## Install and run Docker Desktop on Mac

> [!TIP]
>
> See the [FAQs](/manuals/desktop/troubleshoot-and-support/faqs/general.md#how-do-I-run-docker-desktop-without-administrator-privileges) on how to install and run Docker Desktop without needing administrator privileges.

### Install interactively

1. Download the installer using the download buttons at the top of the page, or from the [release notes](/manuals/desktop/release-notes.md).

2. Double-click `Docker.dmg` to open the installer, then drag the Docker icon to the **Applications** folder. By default, Docker Desktop is installed at `/Applications/Docker.app`.

3. Double-click `Docker.app` in the **Applications** folder to start Docker.

4. The Docker menu displays the Docker Subscription Service Agreement.

    Here’s a summary of the key points: 
    - Docker Desktop is free for small businesses (fewer than 250 employees AND less than $10 million in annual revenue), personal use, education, and non-commercial open source projects.
    - Otherwise, it requires a paid subscription for professional use.
    - Paid subscriptions are also required for government entities.
    - Docker Pro, Team, and Business subscriptions include commercial use of Docker Desktop.

5. Select **Accept** to continue. 

   Note that Docker Desktop won't run if you do not agree to the terms. You can choose to accept the terms at a later date by opening Docker Desktop.

   For more information, see [Docker Desktop Subscription Service Agreement](https://www.docker.com/legal/docker-subscription-service-agreement). It is recommended that you also read the [FAQs](https://www.docker.com/pricing/faq).

6. From the installation window, select either: 
   - **Use recommended settings (Requires password)**. This lets Docker Desktop automatically set the necessary configuration settings. 
   - **Use advanced settings**. You can then set the location of the Docker CLI tools either in the system or user directory, enable the default Docker socket, and enable privileged port mapping. See [Settings](/manuals/desktop/settings-and-maintenance/settings.md#advanced), for more information and how to set the location of the Docker CLI tools.
7. Select **Finish**. If you have applied any of the previous configurations that require a password in step 6, enter your password to confirm your choice.  

### Install from the command line

After downloading `Docker.dmg` from either the download buttons at the top of the page or from the [release notes](/manuals/desktop/release-notes.md), run the following commands in a terminal to install Docker Desktop in the **Applications** folder:

```console
$ sudo hdiutil attach Docker.dmg
$ sudo /Volumes/Docker/Docker.app/Contents/MacOS/install
$ sudo hdiutil detach /Volumes/Docker
```

By default, Docker Desktop is installed at `/Applications/Docker.app`. As macOS typically performs security checks the first time an application is used, the `install` command can take several minutes to run.

#### Installer flags

The `install` command accepts the following flags:

##### Installation behavior

- `--accept-license`: Accepts the [Docker Subscription Service Agreement](https://www.docker.com/legal/docker-subscription-service-agreement) now, rather than requiring it to be accepted when the application is first run.
- `--user=<username>`: Performs the privileged configurations once during installation. This removes the need for the user to grant root privileges on first run. For more information, see [Privileged helper permission requirements](/manuals/desktop/setup/install/mac-permission-requirements.md#permission-requirements). To find the username, enter `ls /Users` in the CLI.