---
description: Instructions on how to enable nested virtualization
keywords: nested virtualization, Docker Desktop, windows, VM, VDI environment
title: Run Docker Desktop for Windows in a VM or VDI environment
linkTitle: VM or VDI environments
aliases:
 - /desktop/nested-virtualization/
 - /desktop/vm-vdi/
weight: 30
---

Docker recommends running Docker Desktop natively on Mac, Linux, or Windows. However, Docker Desktop for Windows can run inside a virtual desktop provided the virtual desktop is properly configured.

To run Docker Desktop in a virtual desktop environment, you have two options,
depending on whether nested virtualization is supported:

- If your environment supports nested virtualization, you can run Docker Desktop
  with its default local Linux VM.
- If nested virtualization is not supported, Docker recommends using Docker
  Cloud. To join the beta, contact Docker at `docker-cloud@docker.com`.

## Use Docker Cloud 

{{< summary-bar feature_name="Docker Cloud" >}}

Docker Cloud lets you offload container workloads to a high-performance,
fully hosted cloud environment, enabling a seamless hybrid experience. It
includes an insights dashboard that offers performance metrics and environment
management to help optimize your development workflow.

This mode is useful in virtual desktop environments where nested virtualization
isn't supported. In these environments, Docker Desktop defaults to using
cloud mode to ensure you can still build and run containers without relying on
local virtualization.

Docker Cloud decouples the Docker Desktop client from the Docker Engine,
allowing the Docker CLI and Docker Desktop Dashboard to interact with
cloud-based resources as if they were local. When you run a container, Docker
provisions a secure, isolated, and ephemeral cloud environment connected to
Docker Desktop via an SSH tunnel. Despite running remotely, features like bind
mounts and port forwarding continue to work seamlessly, providing a local-like
experience. To use Docker Cloud:

1. Contact Docker at `docker-cloud@docker.com` to activate the feature for your
   account.
2. [Install Docker Desktop](/manuals/desktop/setup/install/windows-install.md#install-docker-desktop-on-windows)
   version 4.42 or later on your Windows virtual desktop.
3. [Start Docker Desktop](/manuals/desktop/setup/install/windows-install.md#start-docker-desktop).
4. Sign in to Docker Desktop.

After you sign in, Docker Cloud is enabled by default and cannot be
disabled. When enabled, Docker Desktop's Dashboard header appears purple and the
cloud-mode toggle is a cloud icon ({{< inline-image
src="./images/cloud-mode.png" alt="Cloud mode icon" >}}).

In this mode, Docker Desktop mirrors your cloud environment, providing
a seamless view of your containers and resources running on Docker Cloud. You
can verify that Docker Cloud is working by running a simple container. In a
terminal on your virtual desktop, run the following command:

```console
$ docker run hello-world
```

In the terminal, you will see `Hello from Docker!` if everything is working
correctly.

### View insights and manage Docker Cloud

For insights and management, use the [Docker Cloud
Dashboard](https://app.docker.com/cloud). It provides visibility into your
builds, runs, and cloud resource usage. Key features include:

- Overview: Monitor cloud usage, build cache, and top repositories built.
- Build history: Review past builds with filtering and sorting options.
- Run history: Track container runs and sort by various options.
- Integrations: Learn how to set up cloud builders and runners for your CI
  pipeline.
- Settings: Manage cloud builders, usage, and account settings.

Access the Docker Cloud Dashboard at https://app.docker.com/cloud.

### Limitations

The following limitations apply when using Docker Cloud:

- Persistence: Containers are launched in a cloud engine that remains available
  as long as you interact with and consume the containers' output. After closing
  Docker Desktop, or about 30 minutes of inactivity, the engine is shut down and