claude-code - 💡(How to fix) Fix WSL: 'Exec format error' for versions > 2.1.62, binary not executable [1 participants]

/bin/bash: line 1: /usr/bin/claude: cannot execute binary file: Exec format error 3. Error: cannot execute binary file: Exec format error Exec format error typically indicates an architecture mismatch (e.g. binary compiled for x86_64 but running on ARM, or wrong ELF format for the WSL kernel). Something changed in the build pipeline between 2.1.62 and 2.1.63+.

TL;DR

The issue can likely be resolved by ensuring the binary compatibility of Claude Code with the WSL environment, possibly by rebuilding or obtaining a version compiled for the correct architecture.

Guidance

• Verify the architecture of your WSL environment and the binary format of the Claude Code versions to identify any mismatches.
• Check the build pipeline changes between versions 2.1.62 and 2.1.63 to understand what might have caused the architecture or format change.
• Consider reaching out to the developers or maintainers of Claude Code to report the issue and inquire about potential fixes or workarounds, especially if the issue is due to a change in the build process.
• If possible, test the execution of Claude Code directly within the WSL bash environment (without invoking through PowerShell) to isolate if the issue is specific to the invocation method.

Example

No specific code example is applicable in this scenario as the issue pertains to binary compatibility rather than code syntax or logic.

Notes

The solution may depend on the specific details of the WSL environment's architecture and the changes made to the Claude Code build pipeline between the mentioned versions. Without more information on these aspects, the guidance is focused on diagnostic steps rather than a direct fix.

Recommendation

Apply workaround: Given the information, it seems that using version 2.1.62 is the most straightforward workaround until the compatibility issue with newer versions is addressed. This is because version 2.1.62 is known to work correctly in the user's WSL environment.