For many developers, Docker is the platform for building and deploying applications in self-contained containers. It is an operating system-level virtualization platform that helps users build and manage applications without worrying about underlying operating systems and dependencies.
In this guide, we will see how to install Docker desktop on Windows 10 or Windows 11. We will also mention the benefits of Docker on Windows and how you can uninstall it from the Windows environment.
Let's start with the benefits of Docker on Windows.
Index
- What are the benefits of working with Docker on Windows?
- previous requirements
- Instalar o Docker Desktop sin Windows 11
- Start the docker desktop tool
- How to install Docker on Windows 10?
- How to install docker from command prompt
- Uninstall the docker desktop tool
- Conclusion
What are the benefits of working with Docker on Windows?
Docker on Windows provides a number of benefits to the application development and deployment process, including:
- The simple user interface allows you to view and monitor all your Docker containers from a single location.
- Docker takes care of allocating the necessary resources and memory space for the containers.
- Support HTTP proxy configuration
- Docker allows developers to build containerized applications that can run in a Windows environment. This makes it easy to build and test apps on Windows and deploy to other platforms without compatibility issues.
- Docker images can be easily moved between development, test, and production environments, making it easy to maintain consistency and reducing the risk of bugs or bugs caused by differences between environments.
Like all environments, you need the following items to run Docker containers in a Windows environment:
- Docker Engine – Runs on the host machine to build and run containers.
- Docker Client – Receives commands from users, translates them to the REST API, and delivers them to the Docker Daemon.
- Docker Daemon: manages Docker containers
- Docker Compose – Run multiple container applications.
Now that you know what you need, we'll walk you through the process of installing Docker on the Windows operating system.
Install Docker on Windows 10 and 11
Before we discuss the installation process, we need to detail the prerequisites and related information so that you have a solid foundation for installing Docker on Windows 10 and 11.
previous requirements
- Windows 10 64-bit or Windows 11 64-bit (version 2004 or higher for the Pro edition; version 1909 or higher for the Enterprise and Education editions)
- The destination machine must have a 64-bit processor that supports Second Level Address Translation (SLAT).
Minimum RAM memory of 4 GB. - BIOS setup and hardware virtualization support must be enabled.
- Support for Windows Hyper-V enabled.
- Support for earlier versions of Windows
Instalar o Docker Desktop sin Windows 11
Let's get started with the process of installing Docker Desktop on Windows 11. The process consists of several steps which are given below.
- Visit the Docker Desktop for Windows download page and download the Docker Desktop setup file.
Note: The target machine must have a 64-bit processor and 4 GB of system RAM to successfully run Docker on Windows 10.
- Run the installer and remember to enable the Hyper-V Windows feature on the settings page.
- Complete the installation process and restart your computer when the process is complete.
Start the docker desktop tool
After completing the installation, you will need to start the Docker tool manually. To do so, search or search for "Docker Desktop" in the desktop search bar.
Before you start using Docker, you'll need to go through the integration tutorial. This will help you learn how to build a Docker image and run a container.
After completing the tutorial, you'll be up and running with Docker Desktop on Windows. To verify that everything is working correctly, access the Docker CLI and run the "docker version" command. This will tell you the version of Docker installed on your system.
At this point, Docker is installed on your Windows 11 machine and you are ready to run Docker images and containers.
How to install Docker on Windows 10?
The process of installing Docker on Windows 10 is similar to installing Docker on Windows 11. Let's go through the main steps of the process.
Start by downloading the installer from the official Docker for Windows page.
When the download is complete, locate the downloaded file and run it.
On the configuration page, you need to choose options such as Hyper-V and WSL 2 features. Then click "OK" and follow the instructions of the wizard. Close the wizard when finished.
When using Docker, it's important to know that the Docker administrator account and user accounts are usually the same. If you don't have a Docker user group, you'll need to create one and add your user account to it.
Initially, run the admin panel as computer management.
You can add new users to the Docker group by going to Local Users and Groups and from there searching for Docker user groups.
After completing all these steps, restart your computer to update and start Docker Desktop on Windows 10.
Once the system is back online, start Docker Desktop.
It will ask you to review and accept the Subscription Services Agreement for Docker Desktop. After accepting and agreeing to the terms and conditions, the Docker Desktop window will appear and you are ready to work.
Remember to follow the quickstart included with Docker Desktop for the best experience.
Resolving the WSL kernel version error
Some Windows 10 systems may display the following error about Docker Desktop requiring a newer version of the WSL kernel.
To resolve this error, start the command prompt and run the following command:
wsl --update
How to install docker from command prompt
If you want, you can install Docker Desktop from the command prompt. This is a simple process where you enter a simple command to start the installation process. But first you need to download the Docker Desktop installer from the official website.
These are the commands you will need to run:
If you are in a terminal window, run the following command:
Installation of "Docker Desktop Installer.exe"
If you are in PowerShell, run the following command:
Start-Process '.\win\build\Docker Desktop Installer.exe' -Wait for installation
Finally, if you are at a command prompt, run the following command:
start /w "" "Docker Desktop Installer.exe" install
When the process is complete, don't forget to add your user account to the Docker user group, especially if your administrator account and user account are not the same. To do this, run this command:
net localgroup docker-users <users>/add
How do I know if Docker is installed on my Windows 10/Windows 11 machine?
After the installation is complete, it's always a good idea to verify that everything works as expected. To do this, you can try the following ideas:
- If you're using a Windows terminal, you can use the following command line to start Docker:
docker-execute
- In Powershell, you can check your version and installation of Docker by typingthe following command:
docker --version
- You can also check the latest desktop version of Docker from the Docker option.
- Alternatively, you can query a web server running the docker desktop.
Uninstall the docker desktop tool
There are times when you may want to remove Docker from your Windows machine. Like the installation process, the uninstall process is straightforward.
1. Go to the Windows Start menu.
2. Select Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
3. Docker Desktop should be present in the list of apps and features.
4. Click Uninstall.
Conclusion
Docker on Windows is a fast and easy way to run containerized applications on Windows operating systems. Developers can more efficiently and consistently build, package, and deploy applications across different environments using containers. This improved productivity and reduced complexity helps organizations save time and money.
Docker on Windows is the perfect way to use the capabilities of Windows and Linux based containers. However, it is important to note that Docker on Windows has some limitations and requirements, such as minimum hardware specifications and using Windows 10 Professional or Enterprise editions with the Hyper-V role enabled.