---
description: Docker Desktop overview
keywords: Desktop, Docker, GUI, run, docker, local, machine
title: Docker Desktop overview
toc_min: 1
toc_max: 2
---

Docker Desktop is an easy-to-install application for your Mac or Windows environment that enables you to build and share containerized applications and microservices. Docker Desktop includes [Docker Engine](../engine/), Docker CLI client, [Docker Compose](../compose/), [Notary](../notary/getting_started/), [Kubernetes](https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/), and [Credential Helper](https://github.com/docker/docker-credential-helpers/).

Docker Desktop works with your choice of development tools and languages and gives you access to a vast library of certified images and templates in [Docker Hub](https://hub.docker.com/). This enables development teams to extend their environment to rapidly auto-build, continuously integrate and collaborate using a secure repository.

Some of the key features of Docker Desktop include:

* Ability to containerize and share any application on any cloud platform, in multiple languages and frameworks
* Easy installation and setup of a complete Docker development environment
* Includes the latest version of Kubernetes
* Automatic updates to keep you up to date and secure
* On Windows, the ability to toggle between Linux and Windows Server environments to build applications
* Fast and reliable performance with native Windows Hyper-V virtualization
* Ability to work natively on Linux through WSL 2 on Windows machines
* Volume mounting for code and data, including file change notifications and easy access to running containers on the localhost network
* In-container development and debugging with supported IDEs

## Download and install

Docker Desktop is available for Mac and Windows. For download information, system requirements, and installation instructions, see:

* [Install Docker Desktop on Mac](../docker-for-mac/install.md)
* [Install Docker Desktop on Windows](../docker-for-windows/install.md)

## Configure Docker Desktop

To learn about the various UI options and their usage, see:

* [Docker Desktop for Mac user manual](../docker-for-mac/index.md)
* [Docker Desktop for Windows user manual](../docker-for-windows/index.md)

## Release notes

For information about new features, improvements, and bug fixes in Docker Desktop releases, see:

* [Docker Desktop for Mac Release notes](../docker-for-mac/release-notes.md)
* [Docker Desktop for Windows Release notes](../docker-for-windows/release-notes.md)
