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Install in minutes

Docker download for your computer

Choose your operating system, check that your machine qualifies and grab the installer. The whole setup usually takes less than ten minutes.

Docker download for Mac

One installer for both chip families. Pick the Apple silicon build for M-series Macs or the Intel build for older models, open the disk image and drag the app to Applications.

Download for Apple silicon Download for Intel
  • SystemRecent macOS release
  • Memory4 GB RAM minimum
  • Disk spaceAbout 2 GB free
  • ChipsApple silicon or Intel

Docker download for Windows

Run the installer, keep the WSL 2 option ticked and restart when asked. Docker Desktop uses the Windows Subsystem for Linux, so containers start quickly and use memory sparingly.

Download for Windows Windows on ARM
  • SystemWindows 10 or 11, 64-bit
  • BackendWSL 2 or Hyper-V
  • Memory4 GB RAM minimum
  • VirtualizationEnabled in BIOS or UEFI

Docker download for Linux

Install Docker Desktop from a .deb or .rpm package, or set up Docker Engine from your distribution’s package repository if you want a lean server install without a graphical app.

Download Desktop package Engine install guide
  • DistributionsUbuntu, Debian, Fedora
  • Architecturex86_64 or arm64
  • Memory4 GB RAM minimum
  • Accesssudo privileges

Check that your Docker download worked

Two short commands tell you everything. The first prints the installed version. The second pulls a tiny image, runs it and prints a greeting, proving the engine, network and registry connection all work.

docker --version
docker run hello-world
docker compose version

Install Docker in four steps

The sequence is the same on every system, only the installer file changes.

  1. Get the installer

    Use the button for your platform above and save the file. Installers are a few hundred megabytes.

  2. Run the setup

    Open the file, accept the defaults and approve the system prompts that ask for permission to install networking components.

  3. Start Docker

    Launch the app and wait until the whale icon in the menu bar or tray stops animating. That means the engine is ready.

  4. Run a test

    Open a terminal and run the commands below to confirm that downloading and running a container works.

Not sure which tool you need?

Read the Docker Software overview to see how Desktop, Engine and Compose differ before you install.

Browse Docker Software

Docker download troubleshooting

The installer says virtualization is disabled

Restart your computer, open the BIOS or UEFI menu and switch on Intel VT-x, AMD-V or SVM mode. Then run the installer again.

Docker Desktop is stuck on “starting”

Quit the app completely, reopen it and give it a minute. If it still hangs, restart the computer and make sure no other virtual machine software is locking the hypervisor.

I get “permission denied” on Linux

Add your user to the docker group, then log out and back in. After that you can run docker commands without sudo.

Which build do I pick on a Mac?

Open the Apple menu and choose About This Mac. If the chip says Apple M1 or newer, take the Apple silicon build; if it says Intel, take the Intel build.

How much disk space will images take?

Plan for a few gigabytes at the start. Run docker system prune from time to time to remove stopped containers and unused images.

What to do after the install

Day one

Run a web server

Start nginx on port 8080 and open it in your browser to see a container respond for the first time.

Week one

Containerize a project

Add a Dockerfile to one of your own apps, build an image and run it instead of your local runtime.

Next

Compose a stack

Combine your app with a database in a Compose file and start the whole thing with one command.