Install Docker

Docker and Docker Compose, ready to run containers.

Tested on macOS 26 Tahoe · Oct 2026

Tested on Ubuntu 24.04 · Oct 2026

Tested on Windows 11 24H2 · Oct 2026

Install Docker Desktop
Terminal
```
brew install --cask docker-desktop
```
Start it
Terminal
```
open -a Docker
```
Wait for the whale icon in the menu bar to stop animating.

Check it worked

Run a test container
Terminal
```
docker run hello-world
```

Undo it

Uninstall Docker Desktop
Terminal
```
brew uninstall --cask docker-desktop
```

Install Docker Engine and ComposeNeeds sudo
Terminal · Ubuntu / Debian
```
curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sudo sh
```
Docker's official install script. Fine for a dev machine.
Use docker without sudoNeeds sudo
Terminal · Ubuntu / Debian
```
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER
newgrp docker
```

Check it worked

Run a test container
Terminal · Ubuntu / Debian
```
docker run hello-world
```

Undo it

Uninstall DockerNeeds sudo

Terminal · Ubuntu / Debian

sudo apt purge -y docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io docker-buildx-plugin docker-compose-plugin

Turn on WSL (Docker needs it)Run as administrator
PowerShell
```
wsl --install
```
Restart your PC when it finishes.
Install Docker Desktop
PowerShell
```
winget install Docker.DockerDesktop
```
Open Docker Desktop from the Start menu once to finish setup.

Check it worked

Run a test container
PowerShell
```
docker run hello-world
```

Undo it

Uninstall Docker Desktop
PowerShell
```
winget uninstall Docker.DockerDesktop
```