Docker Desktop Windows Hypervisor is Not Present

Introduction

Docker is a popular platform that allows users to build, package, and distribute applications in containers. Docker containers provide a lightweight and isolated environment for running applications, making them highly portable and efficient. Docker Desktop is a tool that simplifies the installation and management of Docker on Windows and Mac systems. However, sometimes users may encounter an error message stating "Docker Desktop Windows Hypervisor is not present". In this article, we will explore the possible causes of this error and provide solutions to resolve it.

Understanding the Error

The error message "Docker Desktop Windows Hypervisor is not present" indicates that Docker Desktop requires a hypervisor to be installed and enabled on your Windows system. A hypervisor is a software layer that creates and manages virtual machines (VMs). Docker Desktop relies on a hypervisor to run the Docker engine and manage containers.

Possible Causes

  1. Hyper-V is not enabled: Docker Desktop requires Hyper-V, Microsoft's virtualization technology, to be enabled on your Windows system. By default, Hyper-V is not enabled on all versions of Windows. Therefore, it is possible that your system does not have Hyper-V enabled.

  2. VirtualBox or other incompatible hypervisor is installed: Docker Desktop requires Hyper-V as the default hypervisor. If you have another hypervisor, such as VirtualBox, installed on your system, it can conflict with Docker Desktop.

Resolving the Error

To resolve the "Docker Desktop Windows Hypervisor is not present" error, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Check Hyper-V Status

First, you need to check whether Hyper-V is enabled on your Windows system. Open a PowerShell or Command Prompt window as an administrator and run the following command:

systeminfo.exe

Look for the line that says "Hyper-V Requirements" and check if all the requirements are met. If you see a message like "A hypervisor has been detected. Features required for Hyper-V will not be displayed.", it means that Hyper-V is already enabled on your system.

Step 2: Enable Hyper-V (if necessary)

If Hyper-V is not enabled, follow these steps to enable it:

  1. Open the "Turn Windows features on or off" dialog by pressing the Windows key, typing "Turn Windows features on or off", and selecting the corresponding option.

  2. In the dialog that appears, scroll down and find "Hyper-V". Check the box next to it and click "OK".

  3. Restart your computer to apply the changes.

Step 3: Uninstall Incompatible Hypervisors

If you have a hypervisor other than Hyper-V installed, such as VirtualBox, it can conflict with Docker Desktop. You may need to uninstall the incompatible hypervisor to resolve the issue. To uninstall VirtualBox, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Control Panel and navigate to "Programs" > "Programs and Features".

  2. Find VirtualBox in the list of installed programs, right-click on it, and select "Uninstall".

  3. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation process.

Step 4: Reinstall Docker Desktop

Once you have enabled Hyper-V and uninstalled any incompatible hypervisors, you can reinstall Docker Desktop. Visit the Docker website, download the latest version of Docker Desktop for Windows, and run the installer. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.

Step 5: Verify Docker Installation

After reinstalling Docker Desktop, open a PowerShell or Command Prompt window and run the following command to verify that Docker is installed correctly:

docker version

If Docker is installed successfully, you should see the version information and other details about the Docker installation.

Conclusion

The "Docker Desktop Windows Hypervisor is not present" error can be resolved by ensuring that Hyper-V is enabled and that there are no conflicting hypervisors installed. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can quickly resolve this error and start using Docker Desktop to build and run containers on your Windows system.

classDiagram
    DockerDesktop --|> Hypervisor
    DockerDesktop --|> Container
    Hypervisor <|-- HyperV
    Container ..> DockerEngine

References:

  • [Docker Desktop Documentation](
  • [Microsoft Hyper-V Documentation](