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To use Docker Desktop with WSL 2 on Windows 11, first confirm your Windows edition and hardware meet Docker’s requirements, update WSL, install Docker Desktop with the WSL 2 engine, then enable integration for the Linux distribution you want to use. Keep active project files in that distribution’s Linux filesystem for Docker’s recommended development workflow.
Check Windows, WSL, and hardware requirements
Docker’s Windows installation documentation lists Windows 11 Enterprise, Pro, or Education version 23H2 (build 22631) or later, WSL 2.1.5 or later, a 64-bit processor with Second Level Address Translation (SLAT), at least 8 GB of system RAM, and hardware virtualization enabled in BIOS or UEFI. Docker supports Windows versions that remain within Microsoft’s servicing timeline, so check the current Docker Windows installation requirements and Microsoft’s support status for your specific Windows release before proceeding.
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- In Windows, run
winverto check the release and build. - Confirm virtualization is enabled in your PC’s BIOS or UEFI settings.
- Open PowerShell or Command Prompt and run
wsl --version. Docker says that if version details do not appear, the system may have the older inbox version of WSL and needs an update or WSL installation.
Install or update WSL 2
Microsoft’s wsl --install command enables the WSL and Virtual Machine Platform components, downloads and installs the latest Linux kernel, sets WSL 2 as the default, and installs Ubuntu by default. A restart may be required. For Microsoft’s current instructions and supported options, see Install WSL.
- Open PowerShell as an administrator.
- Run
wsl --install. - Restart Windows if prompted, then complete the Linux distribution’s first-run setup.
- Check the installed WSL version with
wsl --version. To update an existing installation, runwsl --update, then check the version again.
If you already have a Linux distribution, check its WSL mode with wsl.exe -l -v. Docker’s setup instructions explain how to convert a distribution to version 2 if it is currently using version 1.
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Install Docker Desktop and enable WSL integration
Download Docker Desktop from Docker’s Windows installation page. Before installation, remove any Docker Engine or Docker CLI installed directly inside a WSL distribution: Docker warns that running those alongside Docker Desktop’s integration can cause conflicts.
- Install Docker Desktop and start it.
- Open Settings > General and check Use WSL 2 based engine. Docker says this is enabled by default when WSL 2 is supported; select it and apply the change if it is not enabled.
- Open Settings > Resources > WSL Integration.
- Turn on integration for the Linux distribution where you plan to run Docker commands, then apply the change.
- Open that distribution’s terminal and run
docker versionto check that the Docker client can reach the engine.
The WSL integration toggle is per distribution. Docker commands are also available from Windows terminals, even if you do not install a separate Linux distribution. If WSL Integration is missing from Settings, Docker says the application may be in Windows-container mode; switch to Linux containers for this WSL integration workflow. See Docker Desktop WSL 2 backend for Docker’s integration instructions.
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Keep development files in the Linux filesystem
For the best Docker Desktop and WSL development experience, Docker recommends storing code in the default Linux distribution rather than working from the Windows-mounted filesystem. Docker does not attach a guaranteed numerical speedup to this guidance.
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Troubleshoot integration and resource problems
Docker commands are unavailable in a distribution
- Confirm Docker Desktop is running and the WSL 2 engine is selected under Settings > General.
- Check Settings > Resources > WSL Integration and enable the distribution you are using.
- Run
wsl.exe -l -vand make sure that distribution is using version 2. - Remove any Docker Engine or CLI installed directly inside the distribution if it conflicts with Docker Desktop integration.
Integration settings are missing
Check whether Docker Desktop is in Windows-container mode. For the WSL integration workflow, switch to Linux containers.
Docker hangs, WSL uses excessive memory, or upgrades fail
Docker’s WSL best-practices guidance associates outdated WSL versions with issues such as periodic Docker hangs, upgrade problems, vmmem.exe using all memory, network-filter-policy problems, and GPU failures. Docker sets WSL 2.1.5 as its minimum for the backend and recommends keeping WSL current. Update WSL with wsl --update and review the current Docker WSL best practices.
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WSL 2 dynamically allocates memory. Docker notes that autoMemoryReclaim may help reclaim unused memory after image builds; it has been available as an experimental feature since WSL 1.3.10. Treat it as an optional setting, not a required Docker configuration, and consult Microsoft’s current WSL documentation before changing it.
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NVIDIA GPU compute
GPU passthrough is only relevant if Linux containers need GPU compute. Docker documents NVIDIA GPU paravirtualization with the WSL 2 backend; prerequisites include an NVIDIA GPU, an up-to-date Windows installation, supported current NVIDIA drivers, the latest WSL 2 Linux kernel, and Docker Desktop using the WSL 2 backend. Check Docker’s GPU support instructions for current driver and setup details.
Enhanced Container Isolation
Enhanced Container Isolation is an optional security feature, not a baseline requirement for using Docker Desktop with WSL 2. Docker’s best-practices documentation specifies WSL 2.6 or later for ECI because it needs at least Linux kernel 6.3.0; Docker states WSL 2.6 and later bundles kernel 6.6. These version requirements can change, so confirm them in Docker’s current WSL guidance if you intend to enable ECI.
Check Docker Desktop licensing for organizational use
Docker’s Windows installation page states that commercial use of Docker Desktop in larger enterprises—more than 250 employees or more than US$10 million in annual revenue—requires a paid subscription. See Docker’s current installation and licensing information and applicable terms for your organization. Those thresholds do not establish which subscription is appropriate or its price.
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