Docker Desktop on Windows: Detailed System Requirements and Notes

- Enable hardware virtualization in BIOS/UEFI. For more information, see [Virtualization](/manuals/desktop/troubleshoot-and-support/troubleshoot/topics.md#virtualization). For more information on setting up WSL 2 with Docker Desktop, see [WSL](/manuals/desktop/features/wsl/_index.md). > [!NOTE] > > Docker only supports Docker Desktop on Windows for those versions of Windows that are still within [Microsoft’s servicing timeline](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/13853/windows-lifecycle-fact-sheet). Docker Desktop is not supported on server versions of Windows, such as Windows Server 2019 or Windows Server 2022. For more information on how to run containers on Windows Server, see [Microsoft's official documentation](https://learn.microsoft.com/virtualization/windowscontainers/quick-start/set-up-environment). > [!IMPORTANT] > > To run Windows containers, you need Windows 10 or Windows 11 Professional or Enterprise edition. > Windows Home or Education editions only allow you to run Linux containers. {{< /tab >}} {{< tab name="Hyper-V backend, x86_64" >}} - Windows 11 64-bit: Enterprise, Pro, or Education version 22H2 or higher. - Windows 10 64-bit: Enterprise, Pro, or Education version 22H2 (build 19045) or higher. - Turn on Hyper-V and Containers Windows features. - The following hardware prerequisites are required to successfully run Client Hyper-V on Windows 10: - 64 bit processor with [Second Level Address Translation (SLAT)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Level_Address_Translation) - 4GB system RAM - Turn on BIOS/UEFI-level hardware virtualization support in the BIOS/UEFI settings. For more information, see [Virtualization](/manuals/desktop/troubleshoot-and-support/troubleshoot/topics.md#virtualization). > [!NOTE] > > Docker only supports Docker Desktop on Windows for those versions of Windows that are still within [Microsoft’s servicing timeline](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/13853/windows-lifecycle-fact-sheet). Docker Desktop is not supported on server versions of Windows, such as Windows Server 2019 or Windows Server 2022. For more information on how to run containers on Windows Server, see [Microsoft's official documentation](https://learn.microsoft.com/virtualization/windowscontainers/quick-start/set-up-environment). > [!IMPORTANT] > > To run Windows containers, you need Windows 10 or Windows 11 Professional or Enterprise edition. > Windows Home or Education editions only allow you to run Linux containers. {{< /tab >}} {{< tab name="WSL 2 backend, Arm (Early Access)" >}} - WSL version 2.1.5 or later. - Windows 11 64-bit: Home or Pro version 22H2 or higher, or Enterprise or Education version 22H2 or higher. - Windows 10 64-bit: Minimum required is Home or Pro 22H2 (build 19045) or higher, or Enterprise or Education 22H2 (build 19045) or higher. - Turn on the WSL 2 feature on Windows. For detailed instructions, refer to the [Microsoft documentation](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install-win10). - The following hardware prerequisites are required to successfully run WSL 2 on Windows 10 or Windows 11: - 64-bit processor with [Second Level Address Translation (SLAT)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Level_Address_Translation) - 4GB system RAM - Enable hardware virtualization in BIOS/UEFI. For more information, see [Virtualization](/manuals/desktop/troubleshoot-and-support/troubleshoot/topics.md#virtualization). > [!IMPORTANT] > > Windows containers are not supported. {{< /tab >}} {{< /tabs >}} Containers and images created with Docker Desktop are shared between all user accounts on machines where it is installed. This is because all Windows accounts use the same VM to build and run containers. Note that it is not possible to share containers and images between user accounts when using the Docker Desktop WSL 2 backend. Running Docker Desktop inside a VMware ESXi or Azure VM is supported for Docker Business customers. It requires enabling nested virtualization on the hypervisor first.

This section outlines the detailed system requirements for running Docker Desktop on Windows using either WSL 2 or Hyper-V backends. It specifies the required Windows 10 or 11 versions, the need to enable WSL 2 or Hyper-V features, and hardware prerequisites such as a 64-bit processor with SLAT, sufficient RAM, and enabled hardware virtualization. It emphasizes that Docker Desktop is only supported on Windows versions within Microsoft's servicing timeline and not on server versions. Windows Home or Education editions are limited to running Linux containers, while Professional or Enterprise editions are needed for Windows containers. Also, Arm (Early Access) does not support Windows containers. Containers and images are shared between user accounts, except when using the WSL 2 backend. Docker Business customers can run Docker Desktop inside VMware ESXi or Azure VMs with nested virtualization enabled.