Recovering Linux Icon on WSL.localhost Windows 10 Desktop

Abstract: One day, the Linux icon on your WSL.localhost Windows 10 desktop disappears. This article explains how to recover it.

Created: 2024-03-13 by UserComp.com Editors

Recovering Linux Icon in WSL on Windows 10 Desktop

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where the Linux icon on your Windows 10 desktop has disappeared, making it difficult to access your WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) file manager? This article will guide you through the steps to recover the Linux icon on your Windows 10 desktop.

What is WSL?

WSL is a compatibility layer for running Linux binary executables natively on Windows 10. It allows developers to use their favorite Linux tools, such as Bash, ssh, git, apt, and more, directly on Windows, without the need for a virtual machine.

Why did the Linux Icon Disappear?

There could be several reasons why the Linux icon disappeared from your Windows 10 desktop. Some of the common reasons include:

Accidental deletion
Corrupted shortcut
Windows update
WSL update

Recovering the Linux Icon

To recover the Linux icon on your Windows 10 desktop, follow these steps:

Open the Windows Command Prompt (cmd.exe) as an administrator.
Type the following command to check if WSL is installed: wsl --list --verbose
If WSL is installed, you should see a list of installed Linux distributions. Take note of the name of the Linux distribution you want to recover the icon for.
Type the following command to create a new shortcut for the Linux distribution: wsl --shutdown
Right-click on an empty space on the desktop and select New > Shortcut.
In the Create Shortcut window, type the following command, replacing LinuxDistroName with the name of your Linux distribution: C:\Windows\System32\wsl.exe --distribution LinuxDistroName
Click Next and give the shortcut a name, such as Linux.
Click Finish to create the shortcut.

In this article, we covered the steps to recover the Linux icon on your Windows 10 desktop when it disappears. We discussed what WSL is, why the Linux icon might disappear, and the steps to recover it. By following the steps outlined in this article, you should be able to recover the Linux icon on your Windows 10 desktop and continue using your favorite Linux tools on Windows.

References

Tags: Linux Windows WSL

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