Docker Desktop does not open on macOS (M1 Pro, Sonoma 14.1.1)

Docker Desktop
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Docker Desktop does not open on macOS (M1 Pro, Sonoma 14.1.1)

I am having trouble getting Docker Desktop to start on my MacBook Pro (M1 Pro, macOS Sonoma 14.1.1). The CLI works, but the GUI does not open.

Environment

  • MacBook Pro (M1 Pro, macOS Sonoma 14.1.1)
  • Installed using Homebrew (brew install --cask docker)
  • docker CLI commands work, but Docker Desktop does not open.

Issue

  • com.docker.backend is running (docker ps works).
  • Docker.app does not open when executed via open -a Docker or by clicking it in Finder.
  • No logs found in ~/Library/Logs/Docker.log.
  • The executable /Applications/Docker.app/Contents/MacOS/Docker does not exist.
  • Running /Applications/Docker.app/Contents/MacOS/Docker Desktop.app/Contents/MacOS/Docker Desktop manually does nothing.

Steps I Tried

  1. Uninstall & reinstall
    • brew uninstall --cask docker
    • brew install --cask docker
  2. Kill & restart Docker
    • pkill -f Docker
    • open -a Docker
  3. Reset Docker settings
    • rm -rf ~/Library/Application Support/Docker
    • rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/com.docker.docker
    • rm -rf ~/Library/Containers/com.docker.docker
  4. Manually start Docker backend
    • /Applications/Docker.app/Contents/MacOS/com.docker.backend run &
    • Output: backend server is already running

Question

Why does /Applications/Docker.app/Contents/MacOS/Docker not exist, and how can I get Docker Desktop to open?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

2

Have you tried downloading Docker Desktop from the official website? Perhaps it’s a problem with the cask

3

I tried to install Docker Desktop from the official website, but it didn’t work, so I downloaded it from the command line.

4

I’m not sure why this is happening, but 2 days ago it happened to me the first time. I remember someone in another topic suggested going to macOS Settings, General, Login Items and extensions, and disabling Docker Desktop rpcoesses in the “Allow in the background” section. I didn’t do that, because I thought there was a reason allowing the background processes, but you can give it a try. I just rebooted my MacBook and it solved the problem for me.

Because it is not Docker, but Docker Desktop.

/Applications/Docker.app/Contents/MacOS/Docker\ Desktop.app

Unless you quote it, the first space will be interpreted as the end of the command and everything else after it will be argument. Or you can backslash it as I did above.