How to Set Up Docker Desktop on Mac

Edited 1 week ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

Docker DesktopMacInstallationSetupSoftwareConfigurationBeginnersSoftware DevelopmentDevOpsCloud Computing

Docker is a powerful tool that helps developers build, deploy, and manage applications inside containers. Containers are lightweight, portable, and ensure consistency across different environments. Docker Desktop is the simplest way to get started with Docker on your computer, providing a user-friendly interface and easy installation process. This guide will walk you through the setup of Docker Desktop on Mac, detailing every step so that even people with basic knowledge can install and use Docker effectively.

Understanding Docker

Before moving on to the installation, it is important to understand what Docker is and what problem it solves. Traditional software development often faces problems like “It works on my machine!”. This is due to the differences in the environments where the code is developed and where it runs. Docker solves this by packaging applications and their dependencies into containers that run identically wherever they are deployed.

Docker containers are platform-independent and deploy consistently across a variety of environments, including physical machines, virtual machines, the cloud, on-premises, and more. This flexibility is what has made Docker an essential part of modern software development practices.

Prerequisites to install Docker Desktop on Mac

To install Docker Desktop on Mac, make sure you meet the following prerequisites:

• Mac hardware must be a 2010 model or newer that supports macOS Sierra 10.12 or newer.
• 4GB RAM or more.
• Valid and stable internet connection to download Docker Desktop for Mac.
• Administrative privileges to install software on your Mac.

Downloading Docker Desktop for Mac

Follow these steps to download Docker Desktop for Mac:

1. Open your web browser and go to the official website of Docker Desktop.
2. Find the "Docker Desktop for Mac" section and click the "Download" button.
3. The download should begin immediately, or you may be asked to select a download location. Choose a location that you can easily access.
4. Wait for the download to complete. The file size is usually a few hundred megabytes, so it may take a while depending on your internet speed.

Installing Docker Desktop on Mac

Once downloaded, you can proceed with the installation:

1. Go to the location where the Docker Desktop installer was downloaded.
2. Double-click the Docker.dmg file to open it.
3. A window with the Docker app icon and the Applications folder should appear. Drag and drop the Docker app icon into the Applications folder to begin the installation.
4. Once the installation is complete, Docker Desktop will be available in your Applications folder.

Launching Docker Desktop

To launch Docker Desktop after installation:

1. Open the Applications folder from Finder.
2. Find the Docker app icon and double-click on it.
3. Docker will start and you'll see a whale icon on your Mac's menu bar, indicating that Docker is running.
4. When launched for the first time, you may be asked to authorize Docker. Enter your username and password to proceed.

Once opened, Docker Desktop can provide you with a tutorial and several tips on using Docker, which is useful if you're new to the software.

Configuring Docker Desktop

Docker desktop settings can be adjusted to suit your needs and preferences. Here are some common configurations:

1. Resource allocation

Docker Desktop allows you to allocate system resources such as CPU, memory, and disk space to Docker containers. To configure these:

• Click on the Docker icon in the menu bar.
• Choose Preferences → Resources.
• Adjust the sliders to allocate the desired amount of CPU and memory. Note that these resources are from your Mac, so make sure you leave enough resources for other applications.

2. Docker Hub login

Docker Hub is a cloud-based registry that enables you to link to code repositories and build your own images. To log in to Docker Hub:

• Click on the Docker icon in the menu bar.
• Select Sign in/Create Docker ID.
• Enter your Docker Hub credentials, or create an account if you don’t have one.

3. Docker daemon configuration

You may need to configure the behavior of the Docker daemon. This includes adding HTTP proxy settings or configuring different storage backends. To do this:

• Click on the Docker icon in the menu bar.
• Go to Preferences → Docker Engine.
• Perform the necessary configuration in the available JSON editor.

Testing the Docker installation

After you install and configure Docker Desktop, it's important to test your setup to make sure everything is working correctly. The easiest way to do this is to run a simple Docker container. Follow these steps:

1. Open the Terminal application on your Mac.
2. To check the Docker version, run the following command:

docker --version

If Docker is installed correctly, this command will return the Docker version information.

3. Now, let's test running a simple container with the hello-world image. Execute the following command:

docker run hello-world

This command downloads the hello-world image from Docker Hub and runs it in the container. If everything is set up correctly, you will see a message from the container stating that the Docker installation worked correctly.

Basic Docker commands

After Docker is installed, you can start using some basic Docker commands to familiarize yourself with its operation. Here is a list of some useful commands:

• docker images – Lists all the Docker images available on your local machine.
• docker ps - Lists all running Docker containers.
• docker ps -a - Lists all Docker containers, both running and stopped.
• docker stop [container_id] – Stops a running container.
• docker start [container_id] – Starts a stopped container.
• docker rm [container_id] – Removes a container.
• docker rmi [image_id] – Deletes an image.

Explore Docker Compose

Docker Compose is a tool for defining and running multi-container Docker applications. With Compose, you define a multi-container application in a single file, then spin up your application in a single command. Docker Compose is particularly useful when working with microservices architectures.

Here is a simple example of docker-compose.yml file:

version: '3'
services:
  web:
    image: nginx
    ports:
      - "8080:80"
  redis:
    image: "redis:alpine"

This Docker Compose file defines a web service using the nginx image and a Redis service using the Redis image. To start this setup, run:

docker-compose up

The above command starts both the web and Redis services, making them accessible from your Mac. This ability to define multi-container environments is what makes Docker Compose so powerful.

Updating Docker Desktop

It's very important to keep Docker Desktop up-to-date because updates include new features, improvements, and security patches. Docker Desktop will automatically notify you of new updates. However, you can also manually check for updates from the Docker menu:

• Click on the Docker icon in the menu bar.
• Select Check for Updates...

In case of any issues related to the update, visit the Docker Help Center or their community forums for solutions and discussions.

Uninstalling Docker Desktop

If you need to uninstall Docker Desktop from your Mac, follow these steps:

• Open Finder, go to your Applications folder.
• Find the Docker app, right-click, and select Move to Trash.
• Optionally, you can delete additional Docker-related files from the following locations to ensure that all configuration and cached data are removed:

/Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/com.docker.vmnetd
/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.docker.vmnetd.plist
~/Library/Containers/com.docker.docker
~/Library/Group Containers/group.com.docker

• After deleting these files, empty the Trash to finalize the uninstallation.

Conclusion

Setting up Docker Desktop on a Mac is a straightforward process that provides access to a powerful platform for containers. With Docker, developers can ensure consistent environments from development to production. Whether you're running a single container or organizing complex multi-container environments with Docker Compose, Docker Desktop makes these processes efficient and accessible.

This guide has shown you how to download, install, configure, and test Docker Desktop on your Mac. Now you're ready to start your journey with Docker. Use this technology to develop seamlessly across different environments and platforms, adopting a modern software development workflow.

  Share This Article

If you find anything wrong with the article content, you can request an update