Can not install WSL with non-ascii names

[j0hann3s]

Windows Version

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.26100.7462]

WSL Version

2.6.3.0

Are you using WSL 1 or WSL 2?

• WSL 2
• WSL 1

Kernel Version

6.6.87.2-microsoft-standard-WSL2

Distro Version

No response

Other Software

No response

Repro Steps

Running wsl.exe --install --distribution "kali-linux" --name "VeryEnglish" --no-launch will successfully install wsl while running wsl.exe --install --distribution "kali-linux" --name "NötVeryEnglish" --no-launch will fail.

Expected Behavior

Install WSL with the defined name.

Actual Behavior

Using non-ascii letter will give the following error message:

Downloading: Kali Linux Rolling
Installing: Kali Linux Rolling
Invalid distribution name: "NötVeryEnglish".
Error code: Wsl/InstallDistro/Service/RegisterDistro/E_INVALIDARG

Diagnostic Logs

No response

[github-actions]

Logs are required for review from WSL team

If this a feature request, please reply with '/feature'. If this is a question, reply with '/question'.
Otherwise, please attach logs by following the instructions below, your issue will not be reviewed unless they are added. These logs will help us understand what is going on in your machine.

How to collect WSL logs

Download and execute collect-wsl-logs.ps1 in an administrative powershell prompt:

Invoke-WebRequest -UseBasicParsing "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/microsoft/WSL/master/diagnostics/collect-wsl-logs.ps1" -OutFile collect-wsl-logs.ps1
Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process -Force
.\collect-wsl-logs.ps1

The script will output the path of the log file once done.

If this is a networking issue, please use collect-networking-logs.ps1, following the instructions in Collect WSL logs for networking issues

Once completed please upload the output files to this GitHub issue.

See Collect WSL logs (recommended method).

If you choose to email these logs instead of attaching them to the bug, please send them to wsl-gh-logs@microsoft.com with the GitHub issue number in the subject, and include a link to your GitHub issue comment in the message body, and reply with '/emailed-logs'.

[j0hann3s]

WslLogs-2026-01-08_19-14-55.zip

[github-actions]

Diagnostic information

.wslconfig found
Detected appx version: 2.6.3.0
Detected user visible error: Wsl/InstallDistro/Service/RegisterDistro/E_INVALIDARG