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Md. Al-Amin
Md. Al-Amin Subscriber

Posted on • Originally published at Medium

How to Install Docker on Windows 10/11 - Complete Guide

#docker #beginners #microsoft #tutorial

Hey fellow devs! 👋 If you're looking to get started with Docker on Windows, you've come to the right place. I remember how confusing it was when I first tried to set everything up, so I've created this guide to help you avoid the headaches I encountered.

📋 Table of Contents

🛠️ Before We Begin

Let's ensure your Windows PC is ready for Docker. Here are a few things to check and enable.

System Requirements:

  • Windows 10/11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education (64-bit)
  • 4GB RAM minimum (8GB recommended)
  • UEFI firmware with Secure Boot capability
  • Virtualization support in your CPU
  • Administrator access to your Windows machine

1. Preparing Windows

Search for Turn Windows features on or off in the Start Menu, and enable the following:

  • ✅ Hyper-V
  • ✅ Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)

Windows Features dialog showing Hyper-V and WSL options enabled

🔄 Restart your computer after enabling these features.

2. Checking Virtualization

To verify virtualization is enabled:

  1. Open Task Manager → go to the Performance tab.
  2. Look at the bottom right for Virtualization.

Checking Virtualization

If it says "Disabled":

  • Restart and enter BIOS (usually F2 or Del).
  • Enable virtualization (Intel VT-x or AMD-V).
  • Save and exit.

🔍 Quick WSL Version Check

Open PowerShell and run:

wsl --status
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If it shows Version 1, upgrade with:

wsl --set-default-version 2
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📦 Installing Docker Desktop

  1. Download Docker Desktop for Windows from the official site.
  2. Use AMD64 version (works for both Intel & AMD CPUs).
  3. Install with default settings and agree to the license.

✅ Once installed, open PowerShell and run:

docker run hello-world
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If you see Hello from Docker! — you're all set!

🐧 Setting Up Ubuntu with WSL

  1. Open Microsoft Store.
  2. Search Ubuntu.
  3. Install any LTS version (I recommend Ubuntu 22.04 LTS).
  4. Launch Ubuntu → Set a username and password.

To check WSL version:

wsl -l -v
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✅ Ensure it says VERSION 2 next to Ubuntu.

🔗 Final Step: Connect Docker with WSL

  1. Open Docker Desktop.
  2. Go to: Settings > Resources > WSL Integration.
  3. Enable integration with your Ubuntu version.

✅ Testing Your Setup (From Ubuntu)

In your Ubuntu terminal, run:

docker run hello-world
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You should see the Docker success message.

🧯 Troubleshooting Tips

  • Restart your PC after enabling WSL and Hyper-V.
  • Check BIOS virtualization settings.
  • Upgrade to the latest WSL 2 version.

🙌 You're Ready!

That's it! Docker is now running on your Windows system with WSL2 integration. If you run into any issues, feel free to comment below.

Happy containerizing 🐳

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