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There is no single fix for Incus failures in WSL2: the cause may be Windows virtualization, WSL service setup, Linux kernel or cgroup support, an Incus daemon setting, or the container image itself. Start by recording the full error and logs, then troubleshoot the layer the evidence points to.
Collect the error and logs before changing anything
Record the exact incus launch or incus start command, its complete output, the Incus version, WSL version, Linux distribution, and kernel version from uname -r. Also note whether you launched a container or used --vm.
If the instance already exists, capture its instance and console logs:
incus info <instance_name> --show-log
incus console <instance_name> --show-logKeep both outputs before editing configuration. Incus recommends retrying and comparing the logs to see whether the failure repeats. Its troubleshooting guidance notes that an instance ending in an error state often points to an image or server-configuration problem, rather than a generic launch issue: Incus: How to troubleshoot failing instances.
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Identify which layer is failing
| What fails | Clues to look for | Where to investigate |
|---|---|---|
| Windows or WSL startup | The Linux distribution cannot start, or WSL reports a virtualization error such as 0x80370102. |
Windows virtualization and WSL configuration. |
| Incus daemon or service | Incus cannot reach or start its service; the error points to daemon management. | Incus service state and, where relevant, systemd configuration. |
| Kernel or cgroups | The message mentions unsupported kernel features or a cgroup mount. | WSL kernel compatibility and the specific cgroup configuration. |
| Container image or guest init | The instance record exists, but startup or guest mounts fail; console output points to init or filesystem layout. | Image contents and guest initialization. |
| Incus VM | The command includes --vm, or the error names a virtualization device or feature. |
VM-specific kernel and virtualization capabilities, not container-only assumptions. |
If WSL itself will not start
Resolve a distribution startup failure before troubleshooting Incus: Incus cannot start a guest if the underlying WSL environment is unavailable. For WSL error 0x80370102, Microsoft advises checking that the Virtual Machine Platform feature is enabled and hardware virtualization is enabled in firmware. If Windows itself runs inside a virtual machine, nested virtualization may also be required. Firmware menu names and locations vary by computer.
Use Microsoft’s guidance for the error and the relevant Windows/WSL checks: Microsoft: Virtualization applications do not work with Hyper-V.
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If the error points to Incus service startup
Check systemd only when the symptom involves starting or managing the Incus daemon or another service. WSL supports systemd when configured in /etc/wsl.conf; Microsoft’s documented setup requires WSL 0.67.6 or newer. After changing the configuration, restart WSL instances with wsl.exe --shutdown, then reopen the distribution and check the service again.
Follow Microsoft’s setup steps and confirm the WSL version requirement in its documentation: Microsoft: Use systemd to manage Linux services with WSL. Enabling systemd is not a general remedy for every Incus launch error; match it to a service-startup symptom.
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If the error mentions kernel features or cgroups
Incus system containers share the host Linux kernel and depend on kernel features such as namespaces, cgroups, and seccomp. Compare the WSL kernel and enabled features with the requirements for the Incus release you have installed. Incus’s current main documentation lists Linux 6.12 as its minimum supported kernel and also calls for cgroups, namespaces, seccomp, and native Linux AIO; because that page tracks current documentation, verify the requirements for your own Incus release rather than treating the current minimum as universal: Incus: Installing Incus.
For a specific /sys/fs/cgroup mount error
If the exact message says Failed to mount "/sys/fs/cgroup", check whether a host VPN has mounted cgroup v1 net_cls over cgroup v2. Incus documents this as a possible VPN conflict. Its FAQ describes stopping the VPN and unmounting /sys/fs/cgroup/net_cls as a workaround:
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sudo umount /sys/fs/cgroup/net_clsUse that command only when the reported mount failure and host state match this scenario; it is not a general fix for unrelated cgroup or container errors. See the Incus FAQ.
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Check the image when the instance exists but its console log shows guest initialization or mount failures. Incus expects a container root filesystem to include empty /dev, /proc, and /sys directories and an executable /sbin/init. Incus arranges standard mounts, including /proc and /sys; if required directories are missing, systemd inside an unprivileged container may try to mount API filesystems itself and fail. Consult the Incus instance options and configuration reference alongside the console output.
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Incus’s troubleshooting page demonstrates a temporary diagnostic override that starts a shell instead of the guest init process:
incus config set <instance_name> raw.lxc='lxc.init.cmd = /bin/bash'This is an advanced way to inspect a broken guest, not a permanent repair recipe. The troubleshooting example also warns that Incus may create missing directories during a startup attempt; a later restart can appear to resolve the problem even though the original image layout was defective. Review the example and its recovery context in Incus: How to troubleshoot failing instances.
If you launched an Incus VM
Do not apply container-specific advice blindly when the command includes --vm. Incus containers are software-isolated instances using the host Linux kernel, while VMs rely on hardware virtualization and have separate requirements. One WSL community discussion reports an Incus VM launch error stating that vhost_vsock was not loaded. Treat that as an anecdotal, VM-specific lead—not proof that all WSL2 installations support Incus VMs or that one fix applies broadly: WSL community discussion.
Make one targeted change at a time
Once the error identifies a likely layer, change only the setting relevant to that diagnosis. Retry the same command and compare the new instance and console logs with the saved originals. If the message changes, follow the new evidence; if it does not, avoid stacking unrelated fixes and return to the recorded versions, kernel, instance type, and complete output.
Incus distinguishes containers from VMs in its documentation: Incus: Instances.
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