How to Execute Docker Command in Microsoft Windows

Introduction

Basically, this is an article where the main focus is just to be able to execute certain command in Microsoft Windows. Actually, it is a command where it is just to check whether the docker tool exist or not in Microsoft Windows. Actually, before the docker command is available and it is possible for further execution, there is a preparation to do that. In this case, the preparation is involving the process for installing a specific software. By installing that software, it will provide the necessary tool which in ‘docker’ to be exist. Since it will be available after that software installation, it will also possible for executing the ‘docker’ command. That software is the ‘Docker Desktop’ software which is in this context, it is the one available for Microsoft Windows operating system. Just read ‘How to Install Docker Desktop in Microsoft Windows‘ in order to be able to do that.

How to Execute Docker Command in Microsoft Windows

So, after the installation of Docker Desktop in the device running Microsoft Windows operating system, just do the following step in order to be able to execute docker command :

1. So, the first step is to be able to start the Docker Desktop service. In order to do that, just search the Docker Desktop first as follows :

   

2. After successfully executing Docker Desktop, it will automatically start the Docker Desktop service. If the Docker Desktop service run normally, the following image for the Docker Desktop window will appear :

   

3. After executing and starting the Docker Desktop software, if it is successfully running, the following Docker Desktop will appear where it will show the main display :

   

4. Furthermore, also make sure that the Docker Desktop service is currently running. Just access the Services Management window setting in order to do that. Below is actually the appearance of it :

   

5. Since the Docker Desktop service is running, just run any command line interface available. In Microsoft Windows, especially there is a Command Prompt available as the command line interface. In that case, just run the Command Prompt and it will appear as follows :

   Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.22000.1219]
   (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
   
   C:\Users\Personal>docker
   
   Usage: docker [OPTIONS] COMMAND
   
   A self-sufficient runtime for containers
   
   Options:
   --config string Location of client config files (default
   "C:\\Users\\Personal\\.docker")
   -c, --context string Name of the context to use to connect to the
   daemon (overrides DOCKER_HOST env var and
   default context set with "docker context use")
   -D, --debug Enable debug mode
   -H, --host list Daemon socket(s) to connect to
   -l, --log-level string Set the logging level
   ("debug"|"info"|"warn"|"error"|"fatal")
   (default "info")
   --tls Use TLS; implied by --tlsverify
   --tlscacert string Trust certs signed only by this CA (default
   "C:\\Users\\Personal\\.docker\\ca.pem")
   --tlscert string Path to TLS certificate file (default
   "C:\\Users\\Personal\\.docker\\cert.pem")
   --tlskey string Path to TLS key file (default
   "C:\\Users\\Personal\\.docker\\key.pem")
   --tlsverify Use TLS and verify the remote
   -v, --version Print version information and quit
   
   Management Commands:
   builder Manage builds
   buildx* Docker Buildx (Docker Inc., v0.9.1)
   compose* Docker Compose (Docker Inc., v2.13.0)
   config Manage Docker configs
   container Manage containers
   context Manage contexts
   dev* Docker Dev Environments (Docker Inc., v0.0.5)
   extension* Manages Docker extensions (Docker Inc., v0.2.16)
   image Manage images
   manifest Manage Docker image manifests and manifest lists
   network Manage networks
   node Manage Swarm nodes
   plugin Manage plugins
   sbom* View the packaged-based Software Bill Of Materials (SBOM) for an image (Anchore Inc., 0.6.0)
   scan* Docker Scan (Docker Inc., v0.22.0)
   secret Manage Docker secrets
   service Manage services
   stack Manage Docker stacks
   swarm Manage Swarm
   system Manage Docker
   trust Manage trust on Docker images
   volume Manage volumes
   
   Commands:
   attach Attach local standard input, output, and error streams to a running container
   build Build an image from a Dockerfile
   commit Create a new image from a container's changes
   cp Copy files/folders between a container and the local filesystem
   create Create a new container
   diff Inspect changes to files or directories on a container's filesystem
   events Get real time events from the server
   exec Run a command in a running container
   export Export a container's filesystem as a tar archive
   history Show the history of an image
   images List images
   import Import the contents from a tarball to create a filesystem image
   info Display system-wide information
   inspect Return low-level information on Docker objects
   kill Kill one or more running containers
   load Load an image from a tar archive or STDIN
   login Log in to a Docker registry
   logout Log out from a Docker registry
   logs Fetch the logs of a container
   pause Pause all processes within one or more containers
   port List port mappings or a specific mapping for the container
   ps List containers
   pull Pull an image or a repository from a registry
   push Push an image or a repository to a registry
   rename Rename a container
   restart Restart one or more containers
   rm Remove one or more containers
   rmi Remove one or more images
   run Run a command in a new container
   save Save one or more images to a tar archive (streamed to STDOUT by default)
   search Search the Docker Hub for images
   start Start one or more stopped containers
   stats Display a live stream of container(s) resource usage statistics
   stop Stop one or more running containers
   tag Create a tag TARGET_IMAGE that refers to SOURCE_IMAGE
   top Display the running processes of a container
   unpause Unpause all processes within one or more containers
   update Update configuration of one or more containers
   version Show the Docker version information
   wait Block until one or more containers stop, then print their exit codes
   
   Run 'docker COMMAND --help' for more information on a command.
   
   To get more help with docker, check out our guides at https://docs.docker.com/go/guides/
   
   C:\Users\Personal>