Install Docker Desktop

Relax. We'll talk through this in plain words — no textbook voice.

To start using Docker on your local computer, install Docker Desktop. It works on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and it packages Docker Engine, Docker CLI, and Docker Compose together so you can use them all in one place.

Steps to check after installing

1. Download and install Docker Desktop from the official Docker website.

2. Open the Docker Desktop app and wait for it to start running.

3. Open a terminal, Command Prompt, or PowerShell.

4. Check the version with the command below.

dockerfile

# Check Docker version
docker --version

# Check Docker Compose version
docker compose version

# Test Docker with a small hello-world image
docker run hello-world

docker --version checks whether the Docker CLI is installed. docker compose version checks whether the Compose command is available. docker run hello-world tests whether the Docker Engine is working, using a tiny image.

You should see

You'll see the version number printed, and the hello-world command will show a message confirming Docker can run a test container.

Easy traps

If WSL 2 isn't fully set up on Windows, Docker Desktop won't be able to start. Follow the requirement message that Docker Desktop shows and update WSL.