How to Install Docker in Windows 10

To install Docker on Windows 10, turn on WSL 2 by running wsl --install in an administrator PowerShell window, restart, then download and run the Docker Desktop installer from Docker’s website. Keep Use WSL 2 instead of Hyper-V checked, restart again, and open Docker Desktop. Test it by running docker run hello-world.

Applies to: Windows 10 version 22H2, 64-bit, Home or Pro. Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025, and only PCs enrolled in Extended Security Updates still get security fixes, through October 12, 2027.

Windows 10 no longer gets free updates from Microsoft, and Docker sets its own support dates for older Windows versions. Check the system requirements on Docker’s website before you install, and consider Windows 11 for long-term use.

Before you start

• Windows version: Press Windows + R, type winver, and check that you have version 22H2. Update Windows first if you don’t.
• 64-bit Windows: Check System type in Settings > System > About.
• Virtualization turned on: Open Task Manager, go to Performance > CPU, and look for Virtualization: Enabled. If it shows Disabled, enable virtualization before you go on.
• At least 4 GB of RAM and several gigabytes of free disk space for images.
• A license, if it’s for work: Docker Desktop is free for personal use, education, and small businesses. Larger companies need a paid subscription.

Install WSL 2

1. Right-click Start and select Windows PowerShell (Admin).
2. Run wsl --install. This turns on the Windows Subsystem for Linux and the Virtual Machine Platform, and installs Ubuntu.
3. Restart the PC when it finishes.
4. After the restart, open PowerShell again and run wsl --update to get the latest WSL version.

If Ubuntu opens and asks for a username and password, create them. Docker doesn’t need them, but Ubuntu does. WSL itself is explained in more detail in installing WSL (Linux) on Windows 10.

Install Docker Desktop

1. Download Docker Desktop for Windows from Docker’s official website. Choose the version for your processor, which is AMD64 on almost all PCs.
2. Double-click Docker Desktop Installer.exe and select Yes when Windows asks for permission.
3. Leave Use WSL 2 instead of Hyper-V (recommended) checked and select OK.
4. When the installation finishes, select Close and restart or Close and log out.

Start Docker Desktop

1. Open Docker Desktop from the Start menu.
2. Accept the subscription service agreement.
3. Sign in with a Docker account if you have one, or skip it. You don’t need an account to run containers.
4. Wait until the bottom-left corner shows that the engine is running.

Test Docker

Open Command Prompt or PowerShell and run these commands:

• docker --version shows the installed version.
• docker run hello-world downloads a small test image and runs it. If you see “Hello from Docker!”, everything works.

Run your first real container

To see Docker do something useful, run a small web server:

1. Run docker run -d -p 8080:80 --name web nginx. Docker downloads the nginx image and starts it in the background.
2. Open a browser and go to http://localhost:8080. You should see the nginx welcome page.
3. Run docker ps to list running containers.
4. Run docker stop web to stop it, and docker rm web to remove it.

You can also see and control containers in Docker Desktop’s Containers tab, without using commands.

Settings worth checking

• WSL integration: In Docker Desktop, go to Settings > Resources > WSL integration and turn on your Ubuntu distribution. You can then run docker commands from the Ubuntu terminal too.
• Disk image location: Docker stores images and containers in a virtual disk. If your C: drive is small, move it under Settings > Resources > Advanced.
• Updates: Docker Desktop checks for updates on its own and shows a notice when one is ready. Install updates to get security fixes.

Clean up disk space

Images and stopped containers build up over time. Run docker system prune to remove stopped containers, unused networks, and dangling images. Add -a to also remove all images that no container is using. Docker asks you to confirm before deleting anything.

If something goes wrong

• “WSL 2 installation is incomplete” or “WSL update required”: Run wsl --update in an administrator PowerShell window, then restart Docker Desktop.
• “Virtualization support not detected”: Turn on Intel VT-x or AMD-V (sometimes called SVM) in your PC’s BIOS or UEFI settings.
• “You are not allowed to use Docker, you must be in the docker-users group”: Open Command Prompt as an administrator, run net localgroup docker-users YourUserName /add, then sign out and back in.
• Docker Desktop is stuck on “Starting”: Run wsl --shutdown, then quit and reopen Docker Desktop. Restarting the PC also helps.
• Docker is using too much memory: WSL 2 can use a large share of RAM. Close containers you don’t need, or limit WSL memory with a .wslconfig file in your user folder.

Uninstall Docker Desktop

Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features, select Docker Desktop, and select Uninstall. This removes Docker’s containers and images too, so save any data you need first.

Frequently asked questions

Can I install Docker on Windows 10 Home?

Yes. Docker Desktop uses WSL 2 on Home, which works the same way. Only the Hyper-V option needs Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise.

Can I run Windows containers?

Yes, on Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise. Right-click the Docker icon in the notification area and select Switch to Windows containers. This uses Hyper-V instead of WSL 2.

Does Docker start automatically?

By default, yes. To change it, open Docker Desktop Settings > General and turn off Start Docker Desktop when you sign in to your computer.

Do I need Docker Desktop, or just Docker?

On Windows, Docker Desktop is the supported way to run Docker. Advanced users can install Docker Engine inside a WSL Linux distribution instead.

Related: installing WordPress in Windows 10 and installing Python in Windows 10.