How to rename WSL Distro on Windows

tutorial-rename-wsl-disto.txt

To rename WSL Distros on Windows follow the steps:

1. Stop all instances of WSL
   On PowerShell run the command: wsl --shutdown

2. Open Registry Editor and go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Lxss
   Each subfolder on Lxss represents a distro
    
3. Locate and rename the distro you want
   Inside each distro folder you have the DistributionName, change it and click ok
   
4. Restart WSL service
   Open PowerShell as Admin and run the command: Get-Service LxssManager | Restart-Service

All setted up. Run wsl -l to see the changes.

Great - just what I needed, but did'nt find until now :-)
Just updated Ubuntu from 20.04 to 24.04.1 and got annoyed

BUT it's no longer correct - the correct steps (as of today 4/9-2024) for me (on Win10) is (changes start at step 4):

1. Stop all instances of WSL
   On PowerShell run the command: wsl --shutdown

2. Open Registry Editor and go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Lxss
   Each subfolder on Lxss represents a distro

3. Locate and rename the distro you want
   Inside each distro folder you have the DistributionName, change it and click ok

4. Go to Windows Terminal -> Settings ->[the Ubuntu distribution, EG 'Ubuntu-20.04'] -> Command line
   Change to reflect the new name
   EG 'wsl.exe -d Ubuntu-20.04' -> 'wsl.exe -d Ubuntu'

5. Rename all shortcuts (if you have these - I do in Total Commander) to match the new path
   EG \\wsl$\Ubuntu-20.04\home\<me>\ -> \\wsl$\Ubuntu\home\<me>\

6. Launch the distribution from Windows Terminal
   As a side effect this (re-)starts the WSL service

Hi had to use "Get-Service WslService" instead.
Found here