Docker Desktop - WSL update failed

[Da-Bayer]

Description

wsl update failed: update failed: updating wsl: exit code: 4294967295: running WSL command wsl.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32\wsl.exe --update --web-download: Downloading: Windows Subsystem for Linux

The requested operation requires elevation.

: exit status 0xffffffff

Reproduce

1. Run update docker desktop to version 4.29.0
2. Finish setting up Docker Desktop - Use recommended setting (requires adminostrator password) -> Finish

Expected behavior

Docker desktop start correctly.

docker version

Client:
 Cloud integration: v1.0.35+desktop.13
 Version:           26.0.0
 API version:       1.45
 Go version:        go1.21.8
 Git commit:        2ae903e
 Built:             Wed Mar 20 15:18:56 2024
 OS/Arch:           windows/amd64
 Context:           default

docker info

Client:
 Version:    26.0.0
 Context:    default
 Debug Mode: false
 Plugins:
  buildx: Docker Buildx (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v0.13.1-desktop.1
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-buildx.exe
  compose: Docker Compose (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v2.26.1-desktop.1
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-compose.exe
  debug: Get a shell into any image or container. (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  0.0.27
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-debug.exe
  dev: Docker Dev Environments (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v0.1.2
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-dev.exe
  extension: Manages Docker extensions (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v0.2.23
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-extension.exe
  feedback: Provide feedback, right in your terminal! (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v1.0.4
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-feedback.exe
  init: Creates Docker-related starter files for your project (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v1.1.0
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-init.exe
  sbom: View the packaged-based Software Bill Of Materials (SBOM) for an image (Anchore Inc.)
    Version:  0.6.0
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-sbom.exe
  scout: Docker Scout (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v1.6.3
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-scout.exe

Server:
ERROR: request returned Internal Server Error for API route and version http://%2F%2F.%2Fpipe%2Fdocker_engine/v1.45/info, check if the server supports the requested API version
errors pretty printing info

Diagnostics ID

38B1FB20-5B09-490A-A484-255D42B5973B/20240417053402

[guelzow]

Hi everyone.

Another diagnostics ID 092845CE-A5A5-46DB-9940-D74EC4092151/20240419053944

Workaround: Start Docker with administrator rights.

More Info: The update to 4.29 deleted all images. I do not login with an administrator account.

Tobi

[thien7156329]

https://github.com/microsoft/WSL/issues/9157 I run success with issue WSL update failed . Let's install KB5020030 file https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=KB5020030

[minhruhr]

Same issue here. version 4.29.0 always tries to update my wsl although it's already on the latest version when I try to do it manually.

wsl update failed: update failed: updating wsl: exit code: 4294967295: running WSL command wsl.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32\wsl.exe --update --web-download: Downloading: Windows Subsystem for Linux The requested operation requires elevation. : exit status 0xffffffff

uninstalling and reinstalling 4.28.0 works again. But I can't seem to be able to update to 4.29.0

Disgnostic ID:

E440D448-382B-4F34-BEE3-C1D2FB5E0345/20240419121414

[jonaskohl]

Also happens on my end: 640FC6CF-9D49-480B-84CC-C8CF71D41B41/20240422071529

[Villad-dev]

I had the same problem solution below: SOLVED: Reinstall Docker ver. 4.28.0 with preinstalled Ubuntu from Microsoft Store

[bl0000]

Can confirm downgrading to 4.28 has fixed the issue for me too.

[tjk19]

Same issue as well Windows 10 error wsl update failed: update failed: updating wsl: exit code: 4294967295: Discovered even though I had to install Docker Desktop 4.29.0 (145265) with admin rights and Docker Desktop was prompting to update wsl with admin privilidges. The solution was simple. Run wsl.exe --update from a cmd prompt that was not elevated.
Things that make you go Hmmmm

[duckodei]

@minhruhr @Villad-dev @bl0000 where i can get 4.28.0 installer to download, can you give me the link or attach your file installer Thank you a lots <3

[bl0000]

@duckodei https://docs.docker.com/desktop/release-notes/

Scroll down to 4.28.0.0, click Windows.

[sbanoeon]

Same problem for me. Even though WSL is already updated to latest version. Diagnostic ID: A8FBCE60-CB47-4FBE-811B-CA75083CA43B/20240423084432

[Prashant20nov2003]

Getting same error please fix this

[ShamaGlob]

have this issue, can't fix it even with 4.28 ver. any ideas?

[duckodei]

@bl0000 I tried, but that show check sum, not any installer file to download. Do I make any mistake here, or can we have a way to use check sum to adjust the version when running the installer?

[sbanoeon]

@duckodei did you click on checksum or on Windows? When you click on Windows, it directly downloads the installer.

[duckodei]

@sbanoeon oh thanks a lot, i clicked checksum, my mistake. Let me try to install again

[Prashant20nov2003]

@sbanoeon oh thanks a lot, i clicked checksum, my mistake. Let me try to install again Just click on the windows option buddy it will start downloading we have to use this version until they fix this issue

[duckodei]

I tried installing version 4.28 & 4.27.2 also but there seems to be a problem, have you encountered it? @sbanoeon @Prashant20nov2003

[chelpingstinetrill]

Seeing the same issue here. Windows 10 machines, non-admin accounts. Downgrades to 4.28 allow the engine to start again.

Also, running wsl.exe --update --web-download from an unelevated command prompt Then if open, closing out and opening up Docker for Windows worked, even though wsl reported that it was already at the latest version.

Similar to what tjk19 suggested https://github.com/docker/for-win/issues/14022#issuecomment-2070866709

Diagnostic ID: 33CED035-C391-46A4-8B96-9D06B5AD557C

[chelnak]

Hey everyone 👋 ,

I'm taking a look at this issue.

From the diagnostics provided, the common theme is that the non-elevated check errors out with:

Windows Subsystem for Linux
The requested operation requires elevation.: exit status 0xffffffff

This feels odd, given that in all cases I see that the elevated update completes right before.

I also noticed that none of the diagnostics contained a log for com.docker.admin.exe, which is where we may see clues about what is happening with the elevated update.

Could I ask you to check your logs directory, and let me know if it's present?

It would be here:

C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Docker\log\host\

@chelpingstinetrill I will take a look at your diagnostic right now.

[chelpingstinetrill]

@chelnak that is not present on my regular user account but is present on my admin account.

[chelnak]

@chelpingstinetrill Great! I can see it included in your diagnostics bundle which is really helpful. I can see that WSL gets updated successfully inside the elevated process.

I have a few questions for you if that is OK.

• Did you install Docker Desktop while logged in as an administrator account?
• Did you run Docker Desktop while logged in as an administrator?
• Did you then log in with your non-administrator account?
• Does your non-administrator account have any local admin / UAC rights?

Appreciate your time, thank you!

[minhruhr]

@chelnak WSL is correctly updated in my log file -------------------------------------------------------------------------------->8 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------->8 [2024-04-24T07:05:26.035077800Z][com.docker.admin.exe.update][I] WSL Updater: updating wsl with -> wsl.exe --update --web-download [2024-04-24T07:05:36.538551100Z][com.docker.admin.exe.update][I] WSL Updater: update completed successfully: Checking for updates. The most recent version of Windows Subsystem for Linux is already installed.

If I may answer to your questions, in my case

• I did not install Docker Desktop while logged in as an admin account (although the installation always prompts and ask for admin right to proceed)
• Running Docker Desktop without admin right doesn't work with v 4.29.0 (it's fine with 4.28.0) as it keeps asking for WSL to be updated
• Running Docker Desktop as Administrator doesn't have that issue, but I believe it's using the configuration from the admin user and not the user I'm currently logged in. This is not an option. all my docker images aren't visible while running as administrator.
• the non-administrator account does not have admin rights

[chelpingstinetrill]

@chelnak

Did you install Docker Desktop while logged in as an administrator account? It is installed/updated via Intune it uses the SYSTEM acount.

Did you run Docker Desktop while logged in as an administrator? Initial run/fail was with non-admin account. I then tried with admin account for troubleshooting and it ran successfully.

Did you then log in with your non-administrator account? Please see above.

Does your non-administrator account have any local admin / UAC rights? No local admin/UAC for non-admin account.

[chelnak]

@minhruhr @chelpingstinetrill thank you both for the responses. They will be really useful for building a repro of the issue.

[Rishikesh-atal]

I see this message..as shown below:

Docker Desktop - WSL update failed

wsl update failed: update failed: updating wsl: exit code: 1: running WSL command wsl.exe C:\Windows\System32\wsl.exe --update --web-download: : exit status 1

Diagnostics ID is E4DDC3FC-415C-4FF4-9BE1-5DC1E320ADEA/20240425112407

Please help what to do

[chelnak]

Hey @Rishikesh-atal

Can you take a look at the questions I posted here and provide some answers if possible please?

Also, as indicated in the above replies, a possible work around for this is to run wsl --update --web-download from the same user that you are seeing Docker Desktop fail to start.

Also to add, I appreciate that this may not be feasible for those experiencing this on a larger scale!

Thanks, Craig

[Rishikesh-atal]

@chelnak

Please find my reply below to your questions:

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Have just one user. So was logged in the same administrator account
4. Since ony one user is there. So this question is not applicable

[cloudgreen]

Thank you so much for this thread!

This is a pretty serious issue as Docker Desktop v4.29 is completely unusable here on Windows 10 22H2 and I lost hours troubleshooting.

v4.28 started perfectly! 😀👍

[MatiasHiltunen]

Getting also this error with 4.29 even with admin account: " wsl update failed: update failed: updating wsl: exit code: 4294967295: running WSL command wsl.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32\wsl.exe --update --web-download: Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Usage: wsl.exe [Argument] [Options...] [CommandLine] ... " Apparently there is no such option argument with the wsl --update as "--web-download"

[MatiasHiltunen]

wsl --status
Default Distribution: Ubuntu-22.04
Default Version: 2

Windows Subsystem for Linux was last updated on 30.12.2023
WSL automatic updates are on.

Kernel version: 5.10.102.1

Apparently wsl from microsoft marketplace is unable to update to newer Kernel version:

wsl --update
Checking for updates...
No updates are available.
Kernel version: 5.10.102.1

Latest version available shoud be 5.15.57.1 https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/kernel-release-notes

Trying to update that, could be issue that has something to do with Windows version perhaps.