- Install Docker Engine
- Supported platforms
- Desktop
- Server
- Other Linux distros
- Release channels
- Support
- Upgrade path
- Licensing
- Reporting security issues
- Get started
- Install Docker Desktop on Linux
- Supported platforms
- System requirements
- KVM virtualization support
- Set up KVM device user permissions
- Generic installation steps
- Where to go next
- Docker Desktop
- Docker Desktop
- Docker Extensions
- Volume management, dev environments, and more
- Secure from the start
- Image Access Management
- Build Kubernetes-ready applications on your desktop
- Considering alternatives?
- Choose a plan that’s right for you
Install Docker Engine
Docker Desktop for Linux
Docker Desktop helps you build, share, and run containers on Mac and Windows as you do on Linux. Docker Desktop for Linux is now GA. For more information, see Docker Desktop for Linux.
Supported platforms
Docker Engine is available on a variety of Linux distros, macOS, and Windows 10 through Docker Desktop, and as a static binary installation. Find your preferred operating system below.
Desktop
Server
Docker provides .deb and .rpm packages from the following Linux distros and architectures:
Platform | x86_64 / amd64 | arm64 / aarch64 | arm (32-bit) | s390x |
---|---|---|---|---|
CentOS | ||||
Debian | ||||
Fedora | ||||
Raspbian | ||||
RHEL | ||||
SLES | ||||
Ubuntu | ||||
Binaries |
Other Linux distros
Note
While the instructions below may work, Docker doesn’t test or verify installation on distro derivatives.
- Users of Debian derivatives such as “BunsenLabs Linux”, “Kali Linux” or “LMDE” (Debian-based Mint) should follow the installation instructions for Debian, substituting the version of their distro for the corresponding Debian release. Refer to the documentation of your distro to find which Debian release corresponds with your derivative version.
- Likewise, users of Ubuntu derivatives such as “Kubuntu”, “Lubuntu” or “Xubuntu” should follow the installation instructions for Ubuntu, substituting the version of their distro for the corresponding Ubuntu release. Refer to the documentation of your distro to find which Ubuntu release corresponds with your derivative version.
- Some Linux distros provide a package of Docker Engine through their package repositories. These packages are built and maintained by the Linux distro’s package maintainers and may have differences in configuration or built from modified source code. Docker isn’t involved in releasing these packages and you should report any bugs or issues involving these packages to your Linux distro’s issue tracker.
Docker provides binaries for manual installation of Docker Engine. These binaries are statically linked and you can use them on any Linux distro.
Release channels
Docker Engine has two types of update channels, stable and test:
- The Stable channel gives you the latest versions released for general availability.
- The Test channel gives you pre-release versions that are ready for testing before general availability.
Use the test channel with caution. Pre-release versions include experimental and early-access features that are subject to breaking changes.
Support
Docker Engine is an open source project, supported by the Moby project maintainers and community members. Docker doesn’t provide support for Docker Engine. Docker provides support for Docker products, including Docker Desktop, which uses Docker Engine as one of its components.
For information about the open source project, refer to the Moby project website.
Upgrade path
Patch releases are always backward compatible with its major and minor version.
Licensing
Docker Engine is licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0. See LICENSE for the full license text.
Reporting security issues
If you discover a security issue, we request that you bring it to our attention immediately.
DO NOT file a public issue. Instead, submit your report privately to security@docker.com.
Security reports are greatly appreciated, and Docker will publicly thank you for it.
Get started
After setting up Docker, you can learn the basics with Getting started with 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 processors
If 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 kvm
Set 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.
Docker Desktop
Docker Desktop is a one-click-install application for your Mac, Linux, or Windows environment that enables you to build and share containerized applications and microservices.
It provides a straightforward GUI (Graphical User Interface) that lets you manage your containers, applications, and images directly from your machine. Docker Desktop can be used either on it’s own or as a complementary tool to the CLI.
Docker Desktop reduces the time spent on complex setups so you can focus on writing code. It takes care of port mappings, file system concerns, and other default settings, and is regularly updated with bug fixes and security updates.
- Ability to containerize and share any application on any cloud platform, in multiple languages and frameworks.
- Quick installation and setup of a complete Docker development environment.
- Includes the latest version of Kubernetes.
- On Windows, the ability to toggle between Linux and Windows Server environments to build applications.
- Fast and reliable performance with native Windows Hyper-V virtualization.
- Ability to work natively on Linux through WSL 2 on Windows machines.
- Volume mounting for code and data, including file change notifications and easy access to running containers on the localhost network.
Docker Desktop works with your choice of development tools and languages and gives you access to a vast library of certified images and templates in Docker Hub. This enables development teams to extend their environment to rapidly auto-build, continuously integrate, and collaborate using a secure repository.
Docker Desktop
Install Docker Desktop – the fastest way to containerize applications.
Docker Extensions
Transform and optimize workflows by connecting to pre-built developer tools for debugging, testing, networking, security, and more. Explore the Docker Extensions Marketplace to discover endless workflow possibilities by creating your own custom tools, then share them with your team or the whole world.
Volume management, dev environments, and more
Takes the guesswork out of volume management. Docker Pro, Team, and Business subscribers can quickly and easily explore their volumes, identify what’s taking up space, and remove unneeded files and directories right from the dashboard. Docker Desktop simplifies setting up common and consistent local developer environments across an organization.
Secure from the start
Docker Desktop helps you quickly and safely evaluate software so you can start secure and push with confidence. Catch issues before you start developing by generating a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM), view vulnerability data by image layer, and get actionable remediation insights for your images. Learn more about end-to-end vulnerability analysis and how to shift security left in your app delivery pipeline.
Image Access Management
Stay more secure by managing which container images on Docker Hub developers can access, and gain more control by configuring organizations to only allow access to Docker Official Images and Docker Verified Publishers. Available with Docker Business.
Build Kubernetes-ready applications on your desktop
Docker Desktop is an application for macOS, Linux, and Windows machines for quickly and securely building and sharing containerized applications and microservices.
Docker Desktop includes an embedded Kubernetes setup for app development, and it allows you to use certified images, templates, and your choice of languages and tools. Development workflows leverage Docker Hub to extend your development environment to a secure repository for rapid auto-building, continuous integration, and secure collaboration.
Considering alternatives?
Developers love using Docker Desktop because it is easy to use, accelerates productivity, and eliminates the toil of setting up complex environments for building modern applications.
And while Docker Engine is sometimes viewed as a drop-in DIY (do-it-yourself) alternative for Docker Desktop, going it alone might not be as simple – or economical – as it seems.
Choose a plan that’s right for you
Docker isn’t just for personal projects. Discover the perfect plan to empower your team and streamline your workflow.