Windows Defender is fcking the performance of Windows 11 WSL2

[gochev]

Version

Windows 11 22H2

WSL Version

• [X] WSL 2
• [ ] WSL 1

Kernel Version

No response

Distro Version

all

Other Software

No response

Repro Steps

turn off windows defender real protection check any app using wsl2 network drive for indexing or reading. Turn on windows Defender real protection Try again.

Expected Behavior

Windows Defender should NOT make WSL2 useless for IntelliJ IDEA , PhpStork , Raider IDE etc.

Actual Behavior

the reindexing stuck on all not Microsoft owned IDEs

Diagnostic Logs

I know Microsoft wants people to use VScode but this is just Ugly and super bad practice.

To force people to use stupid editor because Windows Defender is making other IDEs useless in WSL2 is just a dick move.

[gochev]

This was not an issue in Windows 10 before upgrade. Also it looks Windows Defender is completely ignoring the excluded folders , since this doesn't helped in any way.Only complete turn off of the Windows Defender Virus is the solution.

[gaborauth]

Oh, my whole day went to waste because I couldn't work with IntelliJ IDEA... I tried everything, reboot, reinstall, configure WSL2, etc, then I ended up with this issue... :/

Yes, W11, 22H2, first cumulative update.

[bahag-xvisnei]

Dear WSL Team, please fix this asap

[Holy87]

Same problem here, Gradle project on WSL2 with IntelliJ. This wasn't an issue before the upgrade to Windows 11.

[sefaYavuz]

Same problem here. Wasted like an entire week only to find out about this. Disabling realtime protection fixes it instantly with IntelliJ.

[ArjanShoj]

I had the same issue. This wasn't a problem on Windows 10. This occurred when I upgraded to Windows 11. By disabling Windows Defender it fixes the issue, but that shouldn't be a proper workaround, since my workstation is vulnerable now!

[lyleschemmerling]

I have the exact same problem, and can confirm turning off Defender takes care of it, but really don't consider that a solution. Logs before disabling defender:

`2022-11-12 19:52:44,447 [ 464502] INFO - #c.i.w.f.WslFsdServer - fsd standard output received: C:\WINDOWS\system32\wsl.exe [--distribution, Ubuntu-22.04, --exec, /bin/sh, -c, export RUST_LOG=info && cd /windows/c/myuser/AppData/Local/JetBrains/Toolbox/apps/IDEA-U/ch-0/222.4345.14/plugins/wsl-fs-helper/bin && ./server --port 52444 --instance WSL-Ubuntu-22.04 --logs-path /windows/c/myuser/AppData/Local/JetBrains/IntelliJIdea2022.2/log/fsd]

2022-11-12 19:52:44,448 [ 464503] INFO - #c.i.w.f.WslFsdServer - WSL fsd server started for Ubuntu-22.04 at port 52444 2022-11-12 19:52:44,448 [ 464503] INFO - #f.r.c.Socket - Connecting to ws://localhost:52444 2022-11-12 19:52:44,460 [ 464515] INFO - #c.i.w.f.WslContentLoader - Connection is not available. Current rpc strategy opted out waiting for reconnect. fleet.rpc.client.RpcClientDisconnectedException: Connection is not available. Current rpc strategy opted out waiting for reconnect. at fleet.rpc.client.IRpcClientKt$reconnectingRpcClient$1$call$2.invokeSuspend(IRpcClient.kt:105) at fleet.rpc.client.IRpcClientKt$reconnectingRpcClient$1$call$2.invoke(IRpcClient.kt) at fleet.rpc.client.IRpcClientKt$reconnectingRpcClient$1$call$2.invoke(IRpcClient.kt) at kotlinx.coroutines.intrinsics.UndispatchedKt.startUndispatchedOrReturnIgnoreTimeout(Undispatched.kt:100) 2022-11-12 19:52:44,823 [ 464878] INFO - #c.i.w.f.WslContentLoader - Permission denied (os error 13), path: /dev/kvm java.io.IOException: Permission denied (os error 13), path: /dev/kvm at fleet.api.FsApiKt.ioException(FsApi.kt:429) at fleet.api.FsApiKt.unwrap(FsApi.kt:421) at com.intellij.wsl.fs.WslContentLoader$getInputStream$inputStream$1$1$1.invokeSuspend(WslContentLoader.kt:47)`

[Nastase]

+1

Same issue here. After upgrading to Windows 11, the whole JetBrains toolset is unusable for projects stored in WSL2. This is highly annoying as I simply cannot work in that setup.

For obvious reasons, disabling Windows Defender is not a solution.

[dorianmihu]

+1 Btw, until this is solved, if you don't want do disable Windows Defender, the only other acceptable workaround I know of, for using IntelliJ, is to install it directly within your WSL. Windows11 now supports running GUI apps from within WSL so this should still work

[andruwa01]

+1 the same problem. Works only if you disable real time protection...

[baiyz0825]

+1 i have the same problem,when i using win11 and ubuntu22.04(wsl).the idea(2022.2.3) will frezen when indexing and scaning maven dependences . and i tried to close windows defender anti virus , that don't work for me . i hope this can be fix soon. in the https://youtrack.jetbrains.com/issue/IDEA-286059/IDE-freezes-and-hangs-2021.3.1-on-indexing-of-WSL-project same most of user have same problem.

[gaborauth]

Slow but good workaround: let the IntelliJ IDEA to update indexes, it takes a day or more. :/

[baiyz0825]

缓慢但很好的解决方法：让 IntelliJ IDEA 更新索引，这需要一天或更长时间。:/

you mean i spend some times to let the idea to update index , but when i create a new project , Whether it can be relieved ？or still have this problem.

[gaborauth]

you mean i spend some times to let the idea to update index , but when i create a new project , Whether it can be relieved ？or still have this problem.

Yes, it's my workaround, fortunately I have old projects, so I let the IntelliJ IDEA to update the indexes and now it works. If you need a lot of new project, it is not a good workaround.

[baiyz0825]

you mean i spend some times to let the idea to update index , but when i create a new project , Whether it can be relieved ？or still have this problem.

Yes, it's my workaround, fortunately I have old projects, so I let the IntelliJ IDEA to update the indexes and now it works. If you need a lot of new project, it is not a good workaround.

ok,i know thank,hope wsl team can fix this

[gaborauth]

ok,i know thank, hope wsl team can fix this

I hope too...

[no-ivan]

+1. Still performing real-time disabling

[Nastase]

Two months later and still no solution, neither from Microsoft nor Jetbrains. Seems they don't give two f**ks about their customers.

[ivanielin]

This is just vastly unacceptable - some reaction at least?

[SugarSpike]

• Same here

The worst part is after the last Windows update (like 2-3 days ago) this same problem is also present on Windows 10?

[habnux]

Really bad experience in Windows 10 (19045.2364) as well.

[no-ivan]

[habnux]

If feel sometimes like Asterix... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHRGjfEQpy4

[joerosen]

FYI, on my machine I was able to fix this (with realtime protection enabled) by adding two exclusions to Windows Defender:

process: fsnotifier-wsl process: idea64.exe

Running:

Windows 10 22H2 (19045.2364) IntelliJ 2022.3 (community) WSL version: 1.0.3.0

[Nastase]

Thanks for the tip. However, the exclusions work on Windows 10, not on Windows 11...

[adamwojszczyk]

@Nastase It works on win11. I tested that.

[Nastase]

It improves things but still get stuck on scanning index for maven dependencies

[joerosen]

@Nastase It took me a little while to get the right combo to exclude. Maybe yours is slightly different? Perhaps try a wildcard process exclusion on the entire intellij 'bin' directory?

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/how-to-add-a-file-type-or-process-exclusion-to-windows-security-e524cbc2-3975-63c2-f9d1-7c2eb5331e53

[andrewmmg]

Same here. The issue appeared after updating my WSL2 on Windows 10. Have spent a lot of time figuring this out until I found the solution proposed by @joerosen. Excluding those 2 processes did the trick.

For those who still experience some slowness in IDEA while indexing even after that fix - you might want to try disabling wsl.fsd.content.loader in the IDEA (Shift-Shift -> Experimental Features -> Untick the Enabled checkbox next to the feature)

[Nastase]

Found another "solution" on another thread (thanks to the author): install a different antivirus. I installed the free version of Avast and all problems solved.

[vedrancu]

@joerosen

FYI, on my machine I was able to fix this (with realtime protection enabled) by adding two exclusions to Windows Defender:

process: fsnotifier-wsl process: idea64.exe

Running:

Windows 10 22H2 (19045.2364) IntelliJ 2022.3 (community) WSL version: 1.0.3.0

Thanks you a lot. After two day of strangling I found your solution. You saved me.

What is strange is that issue started about 10 days ago, before It worked fine for me (I run on Win 10). Did windows defender make some changes recently?

[gochev]

Windows defender used to be a good app it's not anymore. Installing any other antivirus like avast fixes the issue

[eekboom]

I have the same (or a similar?) problem, even though using Sophos anti virus instead of Windows Defender.

Is there a way to downgrade back from the Microsoft Store version of WSL to the Windows WSL version?

[ivanielin]

Well, Avast Free Antivirus did the trick for me but this is is Just a workaround. And still no answer here ? this WSL support in 2023 is not encouraging to say the least...

[lukasamd]

I use 22H2 with WSL2 (Ubuntu 20.04) and phpstorm - no issues Added some directories (docker, phpstorm, wsl, etc.) and processes (phpstorm, wsl) into exclusions, maybe it's a bit faster... Not sure.

It's faster if I use remote development on phpstorm or just use native linux instead of WSL, but it is not huge difference Project is quite big and do not see indexing issues

You can also try disable interop in /etc/wsl.conf https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/wsl-config#interop-settings

[vedrancu]

My problem was not in WSL2 but in Windows Defender. After did exclusions as describe above, IDEA loads project quickly.

[lukasamd]

I also use Windows Defender - looks like it does not scan items inside WSL2 (tried to download eicar file - no reaction from Defender), but it can hits communication between host and linux distro. JetBrain's IDEs use a lot of communication in normal mode, different one is remote development or run it natively using WSLg, maybe it's the reason?

[GSuaki]

Plus one to Windows Defender problem! Fixed with exclusions.

[bademux]

Unfortunately Windows is not intended to be used by humans. It is the system for updating, installing antiviruses and monitoring tools to have Sec team busy.

upd: updated OS to linux to fix performance\UX problems

[lethunder]

Guys i excluded it from bitdefender and kaspersky but still not working. It's just too slow

I'm on windows 11 with rubymine 2022.3.1

[dbalabka]

I've added the following Windows Defender exclusion to fix IDEA performance issues: Folders:

1. C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\JetBrains
2. C:\Programm Files\Docker
3. \\wsl$\Ubuntu\home\user\src
4. \\wsl.localhost\Ubuntu\home\user\src

File types:

1. vhd
2. vhdx

Processes:

1. phpstorm64.exe
2. pycharm64.exe
3. dataspell64.exe
4. fsnotifier.exe
5. jcef_helper.exe
6. jetbrains-toolbox.exe
7. docker.exe
8. com.docker.*.*
9. Desktop Docker.exe
10. wsl.exe
11. wslhost.exe
12. vmmemWSL

---

UPDATE: added WSL folders:

3. \\wsl$\Ubuntu\home\user\src
4. \\wsl.localhost\Ubuntu\home\user\src

[fikani]

I added the following Windows Defender exclusion to fix IDEA performance issues: Folders:

1. C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\JetBrains
2. C:\Programm Files\Docker

File types:

1. vhd
2. vhdx

Processes:

1. phpstorm64.exe
2. pycharm64.exe
3. dataspell64.exe
4. fsnotifier.exe
5. jcef_helper.exe
6. jetbrains-toolbox.exe
7. docker.exe
8. com.docker.*.*
9. Desktop Docker.exe
10. wsl.exe
11. wslhost.exe
12. vmmemWSL

Exclusively for intellij (my case) this worked.

I added the following Windows Defender exclusion to fix IDEA performance issues:

Folders: C:\Users\\AppData\Local\JetBrains

Processes: idea64.exe

For PhpStorm I didnt need to do anything.

[joferrao]

Anyone else without an visibly active Antivirus with the same issue?

[lethunder]

It does the same thing if i disable bit defender and kaspersky. It keeps being slow

[lukasamd]

@lethunder It's normal - if you will disable 3party AV, defender will be activated, even in passive mode

[lethunder]

Thanks @lukasamd . Good to know. This issue makes my life much more difficult.

[dbalabka]

I've excluded WSL folders as well. See the above comment https://github.com/microsoft/WSL/issues/8995#issuecomment-1380187901

[lethunder]

for those using HP computer it was link to ironwolf. I disable it and it works

[Rattone]

for those using HP computer it was link to ironwolf. I disable it and it works

can you please be more clear? which link?

[lethunder]

i have a HP Zbook. It comes by defaut with a software install HP Wolf Security. It was responsible for rubymine's slowness. As soon as i uninstall it everything went back