You should not change Linux files on Windows 11/10. Why?

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For those thinking of irresolute their Linux files on Windows 11/10, in that location'south something you desire to know. Co-ordinate to Microsoft, creating or changing Linux files from Windows will likely result in information corruption and might harm your Linux environment requiring y'all to uninstall & reinstall your distro.

Do non modify Linux files on Windows eleven/10

This means that all your Linux files or those files stored nether '%localappdata%\lxss' should not be created or edited using any of the Windows tools, or you might have to face some serious losses.

Let'southward explore the reasons for this issue.

If the WSL or Windows Subsystem for Linux tin't find your stored Linux file metadata for a given file, it automatically assumes the file is corrupted or damaged on the arrangement. This is because all the file metadata is stored and represented differently in Linux compared to Windows. WSL stores all Linux data in NTFS folders, and thus calculates and persists their metadata in its NTFS extended attributes.

On the other side, apps on Windows xi/10 do not have the required algorithm to re-calculate & persist this Linux metadata each time they create/change a file stored under the root link (%localappdata\lxss\). Thus, if y'all happen to use a Windows 11/10 app or tool to modify whatsoever Linux files, they simply won't accept any of the previous metadata in their attributes due to non-compatibility of NTFS format.

Another aspect of these Windows tools is that they don't generally edit the original file instantly. Rather they work by deleting the original, re-creating them on the app and then restoring information technology to the user with all required edits. This process deprives the Linux file of all the NT files and metadata, and NT file extended properties are oftentimes not persisted and are lost. Thus, if your Linux file has no or incorrect file metadata, Windows apps will tend to deem them equally decadent and probably convert them into an unusable file.

Prevention

To work on files that utilize a hybrid of Windows xi/ten and Linux apps, adopt working on and storing those files in your Windows filesystem, and access them from both Windows and from Bash Shell via /mnt/<bulldoze>/path. Using both the services to access your Linux files will aid Windows recognize all the NT filesystem elements. This helps you access the same files using both Windows tools and Bash tools without having to copy files back and forth between filesystems.

Says Rich Turner, Senior Programme Manager at Microsoft – Be sure to follow these ii rules in gild to avoid losing files, and/or corrupting your information:

DO store files in your Windows filesystem that you want to create/modify using Windows tools AND Linux tools
DO Non create / modify Linux files from Windows apps, tools, scripts or consoles.

Where are Linux files stored Windows 11/x?

If you lot want to access Windows Subsystem for Linux files on Windows 11 or Windows 10, you demand to become to this path: %userprofile%\AppData\Local\Packages. Alternatively, yous can use the WSL Last to open the same binder in File Explorer. For that, you demand to enter the explorer.exe command.

How practice I view Linux files on Windows eleven/10?

There are two ways to view Windows Subsystem for Linux files in Windows 11/ten PCs. Commencement, you can utilise the WSL Terminal. To use it, you need to enter the explorer.exe command. On the other hand, you tin can navigate to C:\Users\user-name\AppData\Local\Packages in the File Explorer.

For a total read, read this weblog postal service on MSDN.

Anand Khanse is the Admin of TheWindowsClub.com, a 10-year Microsoft MVP (2006-16) & a Windows Insider MVP. Delight read the entire mail service & the comments beginning, create a Arrangement Restore Betoken before making any changes to your system & be conscientious about any third-party offers while installing freeware.