# Reinstalling Ubuntu WSL on Windows from PowerShell

This is when you want to throw your build out the window and start fresh:

```powershell
wsl --unregister Ubuntu
```

```powershell
wsl --install -d Ubuntu
```

Now you can start with a fresh install of Ubuntu in Windows Subsystem for Linux.

To list all registered WSL distributions on your PC, run this command:

```powershell
wsl --list --verbose
```

Or the shorthand:

```powershell
wsl -l -v
```

This will show output like:

```
  NAME                   STATE           VERSION
* Ubuntu-22.04           Running         2
  Debian                 Stopped         2
```

- The `*` indicates the default distribution.
- You can then unregister any of them using:

```powershell
wsl --unregister <DistributionName>
```

For example:

```powershell
wsl --unregister Ubuntu-22.04
```

Make a backup of anything you need before removing it.

[![image.png](https://docs.natenetworks.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-06/scaled-1680-/DGSDDyw8EECLpVfP-image.png)](https://docs.natenetworks.com/uploads/images/gallery/2025-06/DGSDDyw8EECLpVfP-image.png)