WSL cannot start from anywhere besides ~ #23502

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opened 2026-01-31 08:44:06 +00:00 by claunia · 0 comments
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Originally created by @JamesRickards-Canada on GitHub (Aug 6, 2025).

Windows Terminal version

1.22.12111.0

Windows build number

10.0.26100.4652

Other Software

WSL 1

Steps to reproduce

In Windows terminal, go to settings, change the Ubuntu starting directory to be anywhere besides ~ (e.g. "C:\Users"), save.
Open a new Ubuntu tab (or, set the default profile to Ubuntu, go to C:\Users in Windows Terminal, right click, open in Terminal)

Expected Behavior

You open WSL in "C:\Users", i.e. /mnt/c/Users

Actual Behavior

You open WSL in ~

Under settings, I noticed that "Command line" was set to:
"C:\Windows\system32\wsl.exe --distribution-id {fc5a03e5-b632-4340-8975-048f8e6f47ee} --cd ~"

This was the default setting when it was installed. Deleting the "--cd ~" fixed my issue. I don't know why the "--cd ~" was the default behaviour, as it makes the starting directory choice useless. In an older version of WSL on a different laptop the "cd ~" was not included in the command line.

Originally created by @JamesRickards-Canada on GitHub (Aug 6, 2025). ### Windows Terminal version 1.22.12111.0 ### Windows build number 10.0.26100.4652 ### Other Software WSL 1 ### Steps to reproduce In Windows terminal, go to settings, change the Ubuntu starting directory to be anywhere besides ~ (e.g. "C:\Users"), save. Open a new Ubuntu tab (or, set the default profile to Ubuntu, go to C:\Users in Windows Terminal, right click, open in Terminal) ### Expected Behavior You open WSL in "C:\Users", i.e. /mnt/c/Users ### Actual Behavior You open WSL in ~ Under settings, I noticed that "Command line" was set to: "C:\Windows\system32\wsl.exe --distribution-id {fc5a03e5-b632-4340-8975-048f8e6f47ee} --cd ~" This was the default setting when it was installed. Deleting the "--cd ~" fixed my issue. I don't know why the "--cd ~" was the default behaviour, as it makes the starting directory choice useless. In an older version of WSL on a different laptop the "cd ~" was not included in the command line.
claunia added the Needs-TriageIssue-Bug labels 2026-01-31 08:44:06 +00:00
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Reference: starred/terminal#23502