Windows (original) (raw)

Docker Desktop terms

Commercial use of Docker Desktop in larger enterprises (more than 250 employees OR more than $10 million USD in annual revenue) requires apaid subscription.

This page provides download links, system requirements, and step-by-step installation instructions for Docker Desktop on Windows.

For checksums, seeRelease notes

Tip

Should I use Hyper-V or WSL?

Docker Desktop's functionality remains consistent on both WSL and Hyper-V, without a preference for either architecture. Hyper-V and WSL have their own advantages and disadvantages, depending on your specific setup and your planned use case.

For more information on setting up WSL 2 with Docker Desktop, seeWSL.

Note

Docker only supports Docker Desktop on Windows for those versions of Windows that are still withinMicrosoft’s servicing timeline. Docker Desktop is not supported on server versions of Windows, such as Windows Server 2019 or Windows Server 2022. For more information on how to run containers on Windows Server, seeMicrosoft's official documentation.

Important

To run Windows containers, you need Windows 10 or Windows 11 Professional or Enterprise edition. Windows Home or Education editions only allow you to run Linux containers.

Note

Docker only supports Docker Desktop on Windows for those versions of Windows that are still withinMicrosoft’s servicing timeline. Docker Desktop is not supported on server versions of Windows, such as Windows Server 2019 or Windows Server 2022. For more information on how to run containers on Windows Server, seeMicrosoft's official documentation.

Important

To run Windows containers, you need Windows 10 or Windows 11 Professional or Enterprise edition. Windows Home or Education editions only allow you to run Linux containers.

Important

Windows containers are not supported.

Containers and images created with Docker Desktop are shared between all user accounts on machines where it is installed. This is because all Windows accounts use the same VM to build and run containers. Note that it is not possible to share containers and images between user accounts when using the Docker Desktop WSL 2 backend.

Running Docker Desktop inside a VMware ESXi or Azure VM is supported for Docker Business customers. It requires enabling nested virtualization on the hypervisor first. For more information, seeRunning Docker Desktop in a VM or VDI environment.

From the Docker Desktop menu, you can toggle which daemon (Linux or Windows) the Docker CLI talks to. Select Switch to Windows containers to use Windows containers, or select Switch to Linux containers to use Linux containers (the default).

For more information on Windows containers, refer to the following documentation:

Note

When you switch to Windows containers, Settings only shows those tabs that are active and apply to your Windows containers.

If you set proxies or daemon configuration in Windows containers mode, these apply only on Windows containers. If you switch back to Linux containers, proxies and daemon configurations return to what you had set for Linux containers. Your Windows container settings are retained and become available again when you switch back.

Tip

See theFAQs on how to install and run Docker Desktop without needing administrator privileges.

Install interactively

  1. Download the installer using the download button at the top of the page, or from therelease notes.
  2. Double-click Docker Desktop Installer.exe to run the installer. By default, Docker Desktop is installed at C:\Program Files\Docker\Docker.
  3. When prompted, ensure the Use WSL 2 instead of Hyper-V option on the Configuration page is selected or not depending on your choice of backend.
    On systems that support only one backend, Docker Desktop automatically selects the available option.
  4. Follow the instructions on the installation wizard to authorize the installer and proceed with the installation.
  5. When the installation is successful, select Close to complete the installation process.
  6. Start Docker Desktop.

If your administrator account is different to your user account, you must add the user to the docker-users group:

  1. Run Computer Management as an administrator.
  2. Navigate to Local Users and Groups > Groups > docker-users.
  3. Right-click to add the user to the group.
  4. Sign out and sign back in for the changes to take effect.

Install from the command line

After downloading Docker Desktop Installer.exe, run the following command in a terminal to install Docker Desktop:

If you’re using PowerShell you should run it as:

If using the Windows Command Prompt:

By default, Docker Desktop is installed at C:\Program Files\Docker\Docker.

Installer flags

Note

If you're using PowerShell, you need to use the ArgumentList parameter before any flags. For example:

If your admin account is different to your user account, you must add the user to the docker-users group:

The install command accepts the following flags:

Installation behavior
Security and access control
Proxy configuration
Data root and disk location

Docker Desktop does not start automatically after installation. To start Docker Desktop:

  1. Search for Docker, and select Docker Desktop in the search results.
  2. The Docker menu (whale menu) displays the Docker Subscription Service Agreement.
    Here’s a summary of the key points:
    • Docker Desktop is free for small businesses (fewer than 250 employees AND less than $10 million in annual revenue), personal use, education, and non-commercial open source projects.
    • Otherwise, it requires a paid subscription for professional use.
    • Paid subscriptions are also required for government entities.
    • The Docker Pro, Team, and Business subscriptions include commercial use of Docker Desktop.
  3. Select Accept to continue. Docker Desktop starts after you accept the terms.
    Note that Docker Desktop won't run if you do not agree to the terms. You can choose to accept the terms at a later date by opening Docker Desktop.
    For more information, seeDocker Desktop Subscription Service Agreement. It is recommended that you read theFAQs.

Tip

As an IT administrator, you can use endpoint management (MDM) software to identify the number of Docker Desktop instances and their versions within your environment. This can provide accurate license reporting, help ensure your machines use the latest version of Docker Desktop, and enable you toenforce sign-in.