Docker Desktop

ApplicationDocker Inc.

Dem still dey call am docker desktop for windows, docker

Docker Inc.Productivity

Docker Windows GUI and engine for containers. Di window na Docker Desktop.exe. WSL 2 na one backend wey e fit use. To install WSL alone no mean say you don get dis product.

Wetin you need know

Docker Desktop no be WSL by imself.

Docker Desktop na Docker Inc. Windows app. E fit use WSL 2, Hyper-V, or Docker VMM as backend. wsl.exe na Microsoft Linux layer. To install Ubuntu inside WSL no dey install Docker Desktop.exe.

Wetin e be?: Container GUI plus engine
WSL alone reach?: No. WSL na backend, no be Desktop
E need virtualization?: Yes. Docker list SLAT and 8 GB RAM

Feex tok say

If Docker Desktop gree start, I go check virtualization and di WSL version wey Docker document. I no go take working Ubuntu prompt as proof say Docker Desktop dey installed.

Wetin be Docker Desktop?

Docker Desktop na di Windows GUI, Linux VM or WSL backend, and docker CLI integration from Docker Inc. E no be di WSL distro wey you don install for school already.

If you never use am before

If tutorial talk say make you install Docker, for Windows dat one usually mean Docker Desktop from docker.com. Virtualization must still dey on. WSL 2 na di normal backend. Working wsl prompt no be di same thing as Docker Desktop.exe for tray. License terms depend on di size of di company.

Wetin dem dey use am for?

Run containers for Windows

Images and compose stacks dey start through Desktop. Dat one no be bare wsl --install.

docker and compose CLIs

Di CLIs dey follow di Desktop engine talk. docker binary wey dey only inside Ubuntu na different install entirely.

Pick backend

WSL 2 na di default for plenti PCs. Hyper-V need install for all users. Neither backend na WSL alone.

Na who e dey for?

Developers wey dia README assume say docker compose dey
People wey on WSL come dey wonder why docker no be command
Companies wey must check Docker Desktop licensing

Current status

Docker Desktop (2016) na current containers app from Docker Inc.. Di vendor still dey direct Windows users go https://www.docker.com/products/docker-desktop/.

How old e be?

Docker Desktop for Windows show face for 2016 afta Docker Toolbox and VirtualBox styles. Current Desktop dey expect recent Windows 10 or 11 build and current WSL. E no be di 2014 boot2docker days.

Versions

Major channels first. Exact build numbers no dey all verified here.

WSL 2 backend

Hyper-V backend

System requirements

Values dey follow wetin di publisher release publicly. Workload still dey change di real need.

Minimum

Minimum system requirements
Operating system	Docker document recent 64-bit Windows 10 (22H2 class) or Windows 11 builds
RAM	8 GB system RAM dem list for WSL 2 backend, according to Docker

Resource profile

CPU demand: Dey follow wetin you open inside di app
RAM demand: Dey follow documents, tabs, or libraries

Installed processes

Dese executables belong to dis product when e dey installed.

Installed processes
Docker Desktop.exe	Tray and dashboard
com.docker.backend.exe	Engine helper for plenti installs

Startup components

Docker Desktop fit start with Windows from im own setting. Dat one dey start di engine VM, no be Microsoft service wey dem name Docker.

File locations

Common Docker Desktop locations
Typical install	C:\Program Files\Docker\Docker\

File formats

DockerfileCompose YAML

Common wahala dem

WSL dey work, docker no dey work

Ubuntu inside WSL no be Docker Desktop. Install Desktop from docker.com, come enable di WSL 2 based engine inside im settings.

Virtualization dey off for firmware

Docker document VT-x or AMD-V. Hyper-V checkbox no fit fix firmware wey switch off virtualization.

How to get unstuck

Confirm say Docker Desktop dey installed, no be only WSL

Start menu suppose show Docker Desktop. wsl -l -v dey list distros. Dem no be di same product.

Check WSL version against wetin Docker require pass

Docker dey ask for WSL 2.1.5 or later for WSL 2 backend. wsl --version na wetin you go use check.

Read installer docs for backend and license

Per-user installs no fit use Hyper-V. Company size fit make am require paid subscription.

Alternatives

Podman Desktop and Linux Docker Engine get areas wey dem overlap. Pick dem for license or workflow, no be because WSL don get penguin icon before.

Official help and downloads

Start with di vendor. Random exe sites no be support channel.

Official contacts
Download	www.docker.com/products/docker-desktop/ Official installer or vendor page
Help	docs.docker.com/desktop/ Vendor support
Official site	www.docker.com/products/docker-desktop/ Start here, no be random exe host
Windows install docs	docs.docker.com/desktop/setup/install/windows-install/ WSL 2, Hyper-V, and hardware list

Related hardware

Virtualization, 8 GB RAM, and SSD matter pass gaming GPU. Images dey chop disk space.

Technical details

Vendor version numbers dey change. Dis article no pin down any build.

Sources and verification

Recorded source label: August 2026. Dis label no establish independent verification. How we dey do research.

Docker Desktop official site · Vendor product page
Docker Desktop help · Vendor support
Install Docker Desktop for Windows · Official requirements and backends
Foxhole process map · First-party samples on top Windows PCs. No be lab benchmark.

Dis article make sense to you?

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