Updating Windows' WSL2 Fedora Version

Just a quick one today.

I like using Fedora.  I've used it since I transitioned from Red Hat proper back when it was called "Fedora Core".  I just prefer it, though I do keep other flavors on tap to mess around with or provide easy access to utilities that are ready made for them, but not Fedora or Rocky Linux.

That said, I run WSL (the Windows Subsystem for Linux) on my Windows boxes and frequently interact with them via the CLI whenever I see that a task would be easier with a bit of "Linux-Fu".  Having installed Fedora for WSL once that was available, I wondered what the process would be to update the versions from, say, 42 to 43, as this was the most recent update.  I actually found the process to be nearly identical to the process on Fedora proper.

To that end, I found out how to do it from a post on the Fedora Project's forum (thank you Manuel Fombuena, aka "mandolin"!).  I will post the link to this forum post below, but I figured I would present it here in this short blog, so here it is, paraphrased from Manuel's post...

How to Update Fedora for WSL

Prep Your Fedora for WSL Instance

1. In the Fedora for WSL CLI, run:

    $ sudo dnf upgrade --refresh -y

        # Truncated output...

    $ sudo shutdown -h now

This will shut down the Fedora instance in WSL and close the CLI session.

Upgrade Your Fedora for WSL Instance

2. After a minute or so, launch Fedora again, and run:

    $ sudo dnf system-upgrade download --releasever=43 -y

        # Truncated output...

    $ sudo dnf5 offline reboot

This will close the CLI session again, this time so the instance can upgrade all its packages to the release indicated (43 above), then reboot the instance.

The upgrade will take a few minutes depending on the size of your current installation and the number of packages to be installed.

Upgrade WSL

3. While you're waiting, open a PowerShell CLI and run:

    > wsl --update

Changing the Title in Windows

4. Still in PowerShell:

    a. Click the ∨ arrow

    b. Select "Settings"

    c. Under "Profiles" click "FedoraLinux-42"

        i. Change the name from "-42" to "-43"

        ii. Click "Save"

5. Open the Windows Start Menu.

    a. Type "Fedora"

    b. Right-click "FedoraLinux-42"

    c. Select "Open file location"

    d. Click on the "FedoraLinux-42" shortcut

        i. Press <F2> (the shortcut to "Rename" a file)

        ii. Change "-42" to "-43"

        iii. Press <Enter>

6. Lastly, open the Windows Registry Editor ("regedit" or "regedt32", if you're searching.  

    a. Change "42" to "43" in the following keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Lxss\{uuid-string}\DistributionName

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Lxss\{uuid-string}\ShortcutPath

That's it!

It’s almost exactly like any other Fedora in-place upgrade, apart from the Windows-specific steps (which is mostly cosmetic).

Here's the original forum post from the Fedora Project:
https://discussion.fedoraproject.org/t/wsl-how-do-i-upgrade-from-fedoralinux-42-to-fedoralinux-43/171750/5