---
description: Download and install Docker Compose on Linux with this step-by-step handbook.
  This plugin can be installed manually or by using a repository.
keywords: install docker compose linux, docker compose linux, docker compose plugin,
  docker-compose-plugin, linux install docker compose, install docker-compose linux,
  linux install docker-compose, linux docker compose, docker compose v2 linux, install
  docker compose on linux
toc_max: 3
title: Install the Docker Compose plugin
linkTitle: Plugin
aliases:
- /compose/compose-plugin/
- /compose/compose-linux/
- /compose/install/compose-plugin/
weight: 10
---

This page contains instructions on how to install the Docker Compose plugin on Linux from the command line.

To install the Docker Compose plugin on Linux, you can either:
- [Set up Docker's repository on your Linux system](#install-using-the-repository).
- [Install manually](#install-the-plugin-manually).

> [!NOTE]
>
> These instructions assume you already have Docker Engine and Docker CLI installed and now want to install the Docker Compose plugin. 

## Install using the repository

1. Set up the repository. Find distribution-specific instructions in:

    [Ubuntu](/manuals/engine/install/ubuntu.md#install-using-the-repository) |
    [CentOS](/manuals/engine/install/centos.md#set-up-the-repository) |
    [Debian](/manuals/engine/install/debian.md#install-using-the-repository) |
    [Raspberry Pi OS](/manuals/engine/install/raspberry-pi-os.md#install-using-the-repository) |
    [Fedora](/manuals/engine/install/fedora.md#set-up-the-repository) |
    [RHEL](/manuals/engine/install/rhel.md#set-up-the-repository) |
    [SLES](/manuals/engine/install/sles.md#set-up-the-repository).

2. Update the package index, and install the latest version of Docker Compose:

    * For Ubuntu and Debian, run:

        ```console
        $ sudo apt-get update
        $ sudo apt-get install docker-compose-plugin
        ```
    * For RPM-based distributions, run:

        ```console
        $ sudo yum update
        $ sudo yum install docker-compose-plugin
        ```

3.  Verify that Docker Compose is installed correctly by checking the version.

    ```console
    $ docker compose version
    ```

### Update Docker Compose

To update the Docker Compose plugin, run the following commands:

* For Ubuntu and Debian, run:

    ```console
    $ sudo apt-get update
    $ sudo apt-get install docker-compose-plugin
    ```
* For RPM-based distributions, run:

    ```console
    $ sudo yum update
    $ sudo yum install docker-compose-plugin
    ```

## Install the plugin manually

> [!IMPORTANT]
>
> This option requires you to manage upgrades manually. It is recommended that you set up Docker's repository for easier maintenance.

1.  To download and install the Docker Compose CLI plugin, run:

    ```console
    $ DOCKER_CONFIG=${DOCKER_CONFIG:-$HOME/.docker}
    $ mkdir -p $DOCKER_CONFIG/cli-plugins
    $ curl -SL https://github.com/docker/compose/releases/download/{{% param "compose_version" %}}/docker-compose-linux-x86_64 -o $DOCKER_CONFIG/cli-plugins/docker-compose
    ```

    This command downloads and installs the latest release of Docker Compose for the active user under `$HOME` directory.

    To install:
    - Docker Compose for _all users_ on your system, replace `~/.docker/cli-plugins` with `/usr/local/lib/docker/cli-plugins`.
    - A different version of Compose, substitute `{{% param "compose_version" %}}` with the version of Compose you want to use.
    - For a different architecture, substitute `x86_64` with the [architecture you want](https://github.com/docker/compose/releases).   


2. Apply executable permissions to the binary:

    ```console
    $ chmod +x $DOCKER_CONFIG/cli-plugins/docker-compose
    ```
    or, if you chose to install Compose for all users:

    ```console
    $ sudo chmod +x /usr/local/lib/docker/cli-plugins/docker-compose
    ```

3. Test the installation.

    ```console
    $ docker compose version
    ```