Can I run Docker Desktop on Windows without admin privileges?

docker windows-10 docker-desktop
Ed Graham picture Ed Graham · Nov 1, 2019 · Viewed 28.8k times · Source

I know I need admin rights to install Docker Desktop; but do I have to be an admin to run it? The documentation doesn't say that I do, and Googling doesn't suggest that either; but if I try to run it as a non-privileged user, the process is killed instantly and I get an event-log entry saying "Process requires elevated rights to run."

I'm running Windows 10 Enterprise in a corporate environment and we have non-privileged accounts. Is Docker Desktop not available in this situation or have I just installed it incorrectly somehow?

Answer

Simon Brady picture Simon Brady · Oct 4, 2020

As of Docker Desktop 2.4 (possibly earlier, I haven't tested) this is supported. From the Windows installation instructions:

If your admin account is different to your user account, you must add the user to the docker-users group. Run Computer Management as an administrator and navigate to Local Users and Groups > Groups > docker-users. Right-click to add the user to the group. Log out and log back in for the changes to take effect.

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