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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Looking for popular FAQs on Docker for Windows? Check out the Docker Knowledge Hub for knowledge base articles, FAQs, technical support for various subscription levels, and more.

Questions about stable and beta channels

Q: How do I get the stable or beta version of Docker for Windows?

A: Use the download links for the channels given in the topic Download Docker for Windows.

This topic also has more information about the two channels.

Q: What is the difference between the stable and beta versions of Docker for Windows?

A: Two different download channels are available for Docker for Windows:

  • The stable channel provides a general availability release-ready installer for a fully baked and tested, more reliable app. The stable version of Docker for Windows comes with the latest released version of Docker Engine. The release schedule is synched with Docker Engine releases and hotfixes.

  • The beta channel provides an installer with new features we are working on, but is not necessarily fully tested. It comes with the experimental version of Docker Engine. Bugs, crashes and issues are more likely to occur with the beta app, but you get a chance to preview new functionality, experiment, and provide feedback as the apps evolve. Releases are typically more frequent than for stable, often one or more per month.

Q: Can I switch back and forth between stable and beta versions of Docker for Windows?

A: Yes, you can switch between versions to try out the betas to see what's new, then go back to stable for other work. However, you can have only one app installed at a time. Switching back and forth between stable and beta apps can de-stabilize your development environment, particularly in cases where you switch from a newer (beta) channel to older (stable).

For example, containers created with a newer beta version of Docker for Windows may not work after you switch back to stable because they may have been created leveraging beta features that aren't in stable yet. Just keep this in mind as you create and work with beta containers, perhaps in the spirit of a playground space where you are prepared to troubleshoot or start over.

To safely switch between beta and stable versions be sure to save images and export the containers you need, then uninstall the current version before installing another. The workflow is described in more detail below.

Do the following each time:

  1. Use docker save to save any images you want to keep. (See save in the Docker Engine command line reference.)

  2. Use docker export to export containers you want to keep. (See export in the Docker Engine command line reference.)

  3. Uninstall the current app (whether stable or beta).

  4. Install a different version of the app (stable or beta).

What kind of feedback are we looking for?

Everything is fair game. We'd like your impressions on the download-install process, startup, functionality available, the GUI, usefulness of the app, command line integration, and so on. Tell us about problems, what you like, or functionality you'd like to see added.

We are especially interested in getting feedback on the new swarm mode described in Docker Swarm. A good place to start is the tutorial.

What if I have problems or questions?

You can find the list of frequent issues in Logs and Troubleshooting.

If you do not find a solution in Troubleshooting, browse issues on Docker for Windows issues on GitHub or create a new one. You can also create new issues based on diagnostics. To learn more about running diagnostics and about Docker for Windows GitHub issues, see Diagnose and Feedback.

Docker for Windows forum provides discussion threads as well, and you can create discussion topics there, but we recommend using the GitHub issues over the forums for better tracking and response.

Can I use Docker for Windows with new swarm mode?

Yes! You can use Docker for Windows to test single-node features of swarm mode introduced with Docker Engine 1.12, including initializing a swarm with a single node, creating services, and scaling services. Docker “Moby” on Hyper-V will serve as the single swarm node. You can also use Docker Machine, which comes with Docker for Windows, to create and experiment with a multi-node swarm. Check out the tutorial at Get started with swarm mode.

How do I connect to the remote Docker Engine API?

You might need to provide the location of the remote API for Docker clients and development tools.

On Docker for Windows, clients can connect to the Docker Engine through a named pipe: npipe:////./pipe/docker_engine, or TCP socket at this URL: http://localhost:2375.

This sets DOCKER_HOST and DOCKER_CERT_PATH environment variables to the given values (for the named pipe or TCP socket, whichever you use).

See also Docker Remote API and the Docker for Windows forums topic How to find the remote API.

Why doesn't nodemon pick up file changes in a container mounted on a shared drive?

Currently, inotify does not work on Docker for Windows. This is a known issue. For more information and a temporary workaround, see inotify on shared drives does not work in Troubleshooting.

Why does Docker for Windows sometimes lose network connectivity (e.g., push/pull doesn't work)?

Networking is not yet fully stable across network changes and system sleep cycles. Exit and start Docker to restore connectivity.

Can I use VirtualBox alongside Docker 4 Windows?

Unfortunately, VirtualBox (and other hypervisors like VMWare) cannot run when Hyper-V is enabled on Windows.

Why is Windows 10 Home not supported?

Docker for Windows requires the Hyper-V Windows feature which is not available on Home-edition.

Why is Windows 10 required?

Docker for Windows uses Windows Hyper-V. While older Windows versions have Hyper-V, their Hyper-V implementations lack features critical for Docker for Windows to work.

Why does Docker for Windows fail to start when firewalls or anti-virus software is installed?

Comodo Firewall currently is incompatible with Hyper-V and some Windows 10 builds (possibly, the Anniversary Update), which impacts Docker for Windows. Other firewalls and anti-virus software might also be incompatible with these Microsoft Windows 10 buids. See details and workarounds in Docker fails to start when Comodo Firewall is installed in Troubleshooting.

How do I uninstall Docker Toolbox?

You might decide that you do not need Toolbox now that you have Docker for Windows, and want to uninstall it. For details on how to perform a clean uninstall of Toolbox on Windows, see How to uninstall Toolbox in the Toolbox Windows topics.