What causes "WSL2 GPU not detected — nvidia-smi missing or empty"?

WSL2 doesn't expose your Windows-host NVIDIA GPU automatically. You need: - A recent Windows 11 (or Windows 10 21H2+) build - The NVIDIA Windows driver (NOT a Linux driver inside WSL2) - A WSL2 distro updated past kernel 5.10 - Optional: nvidia-container-toolkit if you want Docker-on-WSL2 GPU access Common mistakes: - Trying to install `nvidia-driver-XXX` inside the WSL2 distro (don't — Windows driver passes through) - Old WSL2 kernel that predates GPU passthrough - WSL1 instead of WSL2 (`wsl -l -v` to check; only WSL2 supports GPU)

WSL2 GPU not detected — nvidia-smi missing or empty — fix and explanation

Q: How do you fix "WSL2 GPU not detected — nvidia-smi missing or empty"?

**1. Update Windows + WSL2.** Run from PowerShell as admin: ```powershell wsl --update wsl --shutdown ``` **2. Install (or update) the NVIDIA Windows driver** from nvidia.com. Even datacenter drivers work via the GeForce app. **3. Verify GPU is visible from Windows side first** (cmd or PowerShell): ```powershell nvidia-smi ``` If this fails, fix Windows-side first. **4. Now check inside WSL2:** ```bash # WSL2 should pick up the Windows GPU automatically nvidia-smi ``` **5. CUDA toolkit inside WSL2** (if needed for compilation): ```bash # Install CUDA toolkit (NOT the driver) inside WSL2 wget https://developer.download.nvidia.com/compute/cuda/repos/wsl-ubuntu/x86_64/cuda-keyring_1.1-1_all.deb sudo dpkg -i cuda-keyring_1.1-1_all.deb sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y cuda-toolkit-12-6 ``` **6. Docker-on-WSL2 GPU access:** install nvidia-container-toolkit per the [Linux local AI guide](/systems/linux-local-ai). Docker Desktop with WSL2 backend respects this. For deployment paths, [Linux is the production-default](/systems/linux-local-ai) — use WSL2 for development, native Linux for production.

Cause

WSL2 doesn't expose your Windows-host NVIDIA GPU automatically. You need:

A recent Windows 11 (or Windows 10 21H2+) build
The NVIDIA Windows driver (NOT a Linux driver inside WSL2)
A WSL2 distro updated past kernel 5.10
Optional: nvidia-container-toolkit if you want Docker-on-WSL2 GPU access

Common mistakes:

Trying to install nvidia-driver-XXX inside the WSL2 distro (don't — Windows driver passes through)
Old WSL2 kernel that predates GPU passthrough
WSL1 instead of WSL2 (wsl -l -v to check; only WSL2 supports GPU)

Solution

1. Update Windows + WSL2. Run from PowerShell as admin:

wsl --update
wsl --shutdown

2. Install (or update) the NVIDIA Windows driver from nvidia.com. Even datacenter drivers work via the GeForce app.

3. Verify GPU is visible from Windows side first (cmd or PowerShell):

nvidia-smi

If this fails, fix Windows-side first.

4. Now check inside WSL2:

# WSL2 should pick up the Windows GPU automatically
nvidia-smi

5. CUDA toolkit inside WSL2 (if needed for compilation):

# Install CUDA toolkit (NOT the driver) inside WSL2
wget https://developer.download.nvidia.com/compute/cuda/repos/wsl-ubuntu/x86_64/cuda-keyring_1.1-1_all.deb
sudo dpkg -i cuda-keyring_1.1-1_all.deb
sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y cuda-toolkit-12-6

6. Docker-on-WSL2 GPU access: install nvidia-container-toolkit per the Linux local AI guide. Docker Desktop with WSL2 backend respects this.

For deployment paths, Linux is the production-default — use WSL2 for development, native Linux for production.

WSL2 GPU not detected — nvidia-smi missing or empty

Cause

Solution

Related errors

Did this fix it?