# Docker Desktop not installing WSL components **URL:** \ **Category:** Docker Desktop\ **Tags:** windows\ **Created:** [January 21, 2023, 2:20pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-desktop-not-installing-wsl-components/134202 "2023-01-21T14:20:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dame1701](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/dame1701/32/38447_2.png) [@dame1701](https://forums.docker.com/u/dame1701)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2023, 2:20pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-desktop-not-installing-wsl-components/134202/1 "2023-01-21T14:20:57Z")
Hi, Hope someone can help. I have been tearing my hair our for hours trying to install Docker Desktop for Windows. The installer seems to run ok, but when I start the application it is stuck on Starting Docker Desktop. I have tried uninstalling Docker Desktop. Uninstalling and reinstalling the WSL in Windows Options. I have restarted the machine multiple times. One thing I have noticed is when I go into a PowerShell and type wsl -l -v, I get Windows Subsystem for Linux has no installed distributions. On my working machine I get docker-desktop and docker-desktop-data listed. It seems that the installer is not working correctly. I tried uninstalling again and reinstalling as admin but it made no difference. The docker desktop service is running in services. I had a look at the logs (below) and it looks like an exception is beign thrown on the call ServiceAPIClient-CSharp GET /version. I am not sure what to do next as I’ve tried everything that has been suggested online. Does anyone have any ideas? Docker install log: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------\>8 Version: 4.16.2 (95914) Sha1: Started on: 2023/01/21 14:09:02.107 Resources: C:\Users\damie\Downloads\resources OS: Windows 10 Pro Edition: Professional Id: 2009 Build: 22000 BuildLabName: 22000.1.amd64fre.co\_release.210604-1628 File: C:\ProgramData\DockerDesktop\install-log-admin.txt CommandLine: “C:\Users\damie\Downloads\Docker Desktop Installer.exe” You can send feedback, including this log file, at [Issues · docker/for-win · GitHub](https://github.com/docker/for-win/issues) [2023-01-21T14:09:02.322473400Z][ManifestAndExistingInstallationLoader][I] No install path specified, looking for default installation registry key [2023-01-21T14:09:02.333468600Z][Installer][I] No installation found [2023-01-21T14:09:02.455966300Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Cancel pending background download [2023-01-21T14:09:02.458467800Z][BackgroundTransfer][I] Cancel current background transfer job [2023-01-21T14:09:02.486465500Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Using package: res:DockerDesktop [2023-01-21T14:09:02.488465500Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Downloading [2023-01-21T14:09:04.975463700Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Extracting manifest [2023-01-21T14:09:05.983666200Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Manifest found: version=95914, displayVersion=4.16.2, channelUrl=[Docker for Win](https://desktop.docker.com/win/main/amd64/appcast.xml) [2023-01-21T14:09:05.983666200Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Checking prerequisites [2023-01-21T14:09:06.322164200Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Prompting for optional features [2023-01-21T14:09:06.323663400Z][Installer][W] Failed to track the installer started event [2023-01-21T14:09:09.305974000Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Selected backend mode: wsl-2 [2023-01-21T14:09:09.306976300Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Unpacking artifacts [2023-01-21T14:10:51.907969700Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Deploying component CommunityInstaller.CreateGroupAction [2023-01-21T14:10:56.509539900Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Deploying component CommunityInstaller.AddToGroupAction [2023-01-21T14:11:01.082002300Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Deploying component CommunityInstaller.EnableFeaturesAction [2023-01-21T14:11:01.144271800Z][InstallWorkflow-EnableFeaturesAction][I] Required features: VirtualMachinePlatform, Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux [2023-01-21T14:11:01.664839400Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Deploying component CommunityInstaller.ServiceAction [2023-01-21T14:11:01.667344200Z][InstallWorkflow-ServiceAction][I] Removing service [2023-01-21T14:11:01.668339100Z][InstallWorkflow-ServiceAction][I] Creating service [2023-01-21T14:11:03.313000000Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Deploying component CommunityInstaller.ShortcutAction [2023-01-21T14:11:03.343776500Z][InstallWorkflow-ShortcutAction][I] Creating shortcut: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Docker Desktop.lnk/Docker Desktop [2023-01-21T14:11:03.414279800Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Deploying component CommunityInstaller.ShortcutAction [2023-01-21T14:11:03.417277200Z][InstallWorkflow-ShortcutAction][I] Creating shortcut: C:\Users\damie\Desktop\Docker Desktop.lnk/Docker Desktop [2023-01-21T14:11:03.419778600Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Deploying component CommunityInstaller.AutoStartAction [2023-01-21T14:11:03.421277100Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Deploying component CommunityInstaller.PathAction [2023-01-21T14:11:03.588277100Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Deploying component CommunityInstaller.ExecAction [2023-01-21T14:11:03.591777200Z][InstallWorkflow-ExecAction][I] Running: C:\Program Files\Docker\Docker\InstallerCli.exe -i [2023-01-21T14:11:04.666778500Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Registering product [2023-01-21T14:11:04.673276900Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Deleting C:\ProgramData\DockerDesktop\install-settings.json [2023-01-21T14:11:04.673777200Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Installation succeeded ---
**Author:** ![dame1701](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/dame1701/32/38447_2.png) [@dame1701](https://forums.docker.com/u/dame1701)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2023, 2:28pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-desktop-not-installing-wsl-components/134202/3 "2023-01-21T14:28:47Z")
I just sorted it. I needed to install the wsl Linux update which I discovered when I tried to install the Ubunto distribution manually. If anyone else has this issue, you can grab it from here: [Manual installation steps for older versions of WSL | Microsoft Learn](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/wsl/install-manual#step-4---download-the-linux-kernel-update-package) it’s the Linux Kernel update.