Docker Desktop starting forever on Windows 11

Docker is a platform that allows users to build, share, and run modern applications. This tool can package software in standardized units called containers. These containers have everything needed to run libraries, tools, code, and runtime. But users have recently complained that Docker Desktop is starting forever in Windows 11. Fortunately, you can follow these simple tips to fix it.

Docker Desktop starting forever on Windows 11

If Docker Desktop starts forever on Windows 11, check for available updates for the app and install them. Also, reboot your device and see. If that doesn’t help, follow these suggestions:

1. Check system requirements
2. Restart the Docker service
3. Run Docker as administrator
4. Switch to Windows containers
5. Unregister Docker Desktop
6. Update WSL kernel version
7. Re-enable the WSL feature
8. Reinstall docker

Now let’s look at these in detail.

1]Check system requirements

Before you start with different troubleshooting methods, check if your device meets the minimum specifications to run Docker. The minimum requirements to run docker are:

Using the WSL 2 back-end

• Windows 11 64-bit: Home or Pro version 21H2 or higher, or Enterprise or Education version 21H2 or higher.
• Windows 10 64-bit: Home or Pro 21H1 (Build 19043) or higher, or Enterprise or Education 20H2 (Build 19042) or higher.
• Enable the WSL 2 feature in Windows.
• The following hardware prerequisites are required to successfully run WSL 2 on Windows 10 or Windows 11:
  • 64-bit processor with Second Level Address Translation (SLAT)
  • 4GB system RAM
  • BIOS-level hardware virtualization support must be enabled in BIOS setup. For more information, see Virtualization.
• Download and install the Linux kernel update package.

2]Restart the Docker service

The Docker service runs on a Docker host and manages the creation, execution, and removal of containers. It also offers APIs that other software can use to programmatically manage Docker containers. Restarting the service can help fix Docker startup errors. That is how:

1. press the windows key type Services and click open.
2. Look for the docker service.
3. Right click on the service and select Resume.

3]Run Docker as administrator

Running the app as administrator ensures that it doesn’t crash due to lack of permissions. To do so, right-click on the screen of your device. Docker Desktop.exe shortcut file and click Run this program as administrator.

4]Switch to Windows Containers

Docker may not check the operating system during installation. If that’s the case, it will automatically search for Linux containers. Switch to Windows containers and see if the Docker engine start error message is fixed. This is how you can do it:

1. Expand the System tray icon in the lower right corner of the taskbar.
2. Right click on the dockable desk icon.
3. Click on Switch to Windows containers.
4. A confirmation dialog will appear asking if you want to continue, click Change.
5. Close Docker and then restart it.

5]Unregister Docker Desktop

The following method requires you to unregister Docker Desktop. Unregistering the application will remove the connection between the application and your PC. That is how:

1. Open Windows PowerShell as administrator.
2. Type the following commands one by one and press Get into.

   wsl --unregister docker-desktop
   wsl --unregister docker-desktop-data

3. Reboot your device once done.

6]Update WSL core version

The docker app can take forever to start if you use it via the WSL 2 backend and it’s not updated to its latest version. Download and install the latest version of WSL Kernel to see if the error is fixed.

7]Re-enable the WSL function

Windows Subsystem for Linux or WSL allows you to run the Linux environment directly on Windows devices. Re-enabling this feature will disable and re-enable and fix docker startup issues. That is how:

1. press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Guy optional features and hit Get into.
3. The Windows Features dialog will now open; here, uncheck the Windows Subsystem for Linux option.
4. Click on OK to save your changes and close the Windows Features dialog.
5. Follow the above steps again and enable the Windows Subsystem for Linux option.

Read: I can’t connect to the Hyper-V virtual machine

8]Reinstall docker

If none of these methods can help you, reinstall the Docker application. This is known to help most of the users to fix this error.

We hope this post helps you.

How long does docker take to start?

Typically, the Docker application starts in ten seconds. However, this timeline may increase depending on various factors, such as the performance of your device and your running application.