Docker Daemon not running on windows 11

Question

I am a beginner into Docker stuff, I am on windows 11 and whenever I try to open docker desktop it doesn't open. Always this error message shows up, also whenever I try to run docker ps or docker images or anything related to docker it always shows this error can anyone help

I have turned on hyper-v, wsl etc but nothing seems to work

Sarnoff

Answer 1

That is followed by docker/for-win issue 12413, and this question (which suggests a fresh installation of Windows 11 itself!)

Only workaround so far (to avoid reinstalling W11):

I tried reinstalling a couple times and different versions and nothing worked, the UI would just never show up.

The only solution really was to delete C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Docker and C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Docker Desktop.

Eyas

Answer 2

I had the same issue, tried to get assistance from docker support and did lota google but nothing worked. I had a gut feeling that the issue was not within the Docker Desktop as i have tried all the options including deleting docker appdata etc. sov, i started investigating WSL and noticed the distros docker-desktop-data, docker-desktop was in stopped & uninstalling state. These states never changed and appears even after uninstalling Docker desktop and windows reboot.

PowerShell (admin)

wsl -l -v

I removed those distros after uninstalling docker desktop completely (including deleting docker folders from appdata manually)

PowerShell (admin)

wsl --unregister "DistributionName"

Replacing "DistributionName" with the name of your targeted distribution will unregister that distribution from WSL so it can be reinstalled or cleaned up. Caution: Once unregistered, all data, settings, and software associated with that distribution will be permanently lost. Reinstalling from the store will install a clean copy of the distribution. For example, wsl --unregister "DistributionName" would remove "DistributionName" from the distributions available in WSL. Running wsl --list will reveal that it is no longer listed.

PowerShell (admin)

wsl --unregister docker-desktop-data

wsl --unregister docker-desktop

Finally, reinstalled Docker desktop and its associated applications. It started working perfectly!

Chinfest

THANK YOU! You saved my dev environment! I thought I was gonna go crazy deleting the APPDATA\Docker folder like literally every other google result says, and only this solution ACTUALLY HELPED ME! – Mattison

Answer 3

I was facing similar issue with Windows 10 and Docker Desktop 4.16.3 (96739) I had disabled WSL2 based engine.

Just executed below command using Power shell( admin):

wsl --unregister docker-desktop-data

wsl --unregister docker-desktop

And my issue got solved like snap of finger.

Thanks

Superfecundation

Answer 4

After trying all the solutions listed here and nothing worked for me, i simply reinstalled wls2 from windows app store. and everything worked fine for me.

Doxy