Installing Docker Engine on Debian

--- description: Learn how to install Docker Engine on Debian. These instructions cover the different installation methods, how to uninstall, and next steps. keywords: requirements, apt, installation, debian, install, uninstall, install debian, docker engine, install docker engine, upgrade, update title: Install Docker Engine on Debian linkTitle: Debian weight: 20 toc_max: 4 aliases: - /engine/installation/debian/ - /engine/installation/linux/debian/ - /engine/installation/linux/docker-ce/debian/ - /install/linux/docker-ce/debian/ download-url-base: https://download.docker.com/linux/debian --- To get started with Docker Engine on Debian, make sure you [meet the prerequisites](#prerequisites), and then follow the [installation steps](#installation-methods). ## Prerequisites ### Firewall limitations > [!WARNING] > > Before you install Docker, make sure you consider the following > security implications and firewall incompatibilities. - If you use ufw or firewalld to manage firewall settings, be aware that when you expose container ports using Docker, these ports bypass your firewall rules. For more information, refer to [Docker and ufw](/manuals/engine/network/packet-filtering-firewalls.md#docker-and-ufw). - Docker is only compatible with `iptables-nft` and `iptables-legacy`. Firewall rules created with `nft` are not supported on a system with Docker installed. Make sure that any firewall rulesets you use are created with `iptables` or `ip6tables`, and that you add them to the `DOCKER-USER` chain, see [Packet filtering and firewalls](/manuals/engine/network/packet-filtering-firewalls.md). ### OS requirements To install Docker Engine, you need the 64-bit version of one of these Debian versions: - Debian Trixie 13 (testing) - Debian Bookworm 12 (stable) - Debian Bullseye 11 (oldstable) Docker Engine for Debian is compatible with x86_64 (or amd64), armhf, arm64, and ppc64le (ppc64el) architectures. ### Uninstall old versions Before you can install Docker Engine, you need to uninstall any conflicting packages. Your Linux distribution may provide unofficial Docker packages, which may conflict with the official packages provided by Docker. You must uninstall these packages before you install the official version of Docker Engine. The unofficial packages to uninstall are: - `docker.io` - `docker-compose` - `docker-doc` - `podman-docker` Moreover, Docker Engine depends on `containerd` and `runc`. Docker Engine bundles these dependencies as one bundle: `containerd.io`. If you have installed the `containerd` or `runc` previously, uninstall them to avoid conflicts with the versions bundled with Docker Engine. Run the following command to uninstall all conflicting packages: ```console $ for pkg in docker.io docker-doc docker-compose podman-docker containerd runc; do sudo apt-get remove $pkg; done ``` `apt-get` might report that you have none of these packages installed. Images, containers, volumes, and networks stored in `/var/lib/docker/` aren't automatically removed when you uninstall Docker. If you want to start with a clean installation, and prefer to clean up any existing data, read the [uninstall Docker Engine](#uninstall-docker-engine) section. ## Installation methods You can install Docker Engine in different ways, depending on your needs: - Docker Engine comes bundled with [Docker Desktop for Linux](/manuals/desktop/setup/install/linux/_index.md). This is the easiest and quickest way to get started. - Set up and install Docker Engine from [Docker's `apt` repository](#install-using-the-repository). - [Install it manually](#install-from-a-package) and manage upgrades manually. - Use a [convenience script](#install-using-the-convenience-script). Only recommended for testing and development environments. ### Install using the `apt` repository {#install-using-the-repository} Before you install Docker Engine for the first time on a new host machine, you need to set up the Docker `apt` repository. Afterward, you can install and update

This document provides instructions on how to install Docker Engine on Debian systems, including prerequisites, installation methods (using the apt repository, manually from a package, or via a convenience script), and how to uninstall conflicting packages and old versions. It also warns about firewall implications when using Docker.