Install Docker on Windows with WSL2 (Step-by-Step 2026)

Here is how to install Docker on Windows using WSL2 in 2026. Tested and verified.

Option 1: Docker Desktop (GUI)

1. Download Docker Desktop from https://www.docker.com/products/docker-desktop/
2. Run the installer — ensure “Use WSL 2 instead of Hyper-V” is checked
3. Restart your computer

# Verify in PowerShell
docker --version
docker run hello-world

Option 2: Docker Engine Inside WSL2 (No Desktop)

# Inside WSL2 Ubuntu
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y ca-certificates curl gnupg

# Add Docker repository
sudo install -m 0755 -d /etc/apt/keyrings
curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.gpg
echo "deb [arch=$(dpkg --print-architecture) signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/docker.gpg] https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu $(. /etc/os-release && echo "$VERSION_CODENAME") stable" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list

# Install
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io docker-compose-plugin

# Start Docker (WSL2 doesn't use systemd by default)
sudo service docker start

# Add user to docker group
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER

Related Resources

• Docker Cheat Sheet
• Podman vs Docker
• Install Docker on macOS