WslRegisterDistribution failed with error 0xc03a001a

Even after getting all the requirements checked, you may experience issues while installing the Windows Subsystem for Linux. For instance, when you try to launch Ubuntu from the Microsoft Store, an error message may appear on your computer reading, WslRegisterDistribution failed with error: 0xc03a001a. Read what steps you should take to fix the problem.

WslRegisterDistribution failed with error: 0xc03a001a
Error: 0xc03a001a
The requested operation could not be completed due to a virtual disk system limitation.
Virtual hard disk files must be uncompressed and unencrypted and must not be sparse.

WslRegisterDistribution failed with error: 0xc03a001a

Error: 0xc03a001a is usually followed by a message that reads, the requested operation could not be completed due to a virtual disk system limitation.  Virtual hard disk files must be uncompressed and unencrypted and must not be sparse. This problem can be fixed by following the steps below.

1. Navigate to the following USERPROFILE path CanonicalGroupLimited.Ubuntu.
2. Open the profile folder for your Linux distribution.
3. LocalState folder.
4. Right-click this folder and choose Properties.
5. Hit the Advanced button.
6. Deselect Compress contents to save disk space.
7. Deselect Encrypt contents to secure data.
8. Choose just this folder option.

Following this, the change, wsl --set-version command should work and allow you to run a Linux environment, including most command-line tools, utilities, and applications.

Firstly, you’ll need to find the location of the package. Essentially, it can be found under:

C:Users<username>AppDataLocalPackagesCanonicalGroupLimited.Ubuntu

When found, right-click the folder, and from the list of options displayed select Properties.

Next, hit the Advanced button.

When the Advanced Attributes window opens, scroll down to the Compress or Encrypt attributes section.

Here, uncheck the box for Compress contents to save the disk space option. Similarly, if the box for Encrypt contents to secure data is checked, uncheck it and hit the OK button.

When prompted to apply the changes to just the current folder or to all subfolders and files, select just this folder since you are only clearing the compress flag.

Hereafter, your problem should be solved, and you should not see the WSL error 0xc03a001a again, says Microsoft.

Hope it helps!