---
description: Explore the Learning center and understand the benefits of signing in to Docker Desktop
keywords: Docker Dashboard, manage, containers, gui, dashboard, images, user manual, learning center, guide, sign in
title: Learning Center and sign in
redirect_from:
- /desktop/linux/
- /desktop/linux/index/
- /desktop/mac/
- /desktop/mac/index/
- /desktop/windows/
- /desktop/windows/index/
- /docker-for-mac/
- /docker-for-mac/index/
- /docker-for-mac/osx/
- /docker-for-mac/started/
- /docker-for-windows/
- /docker-for-windows/index/
- /docker-for-windows/started/
- /mac/
- /mac/started/
- /mackit/
- /mackit/getting-started/
- /win/
- /windows/
- /windows/started/
- /winkit/
- /winkit/getting-started/
---

## Learning Center

The Learning Center helps you get started with quick in-app walkthroughs and other resources for learning about Docker.

To access the Learning Center, select the **Learning Center** tab in Docker
Desktop.

![Learning Center](images/learning-center.png)

For a more detailed guide about getting started, see
[Get started](../get-started/index.md).

## Sign in to Docker Desktop

Docker recommends that you authenticate using the **Sign in** option in the top-right corner of the Docker Dashboard.

Once logged in, you can access your Docker Hub repositories directly from Docker Desktop.

Authenticated users get a higher pull rate limit compared to anonymous users. For example, if you are authenticated, you get 200 pulls per 6 hour period, compared to 100 pulls per 6 hour period per IP address for anonymous users. For more information, see [Download rate limit](../docker-hub/download-rate-limit.md).

In large enterprises where admin access is restricted, administrators can [Configure registry.json to enforce sign-in](../docker-hub/configure-sign-in.md). Enforcing developers to authenticate through Docker Desktop also allows administrators to improve their organization’s security posture for containerized development by taking advantage of [Hardened Desktop](hardened-desktop/index.md).

> **Note**
>
> Docker Desktop automatically signs you out after 90 days, or after 30 days of inactivity. 

### Credentials management for Linux users

Docker Desktop relies on [`pass`](https://www.passwordstore.org/){: target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="_"} to store credentials in gpg2-encrypted files.
Before signing in to Docker Hub from the Docker Dashboard or the Docker menu, you must initialize `pass`.
Docker Desktop displays a warning if you've not initialized `pass`.

You can initialize pass by using a gpg key. To generate a gpg key, run:

``` console
$ gpg --generate-key
``` 

The following is an example similar to what you see once you run the previous command:

```console
...
GnuPG needs to construct a user ID to identify your key.

Real name: Molly
Email address: molly@example.com
You selected this USER-ID:
    "Molly <molly@example.com>"

Change (N)ame, (E)mail, or (O)kay/(Q)uit? O
...
pub   rsa3072 2022-03-31 [SC] [expires: 2024-03-30]
      <generated gpg-id public key>
uid                      Molly <molly@example.com>
sub   rsa3072 2022-03-31 [E] [expires: 2024-03-30]
```

To initialize `pass`, run the following command using the public key generated from the previous command:

```console
$ pass init <generated gpg-id public key>
``` 
The following is an example similar to what you see once you run the previous command:

```console
mkdir: created directory '/home/molly/.password-store/'
Password store initialized for <generated gpg-id public key>
```

Once you initialize `pass`, you can sign in on the Docker Dashboard and pull your private images.
When Docker CLI or Docker Desktop use credentials, a user prompt may pop up for the password you set during the gpg key generation.

```console
$ docker pull molly/privateimage
Using default tag: latest
latest: Pulling from molly/privateimage
3b9cc81c3203: Pull complete 
Digest: sha256:3c6b73ce467f04d4897d7a7439782721fd28ec9bf62ea2ad9e81a5fb7fb3ff96
Status: Downloaded newer image for molly/privateimage:latest
docker.io/molly/privateimage:latest
```
## What's next?

- [Explore Docker Desktop](use-desktop/index.md) and its features. 
- Change your Docker Desktop settings
- [Browse common FAQs](faqs/general.md)