How to Fix WslRegisterDistribution Failed with Error 0x8007023E?
When trying to install or update a Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) distribution, you may encounter the error “WslRegisterDistribution failed with error: 0x8007023E”. This error is caused by a corrupt or outdated Windows installation. To fix this error, you will need to repair your Windows installation.
Table of Contents
How to Fix WslRegisterDistribution Failed with Error 0x8007023E?
What is WSLRegisterDistribution?
WSLRegisterDistribution is a Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) utility that allows you to register a Linux distribution with Windows. This enables you to run Linux distributions on your Windows 10 machine.
However, you may encounter an error when trying to register a distribution with WSLRegisterDistribution. The error message “WSLRegisterDistribution Failed with Error 0x8007023E” means that the registration process failed.
There are a few possible causes for this error:
-The Linux distribution is not compatible with your version of Windows.
-The Linux distribution is not signed by a trusted publisher.
-There is a problem with the WSLRegisterDistribution utility itself.
If you are encountering this error, you can try the following steps to fix it:
-Make sure that you are running a compatible version of Windows. WSLRegisterDistribution is only compatible with Windows 10.
-Make sure that the Linux distribution you are trying to register is compatible with your version of Windows. Some distributions are not compatible with all versions of Windows.
-Make sure that the Linux distribution is signed by a trusted publisher. You can check this by right-clicking on the distribution file and selecting “Properties.” If the publisher is not listed as trusted, you will need to select “Trust this publisher” before you can continue.
-If you are still having problems, you can try reinstalling the WSLRegisterDistribution utility. To do this, open the Microsoft Store and search for “WSLRegisterDistribution.” Click on the “Download” button and follow the instructions.
Why does it fail with Error 0x8007023E?
The error 0x8007023E occurs when the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) fails to register a distribution. This can happen for a number of reasons, but the most common cause is that the distribution is not properly signed.
To fix this problem, you’ll need to re-register the distribution with a valid signature. To do this, follow the instructions below:
1. Uninstall the distribution using the following command:
wslconfig.exe /unregister
2. Re-register the distribution using a valid signature. For example:
wslconfig.exe /register
3. Once the distribution is successfully registered, you can install it again using the following command:
wslconfig.exe /install
4. You should now be able to use the distribution without any problems.
How to fix WslRegisterDistribution Failed with Error 0x8007023E?
If you receive the error WslRegisterDistribution Failed with Error 0x8007023E, it means that the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) cannot be installed on your computer. There are a few possible reasons for this:
1. You are not running Windows 10 version 1607 or higher. WSL is only available on Windows 10 version 1607 or higher.
2. Your computer’s BIOS is not up to date. WSL requires a 64-bit CPU and a BIOS that supports virtualization.
3. You do not have the required hardware for WSL. WSL requires a 64-bit CPU and a minimum of 2 GB of RAM.
If you are running Windows 10 version 1607 or higher and your computer’s BIOS supports virtualization, you can try the following steps to fix the WslRegisterDistribution Failed with Error 0x8007023E error:
1. Open the PowerShell as Administrator and run the following command:
Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux
2. Reboot your computer.
3. Try to install WSL again.

Must Read
1. Check the Windows Event Viewer for any errors that may be related to the WSLRegisterDistribution failed error.
2. Try unregistering and reregistering the WSLRegisterDistribution.exe file.
3. Try running the Windows System File Checker tool to scan for and repair any corrupted Windows system files.
4. If you are using a third-party antivirus program, try temporarily disable it and see if that helps.
5. Try resetting the Windows Subsystem for Linux.
6. Try completely uninstalling and then reinstalling the Windows Subsystem for Linux.
Conclusion
If you’re struggling with the WslRegisterDistribution failed with error 0x8007023E, don’t despair. There are a few things you can do to try and fix the issue.
First, ensure that you have Windows Subsystem for Linux installed on your machine. You can do this by opening the Control Panel and searching for “Turn Windows features on or off.” Scroll down until you see “Windows Subsystem for Linux” and check the box next to it.
If that doesn’t fix the issue, try uninstalling and then reinstalling your Linux distribution.
Finally, if all else fails, you can try running the Windows Subsystem for Linux Repair Tool. This tool will attempt to fix any issues with your installation of WSL.
We hope this article helped you fix the WslRegisterDistribution failed with error 0x8007023E.