---
description: Learn how to install, launch and upgrade Docker Desktop on Ubuntu. This quick guide will cover prerequisites, installation methods, and more.
keywords: install docker ubuntu, ubuntu install docker, install docker on ubuntu, docker install ubuntu, how to install docker on ubuntu, ubuntu docker install, docker installation on ubuntu, docker ubuntu install, docker installing ubuntu, installing docker on ubuntu, docker desktop for ubuntu
title: Install Docker Desktop on Ubuntu
toc_max: 4
redirect_from:
  - /desktop/linux/install/ubuntu/
---

This page contains information on how to install, launch and upgrade Docker Desktop on an Ubuntu distribution.

[DEB package](https://desktop.docker.com/linux/main/amd64/docker-desktop-4.17.0-amd64.deb?utm_source=docker&utm_medium=webreferral&utm_campaign=docs-driven-download-linux-amd64){: .button .primary-btn }

_For checksums, see [Release notes](../release-notes.md)_

## Prerequisites

To install Docker Desktop successfully, you must:

- Meet the [system requirements](linux-install.md#system-requirements)
- Have a 64-bit version of either Ubuntu Jammy Jellyfish 22.04 (LTS) or Ubuntu Impish Indri 21.10.
  Docker Desktop is supported on `x86_64` (or `amd64`) architecture.
- For non-Gnome Desktop environments, `gnome-terminal` must be installed:
  ```console
  $ sudo apt install gnome-terminal
  ```
- Uninstall the tech preview or beta version of Docker Desktop for Linux. Run:

  ```console
  $ sudo apt remove docker-desktop
  ```

  For a complete cleanup, remove configuration and data files at `$HOME/.docker/desktop`, the symlink at `/usr/local/bin/com.docker.cli`, and purge the remaining systemd service files.

  ```console
  $ rm -r $HOME/.docker/desktop
  $ sudo rm /usr/local/bin/com.docker.cli
  $ sudo apt purge docker-desktop
  ```

  > **Note**
  >
  > If you have installed the Docker Desktop for Linux tech preview or beta version, you need to remove all files that were generated by those packages (e.g., `~/.config/systemd/user/docker-desktop.service`, `~/.local/share/systemd/user/docker-desktop.service`).

## Install Docker Desktop

Recommended approach to install Docker Desktop on Ubuntu:

1. Set up [Docker's package repository](../../engine/install/ubuntu.md#set-up-the-repository).

2. Download latest [DEB package](https://desktop.docker.com/linux/main/amd64/docker-desktop-4.17.0-amd64.deb?utm_source=docker&utm_medium=webreferral&utm_campaign=docs-driven-download-linux-amd64).

3. Install the package with apt as follows:

   ```console
   $ sudo apt-get update
   $ sudo apt-get install ./docker-desktop-<version>-<arch>.deb
   ```

   > **Note**
   >
   > At the end of the installation process, `apt` displays an error due to installing a downloaded package. You
   > can ignore this error message.
   >
   > ```
   > N: Download is performed unsandboxed as root, as file '/home/user/Downloads/docker-desktop.deb' couldn't be accessed by user '_apt'. - pkgAcquire::Run (13: Permission denied)
   > ```

There are a few post-install configuration steps done through the post-install script contained in the deb package.

The post-install script:

- Sets the capability on the Docker Desktop binary to map privileged ports and set resource limits.
- Adds a DNS name for Kubernetes to `/etc/hosts`.
- Creates a link from `/usr/bin/docker` to `/usr/local/bin/com.docker.cli`.

## Launch Docker Desktop

{% include desktop-linux-launch.md %}

## Upgrade Docker Desktop

Once a new version for Docker Desktop is released, the Docker UI shows a notification.
You need to download the new package each time you want to upgrade Docker Desktop and run:

```console
$ sudo apt-get install ./docker-desktop-<version>-<arch>.deb
```

## Next steps

- Take a look at the [Get started](../../get-started/index.md) training modules to learn how to build an image and run it as a containerized application.
- Review the topics in [Develop with Docker](../../develop/index.md) to learn how to build new applications using Docker.
