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If WSL2 has a valid IP address and route but still reports 100% packet loss, test whether the failure reaches beyond DNS. In one report involving WSL 2.7.3 on Windows 11 build 26200.8457, Ubuntu 22.04 and kernel 6.6.114.1-1, pings to both the gateway and a public IP failed in NAT mode; the reporter said connectivity returned after switching to mirrored networking. That is a machine-specific reported workaround, not a guaranteed fix, and it has not been independently reproduced here. The WSL issue report does not establish a universal WSL2 bug or verify the “under 10 minutes” timing.
First determine whether the problem is DNS or broader connectivity
A working address, default route and ARP entry do not prove that packets can reach the gateway or the internet. The cited report had those local network details but still lost gateway and public-IP pings. Check the three layers separately from your Linux distribution:
ping 192.168.0.1— replace this example with your actual default gateway.ping 8.8.8.8— tests a public IP without relying on hostname lookup.curl -I https://google.com— tests a hostname-based HTTPS request.
If the hostname check fails while direct-IP connectivity works, investigate DNS rather than assuming the same failure as the issue report. If gateway and public-IP tests also fail, the symptom is broader than DNS. Ping responses can be blocked by network policy, so interpret them alongside the HTTPS result rather than as a complete connectivity diagnosis.
Record the WSL and Windows versions before changing settings
Write down your Windows build, WSL version, Linux kernel version, distribution and current networking mode. This matters because the reported failure and workaround apply to a particular setup, while mirrored mode availability is tied to Windows version. To check basic WSL details, run wsl --version and wsl --status in PowerShell, and record the distribution shown by wsl -l -v. These commands help describe the environment; they do not diagnose the networking cause by themselves.
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The report concerns WSL 2.7.3, Windows 11 build 26200.8457, Ubuntu 22.04 and Linux kernel 6.6.114.1-1. Your setup may behave differently.
What mirrored networking changes
Microsoft documents NAT as WSL’s default networking architecture. Mirrored networking is available on Windows 11 22H2 and later. Microsoft says the mode addresses networking issues associated with NAT and lists benefits including IPv6 support, Windows/Linux localhost connectivity, improved VPN compatibility, multicast support and direct LAN access to WSL. Those are documented capabilities, not a promise that mirrored mode will fix every packet-loss problem. See Microsoft’s WSL networking documentation for the mode’s behavior and qualifications.
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| Networking mode | Availability and documented characteristics | Evidence relevant to this symptom |
|---|---|---|
| NAT | WSL’s default networking architecture. | The WSL issue reporter described failed gateway and public-IP pings while using NAT. |
| Mirrored | Available on Windows 11 22H2 and later; Microsoft documents improved VPN compatibility, IPv6, multicast, localhost connectivity between Windows and Linux, and direct LAN access to WSL. | The issue reporter said HTTPS access and ping worked after switching to mirrored mode; this is a single reported outcome. |
Try mirrored mode with the global WSL configuration
networkingMode is a global WSL 2 setting in %UserProfile%.wslconfig, not a per-distribution option in /etc/wsl.conf. Microsoft explains the distinction and restart behavior in its advanced WSL configuration documentation.
- Save work in every running WSL distribution. The next command stops all running WSL 2 distributions, not only the one you are troubleshooting.
- In Windows, open or create
%UserProfile%.wslconfigand add this minimal configuration:[wsl2] networkingMode=mirrored - In PowerShell, run
wsl --shutdown. This stops the WSL subsystem so the global configuration can take effect. - Start your distribution again, then repeat the same gateway, public-IP and HTTPS checks. Compare the results with the ones you recorded before the change.
If those checks now succeed, mirrored mode is a practical workaround for your setup, but the change alone does not prove what caused the original failure. If they still fail, this report’s workaround has not resolved your issue; do not treat its outcome as a diagnosis for your machine.
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Do not copy every setting from the issue report
The reporter’s mirrored configuration also included dnsTunneling=true, autoProxy=true and firewall=false. The report does not establish that those additional settings were necessary. In particular, do not disable the firewall as a generic packet-loss fix: the available evidence does not show that this is required or safe for other systems.
Microsoft documents DNS tunneling as enabled by default on Windows 11 22H2 and later; it routes WSL DNS requests through a virtualization feature instead of ordinary network packets. The issue report says DNS failed after outbound networking failed, but does not identify DNS as the cause. Automatic proxy configuration serves a separate purpose. Change either setting only if you have a specific reason and follow your organization’s security policy.
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If mirrored mode does not restore connectivity
Preserve the before-and-after results, version details and relevant WSL logs, then investigate the actual Windows, VPN, firewall and network environment. The available report cannot establish a cause or a next-step fix for other configurations. Avoid changing multiple settings at once: doing so makes it harder to tell which change affected the result.
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