WSL crashing randomly with HCS_E_CONNECTION_TIMEOUT

[a-sakharov]

Windows Version

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.26100.4061]

WSL Version

2.5.7.0

Are you using WSL 1 or WSL 2?

• WSL 2
• WSL 1

Kernel Version

6.6.87.1-1

Distro Version

Ubuntu 24.04.1 LTS

Other Software

Docker desktop 4.38.0 (181591), Engine: 27.5.1
VSCode 1.100.2

Repro Steps

Launch PC
Open bash and/or VSCode with project inside WSL
Wait for from 1 to 10 minutes

Expected Behavior

WSL keep working

Actual Behavior

WSL stop responding with error HCS_E_CONNECTION_TIMEOUT

Diagnostic Logs

WslLogs-2025-05-28_15-03-48.zip

[a-sakharov]

This bug appeared today, I can't connect it with any possible change in my system. No recent updates or new software was installed. It keeps happening again and again, even after PC reboot. wsl --shutdown takes few minutes to finish and can also bring WSL to working state for a short time, but it crashing again as described.

[github-actions]

Diagnostic information

Detected appx version: 2.5.7.0
Detected user visible error: Wsl/Service/HCS_E_CONNECTION_TIMEOUT

[OddKMS]

I came home this morning to the very same issue, having used my WSL instance only yesterday. I'm really confused as to what may have caused it, since there's been no Windows Update (that I can see) that's been installed in the meantime either.

I'm almost glad someone else also has this issue.

[gbaian10]

same issue on 2.5.7

[andyferris]

I am also having a similar issue. WSL only works for 5 minutes, until I restart my computer (though I note the comment about wsl --shutdown which might let me avoid the restarts).

[olivierchatry]

Same for me.

[johanson]

I came home this morning to the very same issue, having used my WSL instance only yesterday. I'm really confused as to what may have caused it, since there's been no Windows Update (that I can see) that's been installed in the meantime either.

I'm almost glad someone else also has this issue.

WSL also updates through Microsoft Store and there was an update yesterday.

[DanielMcAssey]

Downgrading to 2.4.13 (https://github.com/microsoft/WSL/releases/tag/2.4.13) resolved it for me

[OddKMS]

I came home this morning to the very same issue, having used my WSL instance only yesterday. I'm really confused as to what may have caused it, since there's been no Windows Update (that I can see) that's been installed in the meantime either.
I'm almost glad someone else also has this issue.

WSL also updates through Microsoft Store and there was an update yesterday.

Welp, wish I'd paid a bit more attention.

Instead I've spent my day trying to recover the .vhdx and ultimately ended up restoring from external backup over the last 2-3 hours.
Thank you though, I'll try downgrading my WSL version to see if that helps!

[rfdazzle]

I ran into this same problem and was able to (seemingly) fix it by running wsl --uninstall followed by wsl --install -d ubuntu in PowerShell. That being said, I'm not entirely sure the first command was necessary (it generated no output and was an arbitrary troubleshooting step), and the second simply informed me that Ubuntu was already installed but nonetheless cleared up the problem while preserving my .zshrc & other files. Prior to this I spent several hours uninstalling Windows updates one by one to no avail.

[epineda]

First I uninstall de last Windows update KB5058499, but the problem remained, then finally I downgrade the WSL to version 2.5.6.0 (from version 2.5.7.0), and the problem was gone.

[nathalia-84]

First I uninstall de last Windows update KB5058499, but the problem remained, then finally I downgrade the WSL to version 2.5.6.0 (from version 2.5.7.0), and the problem was gone.

Hi, I have the same issue, how can I make this rollback?

[gbaian10]

In my current situation, as soon as Docker Desktop enters sleep mode, WSL breaks.
The simplest solution for me right now is to prevent Docker Desktop from going into sleep mode.

There are two ways to do this:

• Start a container so that at least one container is running — this will keep Docker Desktop from entering sleep mode.
• Disable Docker Desktop’s automatic sleep mode (default is 5 minutes).

[skye0402]

Same here - happens with VSCode but also with Docker (different distributions). I'm on 2.5.7.0

Edit: 2.5.6.0 seems to have solved it.

[dj-wasabi]

Same issue. But even without having Docker running, wsl will stop running.