# Docker stuck on starting **URL:** \ **Category:** Docker Desktop\ **Tags:** docker, windows\ **Created:** [June 7, 2022, 3:10am UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-stuck-on-starting/125351 "2022-06-07T03:10:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chatofking](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/chatofking/32/32632_2.png) [@chatofking](https://forums.docker.com/u/chatofking)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2022, 3:10am UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-stuck-on-starting/125351/1 "2022-06-07T03:10:57Z")
before i lauch docker but stuck on the starting. OS Windows 11 21H2 Docker 4.9.0 i try ```auto wsl --unregister docker-desktop wsl --unregister docker-desktop-data ``` still stuck on docker starting… ---
**Author:** ![eternal21](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/eternal21/32/34207_2.png) [@eternal21](https://forums.docker.com/u/eternal21)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2022, 4:56pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-stuck-on-starting/125351/2 "2022-06-08T16:56:39Z")
I’m guessing you saw this thread: [Docker forever in "Docker is starting.." at Windows task - Stack Overflow](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/43041331/docker-forever-in-docker-is-starting-at-windows-task) When I got this problem a complete shutdown and restart fixed it (as someone mentioned in the stack overflow thread, you need a complete shutdown rather than just restart). ---
**Author:** ![chatofking](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/chatofking/32/32632_2.png) [@chatofking](https://forums.docker.com/u/chatofking)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2022, 4:12am UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-stuck-on-starting/125351/3 "2022-06-10T04:12:07Z")
i also got problem docker is shutting down after while… ---
**Author:** ![gatesde](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/gatesde/32/38591_2.png) [@gatesde](https://forums.docker.com/u/gatesde)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2023, 6:02pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-stuck-on-starting/125351/4 "2023-01-14T18:02:29Z")
Hi, I had the same issue. Below is how I resolved my it: 1. Uninstall Docker 2. Restart your machine 3. Install a linux WLS distro a. Check available linux distros available : wsl --list --online b. Choose the one you want (I chose Ubuntu, the 1st option) : wsl --install -d {DISTRO-NAME} e.g. wsl --install -d Ubuntu c. You might get an error about a missing WLS update while installing, go on google with the error and you will find the link to the installation of that update. 4. Install Docker (Docker Desktop Installer.exe ---
**Author:** ![zblockdoc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/zblockdoc/32/38483_2.png) [@zblockdoc](https://forums.docker.com/u/zblockdoc)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2023, 5:27pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-stuck-on-starting/125351/5 "2023-01-18T17:27:03Z")
this solution worked for me, thank you! ---
**Author:** ![or645](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/or645/32/38711_2.png) [@or645](https://forums.docker.com/u/or645)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2023, 10:13pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-stuck-on-starting/125351/6 "2023-01-18T22:13:38Z")
Thanks for the solution, it helped me a lot! ---
**Author:** ![avvalenx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/avvalenx/32/38716_2.png) [@avvalenx](https://forums.docker.com/u/avvalenx)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2023, 12:43am UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-stuck-on-starting/125351/7 "2023-01-19T00:43:17Z")
I was able to resolve the issue by simply running Docker Desktop as an administrator ---
**Author:** ![galkovv](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/galkovv/32/38763_2.png) [@galkovv](https://forums.docker.com/u/galkovv)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2023, 1:07pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-stuck-on-starting/125351/8 "2023-01-20T13:07:48Z")
This all in the list useless. Don’t start. I even can’t exit in a win tray menu. MAY BE ANY LOG IN THAT SYSTEM WITH SOME INFO, or we have to ask any stupid thing here? ---
**Author:** ![sekharpulavarthi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/sekharpulavarthi/32/38601_2.png) [@sekharpulavarthi](https://forums.docker.com/u/sekharpulavarthi)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2023, 1:32pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-stuck-on-starting/125351/9 "2023-01-21T13:32:12Z")
I am using Windows 11, i am getting Docker desktop starting issue When I checked the logs, Previously I got this error - **The system cannot find the file specified** Then I uninstalled the docker latest version 4.16.2 and installed 4.15.0 version Now I am getting the below error in logs com.docker.backend.exe.log file already closed Uninstalled and installed the docker and deleted the files in the roaming folder and executed the below commands wsl --unregister docker-desktop wsl --unregister docker-desktop-data also executed the below commands in Windows PowerShell as administrator Net stop com.docker.service Net start com.docker.service I think it is working fine in windows 10, mostly facing this error in windows 11, observed same error in another windows 11 system also. ---
**Author:** ![gripenanm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/gripenanm/32/38407_2.png) [@gripenanm](https://forums.docker.com/u/gripenanm)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2023, 2:14am UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-stuck-on-starting/125351/10 "2023-01-22T02:14:03Z")
I am also getting the same Issue on windows 10, So I reverted back to 4.15.0 and it is working again ---
**Author:** ![tpridemp8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/tpridemp8/32/38854_2.png) [@tpridemp8](https://forums.docker.com/u/tpridemp8)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2023, 1:46am UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-stuck-on-starting/125351/11 "2023-01-25T01:46:42Z")
Thank you! this worked for me. I definitely tried everything else, but when I reverted to an older version it helped. I had to update the WSL to version 2 and then restart, but after that I started docker and it worked after a few seconds. thanks again ---
**Author:** ![bonepixel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/bonepixel/32/38630_2.png) [@bonepixel](https://forums.docker.com/u/bonepixel)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2023, 5:42pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-stuck-on-starting/125351/12 "2023-01-25T17:42:11Z")
Tried a bunch of solutions this video on youtube finally got me set up right. [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/docker/original/3X/8/b/8b4e9275deda24c8000b444b116460d381cc4c33.jpeg "Solve Problem Docker stucks and still in starting mode") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRluDLoiHXM) ---
**Author:** ![mikhailtselousov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@mikhailtselousov](https://forums.docker.com/u/mikhailtselousov)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2023, 8:42pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-stuck-on-starting/125351/13 "2023-03-07T20:42:11Z")
Totaly worked for me. There was even no need of Docker uninstallation. I just updated my wsl to wsl 2 with update WSL2 Linux kernel update package from official web site. Then updated my ubuntu ditributive installed from version 1 to version 2. Without restart just tried to launch docker again and it works 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![clbron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a183cd/32.png) [@clbron](https://forums.docker.com/u/clbron)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 6:45pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-stuck-on-starting/125351/14 "2023-05-10T18:45:11Z")
I had this issue also. Windows 10 Pro, WSL2 Ubuntu, Docker v.4.19.0. Docker was set to “Start Docker Desktop when you log in”. WSL was hung as well as Docker. I solved it by killing all instances of Docker using Task Manager, then killing all instances of WSL. I then started my WSL Ubuntu - it started normally. I then started Docker Desktop - it also started normally. The problem seems to be that Docker is starting before WSL is fully up and running. I unchecked the “Start Docker Desktop when you log in” option and now everything seems to be working fine. ---
**Author:** ![ttstauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/ttstauss/32/40659_2.png) [@ttstauss](https://forums.docker.com/u/ttstauss)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 12:18am UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-stuck-on-starting/125351/15 "2023-05-11T00:18:38Z")
Putting this here for anyone still having issues. This Github comment helped solve my problem: [unable to resolve docker endpoint: open C:\Users\username\.docker\machine\machines\default\ca.pem: The system cannot find the path specified. · Issue #7629 · docker/for-win · GitHub](https://github.com/docker/for-win/issues/7629#issuecomment-657153919) ---
**Author:** ![oghamthebold](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/oghamthebold/32/50018_2.png) [@oghamthebold](https://forums.docker.com/u/oghamthebold)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2024, 7:29pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-stuck-on-starting/125351/16 "2024-08-06T19:29:28Z")
Helped me—because I forgot about `Go to the Dashboard` (I was running Docker thinking it would bring up the Dashboard—but Docker was already running) 🧠 To remember next time I added Docker to the Windows `System Tray` on the `Taskbar` ---
**Author:** ![hua2308](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/hua2308/32/51506_2.png) [@hua2308](https://forums.docker.com/u/hua2308)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2024, 7:58pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-stuck-on-starting/125351/17 "2024-09-14T19:58:11Z")
I am running WSL2 and seeing Docker Desktop stuck on starting. This command solved my problem (run it from Windows Command Prompt) WSL --showdown ---
**Author:** ![fravel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/fravel/32/54496_2.png) [@fravel](https://forums.docker.com/u/fravel)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2025, 11:57am UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-stuck-on-starting/125351/18 "2025-01-07T11:57:21Z")
I always have this issue after having the error “No space left on the device”. The only way I figured out to resolve this is reset Docker to factory setting or uninstall/reinstall. However I’m looking forward another way because these method erase all your container datas. ---
**Author:** ![dragonsheep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/dragonsheep/32/64335_2.png) [@dragonsheep](https://forums.docker.com/u/dragonsheep)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2026, 8:00pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-stuck-on-starting/125351/19 "2026-04-23T20:00:34Z")
I spent hours trying to get Docker Desktop to start properly on Windows 11 Home. In my troubleshooting, I tried running sudo systemctl status docker inside wsl using Powershell, which returned “Failed to start docker.service: Unit not found.” The Docker Desktop installer, for whatever reason, had failed to install the Docker Engine. Following the Docker installation guide for Ubuntu, using apt install, within my wsl environment, finally got Docker Desktop working. ---
**Author:** ![rimelek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/rimelek/32/41602_2.png) [@rimelek](https://forums.docker.com/u/rimelek)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2026, 8:03pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-stuck-on-starting/125351/20 "2026-04-23T20:03:48Z")
Docker Desktop doesn’t install the engine in your WSL distribution, so you wil not find any systemd service to start. The engine runs in the WSL2 distro called “docker-desktop” and only allows you to enable WSL2 integration to make the docker cli available in the WSL distro. If you decide to install Docker Desktop again, and face the same issue, please, open a new topic where we can try to help. [Next page](https://forums.docker.com/t/docker-stuck-on-starting/125351.md?page=2)