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WSL2 + Docker Desktop on Windows 11

Run a real Linux kernel alongside Windows and containerize workloads with Docker Desktop -- the standard dev environment setup for Windows 11.

Target: Windows 11 (or Windows 10 2004+)DevelopmentContainersOfficial homepage ↗Official docs ↗
This guide is synthesized from WSL2 + Docker Desktop on Windows 11's own official documentation, linked above — always cross-check exact package/version names there before running these commands on a production server, since distro and project versions move over time.

  1. 1Install WSL2

    Open PowerShell as Administrator and run the built-in installer -- it enables the required Windows features, downloads a Linux kernel, and installs Ubuntu by default.

    wsl --install

    A restart is required after this command finishes.

  2. 2Complete the Ubuntu first-run setup

    After restarting, Ubuntu launches automatically and asks for a new UNIX username and password for that Linux environment.

  3. 3Install Docker Desktop

    Run the installer, keep "Use WSL 2 instead of Hyper-V" checked (the default on Windows 11), and restart when prompted.

    Docker Desktop for Windows ↗

  4. 4Enable WSL integration for your distro

    In Docker Desktop's Settings > Resources > WSL Integration, enable integration for your installed Ubuntu distro, then verify from inside it.

    docker run hello-world