Error on WSL

You might encounter this error when trying to open your Linux distribution:

A connection attempt failed because the connected party did not properly respond after a period of time, or established connection failed because connected host has failed to respond.
Error code: Wsl/Service/0x8007274c

What Is This Error in WSL?

The error message:

“Error code: Wsl/Service/0x8007274c”

is a Windows networking timeout (SocketException 10060 / HRESULT 0x8007274c). In the context of Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), it means that wsl.exe cannot connect to the WSL service or the Linux VM backend (WSL - 2).

This typically happens when:

  • The WSL VM is unresponsive, frozen, or crashed.
  • The WSL service (LxssManager) is hung.
  • Memory or resource exhaustion prevents the Linux kernel from responding.
  • Conflicts occur with Docker Desktop, VS Code Remote‑WSL, or antivirus software.
  • The Linux distro becomes corrupted after a failed shutdown or update.

The error often appears when running commands like:

wsl
wsl -d <distro>
wsl --shutdown

You may also see exit code 4294967295 (0xffffffff), indicating abnormal termination.

This is not a full WSL uninstall issue—it is strictly a runtime connection failure.

How to Fix It

Follow each step in order. Run commands in PowerShell or Command Prompt as Administrator.

1. Force shutdown WSL

Shut down all WSL instances and the VM.

wsl --shutdown

(If it errors, that’s normal when WSL is stuck.)

This clears most temporary hangs.

2. Restart the WSL service

net stop LxssManager
net start LxssManager

Or via Services.msc → LxssManager → Restart.

This resets the service that wsl.exe connects to.

3. Restart Hyper‑V components (WSL 2 only)

Restart-Service vmcompute

OR disable Hyper‑V in Windows Features → reboot → enable → reboot.

Clears VM-level communication issues.

4. Unregister and reinstall the distro

If a specific distro is corrupted:

wsl --unregister Ubuntu

Then reinstall:

wsl --install -d Ubuntu

(Backup your /home first if needed.)

5. Update WSL and check system resources

wsl --update

Check Task Manager for high RAM/CPU usage.

Outdated WSL builds or low memory can cause kernel panics.

6. Disable interfering software

Temporarily stop:

  • Docker Desktop
  • VS Code Remote-WSL
  • Antivirus real‑time scanning

These can block WSL’s Hyper‑V connection.

7. Full WSL reset (last resort)

wsl --uninstall

Reboot, then reinstall:

wsl --install

This wipes all distros—backup before using.

Additional Tips

  • Check WSL version:

    wsl --status

  • Upgrade to WSL 2:

    wsl --set-version <distro> 2

  • Check logs:

    • Event Viewer → System → LxssManager
    • Distro logs in LocalState directory

  • Prevention:

    • Run wsl --shutdown before Windows updates.
    • Avoid manually mounting/extending the distro VHDX.

Still Not Working?

If the error persists after trying all the above fixes, it could be:

  • Hardware-related: A failing SSD or corrupted disk sectors.
  • Windows Insider Bug: Unstable builds often have WSL regressions, especially on Windows 11 Insider Preview.

Report the issue on the WSL GitHub Repository with the output of:

wsl --status

This sequence resolves the problem in nearly all cases—Step 1 alone fixes the majority of WSL connection failures.

If it was a critical issue in WSL, all above steps might hang up and no response. In that case, a hard reboot is required.