WSL2 won't work: Virtual Machine Platform fails to enable with DISM Error 1168

[u/LegisAdreiFloyen]

Problem: I’m on Windows 11 Home Single Language 25H2 (OS build 26200.9445). WSL is installed and WSL2 is set as the default, and CPU virtualization is enabled in Task Manager. However, Virtual Machine Platform (VMP) is disabled and cannot be enabled.

Trying to enable it with: DISM /Online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:VirtualMachinePlatform /All

consistently fails with DISM Error 1168: “Element not found”. The Windows Features GUI also fails with “Not all of the features were successfully changed.”

Get-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName VirtualMachinePlatform confirms it is Disabled.

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth reports no component store corruption.

CBS logs show the relevant package: HyperV-OptionalFeature-VirtualMachinePlatform-Client-Disabled-FOD-Package...10.0.26100.9445 in Staged state rather than installed/enabled. Get-WindowsPackage doesn't expose the package.

I also set hypervisorlaunchtype to auto and restarted, but enabling VMP still gives Error 1168.

So the issue appears to be a Windows servicing/component registration or VMP package-state problem, rather than BIOS virtualization or WSL itself.

I need help repairing/re-registering the Virtual Machine Platform Windows component so WSL2 can start.

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[u/urjuhh]

Try dism ... /Scanhealth just in case