# Switch to Windows containers **URL:** \ **Category:** Docker Desktop\ **Tags:** windows\ **Created:** [September 26, 2026, 5:51pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/switch-to-windows-containers/152446 "2026-09-26T17:51:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![nemo1980](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/nemo1980/32/65523_2.png) [@nemo1980](https://forums.docker.com/u/nemo1980)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2026, 5:51pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/switch-to-windows-containers/152446/1 "2026-09-26T17:51:47Z")
Hello, I am trying to switch the engine from Linux to Windows, but I don’t know how or where to do it. Hyper-V Manager is set up, and hardware virtualization is enabled in the BIOS. Can someone please help? Best regards. * * * _This post was translated to English by moderators_ ---
**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:** [September 28, 2026, 11:57am UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/switch-to-windows-containers/152446/2 "2026-09-28T11:57:42Z")
Hi. I translated your message to English from German using Google Translate, so let me know if it translated it wrong. The language of this forum is English, so please,w rite your questions and comments in English for the community. Thank you! * * * Regarding the question, I assumed you were using Docker Desktop. Also correct me if I am wrong, but since you mentioned you want to switch from Linux to Windowws, that must be the case. What is the error message you get? Please, share the exact error message. ---
**Author:** ![nemo1980](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/nemo1980/32/65523_2.png) [@nemo1980](https://forums.docker.com/u/nemo1980)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2026, 6:11pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/switch-to-windows-containers/152446/3 "2026-09-29T18:11:44Z")
Also Hi. Thanks in response so well. Excuse my mistakes, please. I use docker desktop recently the last days. I can’t change the engine to windows. Would you help me forward then? kind regards Gordon Juls Use this screenshot, please. > **(attachments)** > > ![Screenshot (2).png](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/docker/original/3X/6/2/6259c8c5b90c7adf7648c214ff4b224852f1d6c7.png) ---
**Author:** ![meyay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/meyay/32/34000_2.png) [@meyay](https://forums.docker.com/u/meyay)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 12:15am UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/switch-to-windows-containers/152446/4 "2026-09-30T00:15:55Z")
In the notification area (right bottom on your screen) there should be docker icon,if you click the ^ icon. If you click the right mouse button on the docker icon, it should show a context menu that should have an action to switch to Windows containers. ---
**Author:** ![nemo1980](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/nemo1980/32/65523_2.png) [@nemo1980](https://forums.docker.com/u/nemo1980)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2026, 1:23pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/switch-to-windows-containers/152446/5 "2026-10-04T13:23:00Z")
Hello. I did but I cannot see any chance of switching to windows containers. If you would suggest how I can it’ll be well, would you. In addition to it I made a screenhot about it, how it can be useful then. kind regards nemo1980 > **(attachments)** > > ![Screenshot (4).png](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/docker/original/3X/b/f/bf1c5ddf0a94a449a7020900d99dd76f19f44f50.png) ---
**Author:** ![meyay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/meyay/32/34000_2.png) [@meyay](https://forums.docker.com/u/meyay)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2026, 1:33pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/switch-to-windows-containers/152446/6 "2026-10-04T13:33:46Z")
I see. If the option is missing, I can only assume that you must have installed Docker Desktop without support for Windows Containers. Looks like you need to reinstall it with Windows Container support. Though, I am not sure if running the installer again is enough, or whether it requires a full uninstallation before. Note: an uninstallation does not remove the virtual harddisk of Docker Desktop, so after reinstallation, everything should be available for the Linux Docker Engine. The Windows Engine and Linux Engine store their states separately, so switch to one will eclipse the existing state of the other. ---
**Author:** ![nemo1980](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/nemo1980/32/65523_2.png) [@nemo1980](https://forums.docker.com/u/nemo1980)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2026, 9:00am UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/switch-to-windows-containers/152446/8 "2026-10-05T09:00:02Z")
It did run latest. You were right, thank you this well. The fault has been my own in the setup but also was a full uninstallation nescessary. kind regards nemo1980 ---
**Author:** ![meyay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/docker/user_avatar/forums.docker.com/meyay/32/34000_2.png) [@meyay](https://forums.docker.com/u/meyay)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2026, 6:46pm UTC](https://forums.docker.com/t/switch-to-windows-containers/152446/9 "2026-10-07T18:46:20Z")
Glad it’s sorted out now. Thanks for the update regarding the required full uninstallation.