Docker forever in "Docker is starting.." at Windows task

I have installed a Docker stable version, and it took forever to start. Until now I have not seen the notification showing Docker is running. I can only see the Docker icon at the taskbar, showing Docker is starting.

I am running on Windows 10 Pro, Intel Core 2 Duo E8500, supporting virtualization.

Solution 1:

Thanks to https://github.com/docker/for-win/issues/7050, you should just simply run these two lines of commands inside powerShell: First Exit docker hub desktop, then run these commands in PowerShell:

wsl --unregister docker-desktop
wsl --unregister docker-desktop-data

Important Note: As @ Nachtalb said "I think it should be noted that this removes all docker containers and data. (WLS: Unregisters the distribution and deletes the root filesystem.)"

Solution 2:

This is followed by docker/for-win issue 487 and mostly: issue 482.

The Diagnose and Feedback menu should allow you to access the logs which are in:

 %LOCALAPPDATA%\Docker\log.txt

It will generate a zip file with said logs and other information.

The default recommendation is:

• Reset to factory defaults (from the whale menu, Settings, reset)
• If that doesn't work, manually uninstall docker and download the latest installer from https://docs.docker.com/docker-for-windows/

But sometimes, all the options in the "Reset" pane are grayed out.

For testing, desactivating the AV (AntiVirus) is an option (again, just to be tested).

Check also the state of your Network adapater in the device manager.

If you have a third-party network product like a VPN (for instance https://www.zerotier.com/), try and uninstall it before restarting docker.

Resetting Hyper-V could help:

Go to "Turn Windows features on or off", disable all Hyper-V related features, reboot, then Docker should ask if it can enable and reboot for you.
Let it do that and see if it's fixed. If not I'd probably try manually re-enabling Hyper-V.

Similarly:

I had a problem with most recent version. I uninstalled it, removed all docker folders and server and virtual switch from hyper-v and then reinstalled and it worked.

Check if you don't have some IP address already in use.
Finally, you can perform some Hyper-V tests.

Solution 3:

I guess you are using wsl2 features. In that case, open PowerShell or command prompt and type: optionalfeatures.exe

scroll down and uncheck

Windows Subsystem for Linux

apply the changes and restart your computer.

After restart follow the previous steps again and check

Windows Subsystem for Linux

and restart again. Hopefully now your docker will run