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Most WSL connection failures fall into one of five categories: DNS name resolution, general outbound routing, VPN or firewall interference, Windows-to-WSL service access, or .local multicast DNS. Identify the category first, then change only the setting that addresses it. WSL 2 uses NAT by default; Windows 11 version 22H2 and later can use mirrored networking and DNS tunneling, but those features have different prerequisites and limitations.
Use the diagnostic flow below to test the failure, verify your Windows and WSL versions, correct the relevant configuration, and restart WSL so the change takes effect.
1. Classify the failure before changing WSL settings
Open your distribution and test a literal IP address, a normal Internet hostname, a Windows-hosted service, and (if relevant) a .local name. The result tells you which branch to follow.
| Symptom | Likely area | First check |
|---|---|---|
curl https://1.1.1.1 works but curl https://example.com fails |
DNS resolution or DNS transport | Inspect /etc/resolv.conf and DNS tunneling |
| Neither an IP address nor a hostname is reachable | Routing, NAT, firewall, VPN, or proxy | Check the WSL interface, Windows connectivity, and VPN state |
| Internet works until a VPN connects | VPN routes, NRPT policy, or VPN DNS handling | Enable DNS tunneling and test the VPN’s documented WSL support |
| Windows cannot reach a server listening in WSL | Localhost forwarding or inbound firewall rules | Test the service on its listening address and port |
Only names ending in .local fail |
Multicast DNS (mDNS) | Check networking mode, DNS tunneling, WSL build, and Linux mDNS packages |
| One application fails while shell tests work | Application proxy, certificate, or application-specific configuration | Inspect that application’s proxy and network settings separately |
Run these basic tests in WSL, replacing the example hostname or port with one you actually use:
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getent hosts example.com
curl -I --max-time 10 https://example.com
curl -I --max-time 10 https://1.1.1.1
ip addr
ip route
cat /etc/resolv.confA failed ping is not conclusive: many Internet hosts block ICMP while allowing HTTPS. Prefer curl or the protocol used by your application.
2. Verify Windows and WSL versions
Mirrored networking and the documented DNS-tunneling defaults are Windows 11 features. Microsoft documents both for Windows 11 version 22H2 and later. The mirrored-mode guidance for .local names additionally requires WSL build 2.3.17 or newer.
Check the host and WSL versions from PowerShell:
winver
wsl --status
wsl --version
wsl -l -vIf wsl --version is unavailable, your WSL installation may use the older in-box component. Update WSL from an elevated PowerShell window, then check the version again:
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3. Understand NAT and mirrored networking
WSL 2 uses a NAT-based virtual network by default. Linux receives a private virtual address and reaches external networks through Windows’ NAT. This is generally sufficient for outbound Internet access and for Windows reaching services through WSL’s localhost forwarding.
Mirrored networking changes WSL’s relationship with the host network. Microsoft lists IPv6 support, improved VPN compatibility, multicast support, LAN access, and supported localhost communication between Linux and Windows among its benefits. These are capabilities, not guarantees: a particular VPN, firewall policy, or enterprise network can still block traffic.
| Consideration | NAT (default) | Mirrored mode |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Default WSL 2 architecture | Windows 11 version 22H2 and later, with a current WSL package |
| Outbound Internet | Uses Windows NAT | Uses the mirrored host networking arrangement |
| VPN behavior | Some VPN route changes break NAT | Can improve compatibility, but specific VPN versions may remain incompatible |
| IPv6 and multicast | Limited compared with mirrored mode | Designed to support IPv6 and multicast scenarios |
| LAN access | Requires NAT and firewall allowances | Provides broader LAN access, subject to network and firewall policy |
.local mDNS |
Not available when DNS tunneling is enabled | Supported with WSL build 2.3.17 or newer and Linux mDNS configuration |
| Firewall exposure | Windows and Hyper-V firewall rules can filter traffic | Windows and Hyper-V firewall rules still apply |
Enable mirrored mode
- In Windows, open your user profile folder and create or edit
%UserProfile%.wslconfig. This is a global file for WSL 2, not a file inside a Linux distribution. - Add the following section and setting:
[wsl2]
networkingMode=mirrored- Save the file.
- Terminate the running WSL virtual machine so the global setting is reloaded:
wsl --shutdown- Start the distribution again and repeat the tests from the first section.
If mirrored mode creates a new failure, remove the setting, run wsl --shutdown, and retest with NAT. That comparison distinguishes a mode-specific incompatibility from a general DNS or application problem.
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4. Fix DNS failures with DNS tunneling
DNS tunneling sends WSL DNS requests through a Windows virtualization path instead of putting DNS packets onto the virtual network between WSL and Windows. This matters when a firewall, VPN, or security product blocks those packets even though other traffic could work.
Microsoft enables DNS tunneling by default on Windows 11 version 22H2 and later and recommends it for VPN scenarios. You can explicitly set it in the global configuration on supported builds:
[wsl2]
dnsTunneling=trueAfter changing .wslconfig, run wsl --shutdown and start WSL again. Then inspect the generated resolver file and test a name:
cat /etc/resolv.conf
getent hosts example.comDNS behavior that changes when tunneling is enabled
- Windows VPN NRPT policies are applied to WSL DNS queries.
- Windows DNS suffixes become available to Linux name resolution.
- WSL can use Windows DNS servers beyond the three-server limit normally represented in a Linux
resolv.conf. - Windows DNS encryption settings are applied to WSL queries carried through the tunnel.
- Docker Desktop-managed container DNS queries bypass WSL DNS tunneling; a container failure therefore needs its own Docker DNS diagnosis.
If you deliberately need DNS-over-HTTPS or DNS-over-TLS configured inside Linux, disable DNS tunneling and manage DNS in Linux instead. Do not run two competing DNS designs without understanding which resolver is receiving each query.
Make sure resolv.conf generation is enabled
DNS tunneling depends on WSL’s automatic resolver configuration. In the distribution, inspect /etc/wsl.conf:
cat /etc/wsl.confRemove or comment out a setting that disables resolver generation, such as:
[network]
generateResolvConf=falseAfter editing, restart the entire WSL virtual machine:
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wsl --shutdownWhen the distribution starts, WSL can regenerate /etc/resolv.conf. A permanently hand-edited generated file is usually overwritten and can hide the actual mode or VPN problem.
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5. Treat VPN problems as a separate troubleshooting branch
Connect the VPN and repeat the IP-versus-hostname tests. If both fail only while the VPN is active, inspect routes and the VPN’s split-tunnel policy. If names fail while IP connections still work, the issue is usually DNS policy rather than the route itself.
For VPN use, Microsoft recommends DNS tunneling because many corporate VPNs rely on NRPT rules and private DNS suffixes. Enable tunneling, ensure generateResolvConf has not been disabled, run wsl --shutdown, and test a corporate hostname again.
Cisco AnyConnect is specifically documented as capable of changing routes in a way that prevents NAT from working. Some VPN versions are also documented as incompatible with mirrored mode. Do not treat mirrored mode as a universal VPN fix: check the current VPN vendor documentation, client version, and enterprise policy before selecting a mode.
Useful observations to collect for an administrator are:
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- Whether the failure begins immediately when the VPN connects.
- The output of
ip routebefore and after connection. - Whether public DNS names, corporate names, or both fail.
- Whether Windows itself can reach the same destination.
- Whether the VPN requires a proxy or installs a Windows NRPT policy.
6. Separate DNS from proxy and application configuration
WSL networking can be healthy while one tool fails because it has its own proxy, certificate store, or environment variables. Check the process environment:
env | grep -i proxyReview the failing application’s proxy settings and its treatment of HTTPS certificates. Microsoft documents automatic proxy handling as a separate WSL networking consideration; changing DNS will not correct an invalid application proxy. Test with curl from the shell to determine whether the fault is below the application layer.
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7. Repair ordinary outbound Internet access
Check the WSL interface and route
Run:
ip addr
ip route
cat /etc/resolv.confYou should see an interface with an address and a default route. If the interface or route is missing after a Windows sleep, update, or network transition, stop WSL completely and start it again:
wsl --shutdownIf the problem returns only after a VPN or security product starts, focus on that product’s virtual adapters and route policy rather than repeatedly editing Linux routes.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsCheck Windows connectivity and firewall state
Confirm Windows can browse to the destination while WSL cannot. Then inspect Windows Security at Windows Security > Firewall & network protection > Advanced settings. A firewall rule can block the virtual adapter, Hyper-V traffic, or a specific application even when ordinary Windows browsing works.
From an elevated PowerShell window, view the active firewall profiles:
Get-NetFirewallProfile | Format-Table Name, Enabled, DefaultInboundAction, DefaultOutboundActionDo not disable every firewall profile as a general fix. If you must test a service, create a narrowly scoped rule for its port, verify the result, and remove or tighten the rule afterward.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.8. Make Windows and WSL services reachable
Windows accessing a service in WSL
WSL supports localhost forwarding for applications listening in Linux. Start the service, confirm its listening socket, and test from Windows:
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curl http://127.0.0.1:3000Replace port 3000 with the service’s actual port. If the service listens only on a particular Linux address, configure it to listen on the address required by your application; a process bound to an unexpected interface can appear unreachable even though WSL networking is functioning.
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Linux accessing a Windows service in mirrored mode
Mirrored mode supports Linux-to-Windows localhost communication through 127.0.0.1 for supported scenarios. IPv6 localhost ::1 is not supported for that documented scenario, so test the IPv4 loopback address explicitly:
curl http://127.0.0.1:PORTReplace PORT with a real number; do not assume a service listening only on ::1 will answer.
Allow inbound traffic deliberately
Inbound connections can be filtered by both Windows Firewall and the Hyper-V firewall. The safest workflow is:
- Identify the exact destination port and protocol, such as TCP port 8080.
- Open Windows Security > Firewall & network protection > Advanced settings > Inbound Rules.
- Select New Rule, choose Port, specify the protocol and port, choose Allow the connection, and limit the profiles and remote addresses to the networks that need access.
- Test the service from the required client.
- Disable or remove the rule if it was only a diagnostic test.
You can create a similarly scoped Windows rule from elevated PowerShell:
New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName 'WSL TCP 8080 test' -Direction Inbound -Action Allow -Protocol TCP -LocalPort 8080 -Profile PrivateChange the port and profile to match your service. On systems enforcing Hyper-V firewall policy, a Windows rule alone may not be sufficient; review the Hyper-V firewall settings and create the narrowest rule that permits the required WSL traffic.
9. Resolve .local hostnames with mDNS
Names ending in .local are commonly resolved with multicast DNS, not ordinary unicast DNS. That makes them a special case.
In NAT mode, .local resolution is not supported when DNS tunneling is enabled. Microsoft documents two approaches: disable DNS tunneling, or use mirrored mode. Disabling tunneling may reduce VPN and enterprise DNS compatibility, so use it only when mDNS is more important for that environment.
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- Windows 11 version 22H2 or later.
- WSL build 2.3.17 or newer for the documented mirrored-mode guidance.
networkingMode=mirroredin the global.wslconfig.- Linux mDNS support configured, for example with the
libnss-mdnspackage and the distribution’s name-service configuration. - Multicast traffic permitted by the host and network firewalls.
After installing and configuring the Linux mDNS components, restart WSL and test:
getent hosts printer.local
ping -c 1 printer.localUse getent as the name-resolution test; a device may resolve correctly while refusing ICMP echo requests.
Quick Recap
10. Recovery recipes for common combinations
Public names fail, IP addresses work
- Check
cat /etc/resolv.conf. - Ensure
generateResolvConfis not disabled in/etc/wsl.conf. - On Windows 11 22H2 or later, enable DNS tunneling in
.wslconfigor confirm its default is active. - Run
wsl --shutdown, restart the distribution, and retrygetent hosts example.com.
Everything fails only when a VPN is connected
- Record
ip routewith the VPN disconnected and connected. - Enable DNS tunneling and restart WSL.
- Test a public IP, a public hostname, and a corporate hostname separately.
- Check the VPN vendor’s current WSL, NAT, and mirrored-mode compatibility notes. A documented route conflict, including the Cisco AnyConnect NAT issue, may require a vendor-side configuration change.
Windows cannot open a WSL development server
- Confirm the process is listening with
ss -lntp. - Test
http://127.0.0.1:PORTon Windows. - Check Windows Firewall and Hyper-V firewall rules for that port.
- If remote LAN clients also need access, create a narrowly scoped inbound rule and ensure the service is bound to an address reachable from those clients.
Only .local names fail
- Confirm the name is provided by mDNS rather than a conventional DNS server.
- Use mirrored mode on a supported Windows and WSL build, or disable DNS tunneling if you must remain in NAT mode.
- Install and configure Linux mDNS support, then verify multicast is not blocked.
11. Configuration checklist
- Use
.wslconfigfor global WSL 2 settings such asnetworkingModeand DNS tunneling. - Use
/etc/wsl.conffor settings belonging to one distribution, including resolver-generation behavior. - Run
wsl --shutdownafter changing either file. - Keep NAT unless you need mirrored-mode capabilities such as multicast, broader LAN access, or a particular VPN behavior.
- Keep DNS tunneling enabled for most VPN and enterprise DNS configurations unless you intentionally manage DNS inside Linux or need NAT-mode mDNS.
- Scope firewall changes to the required protocol, port, profile, and source network.
- Retest with a known IP, a public hostname, a corporate hostname, a localhost service, and a
.localname only when each case applies.
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