Alternatively, if you are inside the WSL instance, you can check where the virtual drive is mounted by looking at the mount points, though the file path is native to Windows.

The default location for these files is:

Since the VHDX is dynamically expanding, it grows when you add files but does not automatically shrink when you delete files. If you deleted large files inside WSL, the ext4.vhdx file will still occupy that space on your Windows drive.

%LocalAppData%\Packages\ \LocalState\ext4.vhdx Common Package Names: Ubuntu: CanonicalGroupLimited.Ubuntu_79rhkp1fndgsc

Here’s a clear, structured review of — covering where WSL stores its virtual disks (ext4.vhdx files), how to find them, and tips for managing or moving them.

Finding your is essential for managing storage space, backing up data, or moving your environment to a different drive . In WSL2, the entire Linux file system is stored within a single virtual hard disk (VHDX) file, while WSL1 uses a different structure. Default WSL2 Disk Location

Wsl Disk Location Review

Alternatively, if you are inside the WSL instance, you can check where the virtual drive is mounted by looking at the mount points, though the file path is native to Windows.

The default location for these files is: wsl disk location

Since the VHDX is dynamically expanding, it grows when you add files but does not automatically shrink when you delete files. If you deleted large files inside WSL, the ext4.vhdx file will still occupy that space on your Windows drive. Alternatively, if you are inside the WSL instance,

%LocalAppData%\Packages\ \LocalState\ext4.vhdx Common Package Names: Ubuntu: CanonicalGroupLimited.Ubuntu_79rhkp1fndgsc %LocalAppData%\Packages\ \LocalState\ext4

Here’s a clear, structured review of — covering where WSL stores its virtual disks (ext4.vhdx files), how to find them, and tips for managing or moving them.

Finding your is essential for managing storage space, backing up data, or moving your environment to a different drive . In WSL2, the entire Linux file system is stored within a single virtual hard disk (VHDX) file, while WSL1 uses a different structure. Default WSL2 Disk Location