Install Docker Desktop on Ubuntu
This page contains information on how to install, launch and upgrade Docker Desktop on an Ubuntu distribution.
Prerequisites
To install Docker Desktop successfully, you must:
- Meet the system requirements
- Have a 64-bit version of either Ubuntu Jammy Jellyfish 22.04 (LTS) or Ubuntu Impish Indri 21.10. Docker Desktop is supported on x86_64 (or amd64 ) architecture.
- For non-Gnome Desktop environments, gnome-terminal must be installed:
$ sudo apt install gnome-terminal $ sudo apt remove docker-desktop For a complete cleanup, remove configuration and data files at $HOME/.docker/desktop , the symlink at /usr/local/bin/com.docker.cli , and purge the remaining systemd service files.
$ rm -r $HOME/.docker/desktop $ sudo rm /usr/local/bin/com.docker.cli $ sudo apt purge docker-desktop Note If you have installed the Docker Desktop for Linux tech preview or beta version, you need to remove all files that were generated by those packages (e.g., ~/.config/systemd/user/docker-desktop.service , ~/.local/share/systemd/user/docker-desktop.service ).
Install Docker Desktop
Recommended approach to install Docker Desktop on Ubuntu:
- Set up Docker’s package repository.
- Download latest DEB package.
- Install the package with apt as follows:
$ sudo apt-get update $ sudo apt-get install ./docker-desktop--arch>.deb Note At the end of the installation process, apt displays an error due to installing a downloaded package. You can ignore this error message.
N: Download is performed unsandboxed as root, as file '/home/user/Downloads/docker-desktop.deb' couldn't be accessed by user '_apt'. - pkgAcquire::Run (13: Permission denied) There are a few post-install configuration steps done through the post-install script contained in the deb package.
- Sets the capability on the Docker Desktop binary to map privileged ports and set resource limits.
- Adds a DNS name for Kubernetes to /etc/hosts .
- Creates a symlink from /usr/local/bin/com.docker.cli to /usr/bin/docker . This is because the classic Docker CLI is installed at /usr/bin/docker . The Docker Desktop installer also installs a Docker CLI binary that includes cloud-integration capabilities and is essentially a wrapper for the Compose CLI, at /usr/local/bin/com.docker.cli . The symlink ensures that the wrapper can access the classic Docker CLI.
Launch Docker Desktop
To start Docker Desktop for Linux, search Docker Desktop on the Applications menu and open it. This launches the Docker menu icon and opens the Docker Dashboard, reporting the status of Docker Desktop.
Alternatively, open a terminal and run:
$ systemctl --user start docker-desktop When Docker Desktop starts, it creates a dedicated context that the Docker CLI can use as a target and sets it as the current context in use. This is to avoid a clash with a local Docker Engine that may be running on the Linux host and using the default context. On shutdown, Docker Desktop resets the current context to the previous one.
The Docker Desktop installer updates Docker Compose and the Docker CLI binaries on the host. It installs Docker Compose V2 and gives users the choice to link it as docker-compose from the Settings panel. Docker Desktop installs the new Docker CLI binary that includes cloud-integration capabilities in /usr/local/bin/com.docker.cli and creates a symlink to the classic Docker CLI at /usr/local/bin .
After you’ve successfully installed Docker Desktop, you can check the versions of these binaries by running the following commands:
$ docker compose version Docker Compose version v2.17.3 $ docker --version Docker version 23.0.5, build bc4487a $ docker version Client: Docker Engine - Community Cloud integration: v1.0.31 Version: 23.0.5 API version: 1.42
To enable Docker Desktop to start on login, from the Docker menu, select Settings > General > Start Docker Desktop when you log in.
Alternatively, open a terminal and run:
$ systemctl --user enable docker-desktop To stop Docker Desktop, select the Docker menu icon to open the Docker menu and select Quit Docker Desktop.
Alternatively, open a terminal and run:
$ systemctl --user stop docker-desktop Upgrade Docker Desktop
Once a new version for Docker Desktop is released, the Docker UI shows a notification. You need to download the new package each time you want to upgrade Docker Desktop and run:
$ sudo apt-get install ./docker-desktop--arch>.deb Next steps
- Take a look at the Get started training modules to learn how to build an image and run it as a containerized application.
- Review the topics in Develop with Docker to learn how to build new applications using Docker.
Install Docker Desktop on Linux
This page contains information about general system requirements, supported platforms, and instructions on how to install Docker Desktop for Linux.
Important
Docker Desktop on Linux runs a Virtual Machine (VM) so creates and uses a custom docker context desktop-linux on startup.
This means images and containers deployed on the Linux Docker Engine (before installation) are not available in Docker Desktop for Linux.
For more information see What is the difference between Docker Desktop for Linux and Docker Engine.
Supported platforms
Docker provides .deb and .rpm packages from the following Linux distributions and architectures:
An experimental package is available for Arch-based distributions. Docker has not tested or verified the installation.
Docker supports Docker Desktop on the current LTS release of the aforementioned distributions and the most recent version. As new versions are made available, Docker stops supporting the oldest version and supports the newest version.
System requirements
To install Docker Desktop successfully, your Linux host must meet the following general requirements:
- 64-bit kernel and CPU support for virtualization.
- KVM virtualization support. Follow the KVM virtualization support instructions to check if the KVM kernel modules are enabled and how to provide access to the kvm device.
- QEMU must be version 5.2 or newer. We recommend upgrading to the latest version.
- systemd init system.
- Gnome, KDE, or MATE Desktop environment.
- For many Linux distros, the Gnome environment does not support tray icons. To add support for tray icons, you need to install a Gnome extension. For example, AppIndicator.
Docker Desktop for Linux runs a Virtual Machine (VM). For more information on why, see Why Docker Desktop for Linux runs a VM.
Note:
Docker does not provide support for running Docker Desktop in nested virtualization scenarios. We recommend that you run Docker Desktop for Linux natively on supported distributions.
KVM virtualization support
Docker Desktop runs a VM that requires KVM support.
The kvm module should load automatically if the host has virtualization support. To load the module manually, run:
Depending on the processor of the host machine, the corresponding module must be loaded:
$ modprobe kvm_intel # Intel processors $ modprobe kvm_amd # AMD processorsIf the above commands fail, you can view the diagnostics by running:
To check if the KVM modules are enabled, run:
$ lsmod | grep kvm kvm_amd 167936 0 ccp 126976 1 kvm_amd kvm 1089536 1 kvm_amd irqbypass 16384 1 kvmSet up KVM device user permissions
To check ownership of /dev/kvm , run :
Add your user to the kvm group in order to access the kvm device:
Log out and log back in so that your group membership is re-evaluated.
Generic installation steps
Docker Desktop terms
Commercial use of Docker Desktop in larger enterprises (more than 250 employees OR more than $10 million USD in annual revenue) requires a paid subscription.
Make sure you meet the system requirements outlined earlier and follow the distro-specific prerequisites.
- Download the correct package for your Linux distribution and install it with the corresponding package manager.
- Install on Debian
- Install on Fedora
- Install on Ubuntu
- Install on Arch
- Open your Applications menu in Gnome/KDE Desktop and search for Docker Desktop.
- Select Docker Desktop to start Docker.
The Docker menu () displays the Docker Subscription Service Agreement window. - Select Accept to continue. Docker Desktop starts after you accept the terms. Note that Docker Desktop will not run if you do not agree to the terms. You can choose to accept the terms at a later date by opening Docker Desktop. For more information, see Docker Desktop Subscription Service Agreement. We recommend that you also read the FAQs.
Where to go next
- Troubleshooting describes common problems, workarounds, how to run and submit diagnostics, and submit issues.
- FAQs provide answers to frequently asked questions.
- Release notes lists component updates, new features, and improvements associated with Docker Desktop releases.
- Get started with Docker provides a general Docker tutorial.
- Back up and restore data provides instructions on backing up and restoring data related to Docker.
