Solved Installing WSL on a new Windows 11

The command ...
WSL --install
results in ...
"the server name or address could not be resolved"

This happens in a Windows CLI in administrator mode.

This also happens in a PowerShell CLI in administrator mode.

Other WSL commands relevant to install result in the same message.
Example ...
WSL --install --no-distribution
WSL --install -d Ubuntu-24.04

Please help.

The error "The server name or address could not be resolved" in WSL means your Linux environment has lost connection to its DNS servers. This usually happens due to bad network handshakes, aggressive VPN configurations, or WSL's auto-generated network files breaking.

Sometimes the WSL network service just needs a refresh.

Open Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt as Administrator.

Shut down WSL completely:


Restart your WSL terminal and check if the internet works.

No such command as "powershellwsl --shutdown" in PowerShell.

In Windows CLI "WSL --shutdown" results in "WSL is not installed."

It's solved. No WiFi. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Cool i'm glad to hear that have a nice day.