Docker is a powerful tool for containerizing applications, and you can run Docker containers natively on Windows Server using the Windows containers feature. This guide walks you through the steps to install and use Docker on a Windows Server 2025 instance deployed on VPSie.
Prerequisites
- Administrative access to the Windows VM
- Internet connectivity
Step 1: Download Docker Desktop for Windows
To get started, download Docker Desktop for Windows (x86_64) from the official Docker website:
Docker for Windows – Official Site
Look for the download link specific to Windows and choose the installer that matches your architecture (usually x86_64 for most systems).
Step 2: Check and Install WSL
Docker requires WSL 2 version 2.1.5 or higher.
To check your current WSL version:
wsl --version
If WSL is not installed or the version is outdated, install or update it using PowerShell (Run as Administrator):
wsl --install
You may need to reboot your system after installation.
Step 3: Install Docker
Once the file is downloaded, open the file and follow the prompts to complete the Docker Desktop installation.
Restart your system to finalize the installation process.
Once the system restarts, accept the license agreement to proceed.
Finish setting up Docker Desktop by choosing recommended settings and then clicking the Finish button.
At the same time, a Command Prompt window will open automatically to install the Windows Subsystem for Linux. Simply press Enter to begin the download process.
Now, on your desktop, you should see the Docker Desktop icon. Go ahead and open it.
Log in with your account. If you don’t have one, you can create it and then log in.
At this point, Docker Desktop has been successfully installed and all the prerequisites have been completed. You can now open the Docker Desktop application from the Start menu or by searching for “Docker Desktop”.
Once launched, Docker Desktop should start running in the background, and the Docker engine will initialize.
📝 Note: If this is your first time launching Docker, it may take a few moments to start the service.
We’ve chosen to skip the Docker Hub account sign-in for now, but you can always sign in later to access features like image syncing and private repositories.
