I am trying to install docker on win10 and it defaults to C:\Program Files\Docker. Is there anyway I can change the destination directory to be c:\users\xxx\Docker? I tried various options such as installing through CLI and using the msiexec INSTALL_DIR / TARGETDIR options and none of them seem to work. The default installer is not asking me for a target directory when I try to install.
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Hi,
Did you find a solution for this?
Not sure if i want to try but, maybe this could work:
-deleting the windows service
-move the folder
-create the service
Thanks.
I have the same problem, but I need to change the install location to a different drive such as E:\
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+1, also need this installation option
+1
Some corporate developer machines only allow installs to specific directories. Corporate software is blocking the pre-decided installation location.
Same here. Same here. Will I be able to choose the installation directory somewhen soon? Thanks.
+1
Is there any ongoing development regarding this?
Since the current version of Docker Desktop for Windows does not provide that option for installing to a custom path, you need to create a junction link before the installing, using the mklink command in cmd console.
C:>mklink /J “path\to\junction\link” “path\to\target\directory”
For your case, you can follow the following steps.
-
Lets consider the current default installation path for docker is at
C:\Program Files\Docker, and your target directory is atc:\Users\xxx\Docker, assuming the User Name is xxx. Note this target path could be on any drive such asE:\Docker, and you have to create the directory before creating the junction. -
Open cmd as an adminstrator and run
mklink /J "C:\Program Files\Docker" "c:\Users\xxx\Docker" -
Go ahead and install Docker. The installer will think it’s installing to C:\Program Files\Docker but the files would actually be populated into c:\Users\xxx\Docker.
Cheers and be blessed.
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Good idea but it only work on the same drive.
I want to install docker on another disk 
I’ve just finished installing the current version to my D: drive using mklink as above. I needed to link several folders to keep it off my near-full C: drive:
mklink /j "C:\ProgramData\Docker" "D:\ProgramData\Docker"
mklink /j "C:\ProgramData\DockerDesktop" "D:\ProgramData\DockerDesktop"
mklink /j "C:\Program Files\Docker" "D:\Program Files\Docker"
mklink /j "C:\Users\xxx\AppData\Local\Docker" "D:\Users\xxx\AppData\Local\Docker"
The link sources on C: will be created by mklink, so make sure they’re not already there. Conversely, it does not create the target folders, so you need to make sure they exist.
I don’t know if this is the best way to do it, but it’s what worked for me.
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it works!!, thanks theeponymousbob
Thanks. It works.
I did the same for Users / [user] / AppData \ Roaming \ Docker Desktop and Users / [user] / AppData \ Roaming \ Docker
It works but this is a band aid solution.
We are in 2021, the installer should deal with this.
Please support Feature request: Let the user chose the installation folder · Issue #11876 · docker/for-win · GitHub
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Here is the official feature request.
Vote for it https://github.com/docker/roadmap/issues/94
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Here is a clear way on how to install in the default location and Move it to the target location.
i can no longer use this way
After creating a junction, the installer told this
Try this:
start /w “” “Docker Desktop Installer.exe” install --installation-dir=G:\Docker
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Thank you very much. You just save me. It’s worked for me
It gives the “c:\programdata\dockerdesktop” cannot be a sylink error, but good method anyway.
It is incompetent and inconsiderate in any installer to not allow users to select a destination directory.
Many machines come pre-partitioned with the C: drive having barely enough space for Windows. I constantly need to go through my own C: drive to find things I can move or remove, and the moving often doesn’t work.
If a company wants to lock some installations to a specific location they can enforce that at policy level.
I spent hours trying to install DD on my D (development) drive, and none of the above worked.