Docker is a set of products that uses operating system-level virtualization to deliver software in packages called containers. Docker automates the deployment of applications within lightweight containers, enabling them to run consistently across different computing environments.
The core software that runs and manages these containers is called Docker Engine. Docker was first released in 2013 and continues to be developed by Docker, Inc. The platform includes both free and paid tiers.
Solomon Hykes[fr] started the Docker project in France as an internal project within dotCloud, a platform-as-a-service company.
dotCloud Inc. was founded by Kamel Founadi, Hykes, and Sebastien Pahl during the Y Combinator Summer 2010 startup incubator group and launched in 2011, and renamed to Docker Inc in 2013.
Docker debuted to the public in Santa Clara at PyCon in 2013. It was released as open-source in March 2013. At the time, it used LXC as its default execution environment. One year later, with the release of version 0.9, Docker replaced LXC with its own component, libcontainer, which was written in the Go programming language.
From the Wikipedia article “Docker (software)”, CC BY-SA 4.0
What is Docker Desktop?
Docker Desktop by Docker Inc. (developed by Docker, Inc.) is proprietary Windows software in the containers & devops category. It ranks 3rd by popularity among containers & devops in this catalogue. The first release dates back to 2013. It is written in Go. Besides Windows, it is available for Linux, macOS and Unix-like operating system.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides EXE installers for 64-bit and ARM64 Windows. The main installer is 641.8 MB. Installation asks for administrator rights. A silent install is possible with the installer’s documented switches.
Updates and version history
The current version is 4.96.3, released on October 22, 2026. The version history goes back to March 30, 2021: 150 releases, all linked to the official files. That is about 27 releases a year. The last update is less than a month old.
Popularity and file types
The Chocolatey package has been downloaded 2,226,463 times. Wikipedia has an article about it in 35 of our languages. Similar programs include Kubernetes - Minikube - A Local Kubernetes Development Environment, Helm and Pulumi.
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Native ARM64 build for Windows on Arm
- Documented silent install
- Frequent updates (about 27 a year)
- Also runs on Linux, macOS and Unix-like operating system
- Large user base
- Mature project (since 2013)
Cons
- Proprietary licence: check the terms and price
- Installation needs administrator rights
- Large download (641.8 MB)
In short: Docker Desktop is a containers & devop tool for 64-bit and ARM64 PCs. It is actively maintained. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Screenshots
Is Docker Desktop safe to download?
- The file is served by desktop.docker.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
3D8ADAD4F6C86583E0B00EA19A76197C51CCF5C83437C9ED775B739756452507· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link answered when we last checked it (October 24, 2026)
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 150 versions ›150 versions over 6 years · about 27 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.96.3Latest | October 22, 2026 | 641.8 MB | ARM64 EXE64-bit EXE |
| 4.96.2 | October 22, 2026 | 650.9 MB | ARM64 EXE64-bit EXE |
| 4.96.1 | October 21, 2026 | 651.1 MB | ARM64 EXE64-bit EXE |
| 4.96.0 | October 19, 2026 | 650.5 MB | 64-bit EXEARM64 EXE |
| 4.95.0 | October 9, 2026 | 636.8 MB | 64-bit EXEARM64 EXE |
| 4.94.0 | October 2, 2026 | 635.5 MB | 64-bit EXEARM64 EXE |
| 4.93.0 | September 24, 2026 | 627.8 MB | ARM64 EXE64-bit EXE |
| 4.92.0 | September 17, 2026 | 625.2 MB | ARM64 EXE64-bit EXE |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id Docker.DockerDesktop -echoco install docker-desktop -yscoop install main/docker"Docker Desktop Installer.exe" install --quietRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Also for other systems
brew install --cask docker-desktopInformation
- Publisher
- Docker Inc.
- Developer
- Docker, Inc.
- Category
- Containers & DevOps
- Licence
- Proprietary
- Price
- See the publisher’s site
- Written in
- Go
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit, ARM64
- Installer
- EXE
- Other platforms
- Linux, macOS, Unix-like operating system
- Version
- 4.96.3
- Released
- October 22, 2026
- First release
- 2013
- Added to the catalogue
- March 30, 2021
- Versions listed
- 150
- Updates / year
- 27
- Chocolatey downloads
- 2,226,463
- Website
- docker.com
- winget ID
- Docker.DockerDesktop
- Chocolatey package
- docker-desktop
- Scoop package
- main/docker
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
Alternatives to Docker Desktop
See all ›-
Kubernetes - Minikube - A Local Kubernetes Development Environment1.39.0minikube quickly sets up a local Kubernetes cluster on macOS, Linux, and Windows. We proudly focus on helping application developers and new Kubernetes users.Open source747.8K ↓ -
Open source1.6M ↓ -
Open source395.6K ↓ -
Serverless Framework3.39.0Build applications on AWS Lambda and other next-gen cloud services, that auto-scale and only charge you when they run.Open source84.9K ↓ -
Open source2.3M ↓ -
Open source299.3K ↓ -
Syft1.54.1CLI tool and library for generating a Software Bill of Materials from container images and filesystemsOpen source180.8K ↓ -
Open source69.7K ↓
Frequently asked questions
Is Docker Desktop free?
Docker Desktop is proprietary (closed-source) software (licence: Proprietary). Whether it costs money depends on the edition: check the publisher’s site for prices and free tiers.
Is Docker Desktop safe to download?
The download comes from desktop.docker.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install Docker Desktop with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can Docker Desktop be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Does Docker Desktop run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
Yes, there is a native ARM64 installer.
Where can I download an older version of Docker Desktop?
The versions page lists all 150 versions with links to their official installer files, back to March 30, 2021.
What are alternatives to Docker Desktop?
Kubernetes - Minikube - A Local Kubernetes Development Environment, Helm, Pulumi, Serverless Framework and Puppet Agent. The alternatives page compares them.
