Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-11

How to Fix: Error code: Wsl/Service/CreateInstance/MountVhd/ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND

Error code Wsl/Service/CreateInstance/MountVhd/ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND occurs when trying to reinstall WSL on Windows 11 after uninstalling it.

Quick Answer: Try reinstalling WSL by running the command wsl --install with administrative privileges and ensure that the user account has write access to the AppData folder.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 🔍 Why This Happens
  2. ✅ Best Solutions to Fix It
  3. 💡 Conclusion

Error code: Wsl/Service/CreateInstance/MountVhd/ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND occurs when you attempt to re-install Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) on Windows 11 after uninstalling it. This issue affects users who have previously installed and uninstalled WSL, leading to a frustrating experience. The error message indicates that the system cannot find the specified file, which hinders the ability to create an instance of WSL.

This problem can be particularly infuriating for users who rely on WSL for development or other purposes. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to resolve this issue and get back to using WSL.

🔍 Why This Happens

  • The primary reason for this error is that the temporary storage location of your previous WSL installation is not being properly cleaned up when you uninstall it. This results in a partial loss of data, causing the system to fail when trying to create a new instance.
  • An alternative cause could be a corrupted or incomplete removal of the WSL package during uninstallation, leading to residual files that are not recognized by the system.

✅ Best Solutions to Fix It

Recreating the temporary storage location

  1. Step 1: Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users\<User>\AppData\Local\Packages\CanonicalGroupLimited.Ubuntu_79rhkp1fndgsc\LocalState\ext4.vhdx. This will take you directly to the location where your WSL data is stored.
  2. Step 2: Delete any files or folders that are present in this directory, as they may be causing conflicts with the new installation.
  3. Step 3: Restart your system and attempt to reinstall WSL using the command wsl --install.

Manually creating a new temporary storage location

  1. Step 1: Open Command Prompt or PowerShell as an administrator and run the following command: wsl --install --verbose. This will display detailed information about the installation process, including any errors that may occur.
  2. Step 2: Look for any error messages related to file not found and take note of the exact path mentioned in the error message. You can use this information to recreate the missing files manually.
  3. Step 3: Recreate the temporary storage location by copying or creating new files at the specified path, then restart your system and attempt to reinstall WSL.

💡 Conclusion

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the Error code: Wsl/Service/CreateInstance/MountVhd/ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND and successfully install WSL on your Windows 11 machine. If you encounter any further issues or concerns, consider seeking additional assistance from Microsoft support or a trusted IT professional.

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