Installing Docker Desktop on Windows 10

Learn to install Docker Desktop on Windows 10.

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Windows pre-reqs

Docker Desktop on Windows requires all of the following:

  • 64-bit version of Windows 10 Pro/Enterprise/Education (it does not work with Home edition)
  • Hardware virtualization support must be enabled in your system’s BIOS.
  • The Hyper-V and Containers features must be enabled in Windows.

The installer can enable the Hyper-V and Containers features, but it’s your responsibility to enable hardware virtualization in your BIOS (be very careful changing anything in your system’s BIOS).

Installation

Perform a google search for “install Docker Desktop.” This will take you to the relevant download page where you can download the installer and follow the instructions. It’s that simple!

At the time of writing, you can choose between the stable channel and the edge channel. The names are self-explanatory with the edge channel providing earlier access bleeding-edge features.

Once the installation is complete you may have to manually start Docker Desktop from the Windows Start menu. It can take a minute for it to start, and you can watch the start progress via the animated whale icon on the Windows task bar at the bottom of the screen.

Once it’s up and running, you can open a PowerShell prompt and type some simple docker commands.

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