How To Fix Docker Desktop Unexpected WSL Error

Docker Desktop is an essential tool for developers looking to streamline the creation, deployment, and management of containerized applications.

However, encountering “Docker Desktop- Unexpected WSL Error. An unexpected error was encountered while executing a WSL command. Common causes include access rights issues, which occur after waking the computer or not being connected to your domain/active directory.” error when trying to start Docker Desktop on Windows can be a frustrating roadblock.

This error can manifest due to a variety of reasons such as access rights issues, conflicts with other services, or misconfiguration.

In this blog post, we’ll explore some effective strategies to troubleshoot and resolve unexpected WSL errors, ensuring a smooth Docker experience.

How To Fix Docker Desktop Unexpected WSL Error?

To fix the “Unexpected WSL Error” on the Docker Desktop, you can restart the WSL service, reinstall WSL, and reset Winsock. you can also change the settings.json file.

1. Restart WSL Service

Sometimes, simply restarting the WSL service can resolve the issue.

• Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
• Type services.msc and press Enter to open the Services console.
• In the Services window, scroll down and find the ‘LxssManager’ service. This service is responsible for managing the Linux subsystem.
• Right-click on ‘LxssManager’ and select ‘Restart’ from the context menu. If the service is not running, you can start it by clicking ‘Start’.

2. Reinstall WSL

If the error persists, updating or reinstalling WSL may be necessary.

• Open PowerShell as Administrator.
• Run the command: wsl --install and tap Enter.
• Restart your computer if prompted.
• After the restart, open the Linux distribution from the Start menu.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to set up a user account and password for your Linux distribution.

3. Change The Settings.json File

• On Windows, it is usually found at %APPDATA%\Docker\settings.json.
• Make a backup of the settings.json file before making changes to ensure you can revert to the original settings if necessary.
• Open the settings.json file with a text editor of your choice, such as Notepad on Windows or TextEdit on Mac. You can also use code editors like Visual Studio Code for more convenience in handling JSON files.
• Edit the JSON structure to modify the settings you’re interested in. The settings available can include Docker Engine configuration, proxy settings, resource limits, and more.
• Ensure the JSON syntax is correct to prevent Docker Desktop from failing to read the file. JSON requires correct commas, quotation marks, and braces.
• Save the file after making your changes.
• Restart Docker Desktop for the changes to take effect.

4. Reset Winsock

Network issues can sometimes cause problems with the Docker Desktop. You can reset Winsock by running the command netsh winsock reset in the command prompt as an administrator.

• Typing cmd in the Windows search bar, right-clicking on Command Prompt, and selecting “Run as administrator”.
• In the Command Prompt, type the following command and press Enter:netsh winsock reset
• After running the command, you’ll typically be prompted to restart your computer. Go ahead and do so to complete the reset process.
• Once your system restarts, open Docker Desktop to see if the issue has been resolved.

5. Update Docker Desktop

Ensure that you are running the latest version of Docker Desktop, as updates often include bug fixes and improvements that could resolve your issue.

• Open Docker Desktop.
• Go to Settings > General.
• Click on ‘Check for Updates’. If an update is available, follow the prompts to install it.