Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-15

How to Fix: WSL2 trying to launch VSCode with code . results in error "Please install missing certificates."

VSCode error on WSL2 with certificate issue and no update available.

Quick Answer: Try updating the system's certificate store by running `sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade` or consider using a different code editor.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 💡 Why You Are Getting This Error
  2. 🚀 How to Resolve This Issue
  3. ✨ Wrapping Up

The error 'Please install missing certificates' occurs when trying to launch VS Code from WSL2 using the command `code .`. This issue affects users who are attempting to update their VS Code server and download the latest version, but encounter a certificate error during the process.

This problem is frustrating because it prevents users from accessing the latest features and updates of VS Code. In this troubleshooting guide, we will walk through the steps to resolve this issue and provide alternative solutions.

💡 Why You Are Getting This Error

  • The primary reason for this error is that WSL2 is not able to verify the authenticity of the certificates used by the VS Code server. This can be due to a lack of updated system certificates or incorrect configuration.
  • An alternative reason could be that the system's certificate store is incomplete or corrupted, preventing the download from succeeding.

🚀 How to Resolve This Issue

Updating System Certificates

  1. Step 1: Step 1: Update the system's package list to ensure you have access to the latest certificates. Run the command `sudo apt-get update` in WSL2.
  2. Step 2: Step 2: Install the `ca-certificates` package, which includes a set of trusted certificates for verifying the authenticity of the VS Code server. Run the command `sudo apt-get install ca-certificates`.
  3. Step 3: Step 3: Verify that the `ca-certificates` package has been installed successfully by checking its version using the command `dpkg -l | grep ca-certificates`. If the package is not found, proceed to Step 4.

Configuring WSL2's Certificate Store

  1. Step 1: Step 1: Check if the system's certificate store is complete and up-to-date. Run the command `sudo apt-get update` followed by `sudo apt-get install ca-certificates` to ensure you have all the necessary certificates.
  2. Step 2: Step 2: Create a new file in `~/.wgetrc` with the following line: `check-certificate=off`. This will disable certificate checks for wget-commands.

✨ Wrapping Up

To resolve the 'Please install missing certificates' error when trying to launch VS Code from WSL2, follow the steps outlined above. If updating system certificates or configuring WSL2's certificate store does not work, consider using the temporary solution of disabling certificate checks for wget-commands. Remember to remove this line from `~/.wgetrc` after resolving the issue to avoid potential security risks.

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