.## Basic Commands```powershell# List all distros with statuswsl --list --verbose# Set default version (1 or 2)wsl --set-default-version 2# Set default distrowsl --set-default Ubuntu# Run a command in a specific distrowsl -d Ubuntu -- ls -la# Terminate a distrowsl --terminate Ubuntu# Shutdown all WSL2wsl --shutdown# Check WSL2 statuswsl --status```## Export / Import (Full Backup)```powershell# Export distro to tar file$backupDir = "C:\WSLBackups"New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path $backupDir -Forcewsl --export Ubuntu "$backupDir\Ubuntu_$(Get-Date -Format yyyyMMdd).tar"# Import distro from tarwsl --import MyUbuntu "C:\WSL\MyUbuntu" "$backupDir\Ubuntu_20240101.tar" --version 2# Import with specific name and pathwsl --import DockerDesktop "C:\ProgramData\Docker\wsl" docker-desktop.tar --version 2```## Clone a Distro```powershell# Export existingwsl --export Ubuntu "$env:TEMP\clone.tar"# Import as newwsl --import Ubuntu-Dev "C:\WSL\Ubuntu-Dev" "$env:TEMP\clone.tar" --version 2# Cleanup tempRemove-Item "$env:TEMP\clone.tar"```## Unregister (Delete Entire Distro)```powershell# WARNING: This PERMANENTLY DELETES all data in the distrowsl --unregister Ubuntu```## Manual Distro Registration```powershell# You can download and import any Linux distro .tar:# 1. Download from official sources (Alpine, Ubuntu, Debian, etc.)# 2. Import with custom namewsl --import Alpine "C:\WSL\Alpine" "C:\Downloads\alpine.tar" --version 2```## Set Distribution as Docker Backend```powershell# Docker Desktop uses two internal distros# These are managed by Docker Desktop -- don't modify directlywsl --list --verbose | Select-String docker# Restart Docker WSL2 distros:# Docker Desktop > Troubleshoot > Restart Docker Desktop# Or:wsl --terminate docker-desktop# Docker Desktop auto-restarts it```## Pitfalls- **wsl --shutdown** terminates all WSL2 distros, including Docker- **Export** creates large files (multi-GB for Docker data distros)- **Import** path is the install location, not the tar file path- **Version 1 to 2 conversion** can take time for large distros- **VHDX files** grow over time but rarely shrink -- compact with `diskpart` or wsl --shutdown + Optimize-VHD

Frequently asked questions

Wsl2 Distro Management