Install Docker for Windows desktop app

1. Double-click Docker for Windows Installer.exe to run the installer. If you haven’t already downloaded the installer (Docker for Windows Installer.exe), you can get it from download.docker.com. It typically downloads to your Downloads folder, or you can run it from the recent downloads bar at the bottom of your web browser.

2. Follow the install wizard to accept the license, authorize the installer, and proceed with the install. You are asked to authorize Docker.app with your system password during the install process. Privileged access is needed to install networking components, links to the Docker apps, and manage the Hyper-V VMs.

3. Click Finish on the setup complete dialog to launch Docker.

Start Docker for Windows

Docker does not start automatically after installation. To start it, search for Docker, select Docker for Windows in the search results, and click it (or hit Enter).

When the whale in the status bar stays steady, Docker is up-and-running, and accessible from any terminal window.

If the whale is hidden in the Notifications area, click the up arrow on the taskbar to show it. To learn more, see Docker Settings.

If you just installed the app, you also get a popup success message with suggested next steps, and a link to this documentation.

When initialization is complete, select About Docker from the notification area icon to verify that you have the latest version.