Docker in Windows via WSL2, Ubuntu, docker.io

UPDATE 2/24/2025
If you are using WSL2 mirrored networking mode, then install docker-ce instead of docker.io
https://docs.docker.com/engine/install/ubuntu/

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If you cannot use Docker Desktop you still can use docker in Windows via Linux and WSL2.

How to:

• install WSL2,
• install Ubuntu 22.04,
• install docker.io in Ubuntu,
• allow docker remote connection,
• install Docker CLI in windows,
• specify DOCKER_HOST.

As a result, you get docker command working in WSL2 and in Windows.

Install Docker

sudo apt update
sudo apt install docker.io

Allow running docker command w/o root

sudo groupadd docker
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER
<reboot> or newgrp docker

Allow docker remote connections

Edit the file /etc/systemd/system/docker.service.d/override.conf by calling the command

systemctl edit docker

Change content to:

[Service]
ExecStart=
ExecStart=/usr/bin/dockerd -H tcp://0.0.0.0:2375 -H fd:// --containerd=/run/containerd/containerd.sock

Reload systemd and restart docker

systemctl daemon-reload
systemctl restart docker

Check that port is being listen

netstat -lntp | grep 2375

If not, check the docker logs

journalctl -xeu docker.service

In Windows install docker cli

winget install Docker.DockerCLI

Set environment variable

$env:DOCKER_HOST="tcp://localhost:2375"

You might get docker-credential-wincred not found error

Similar issue is discussed here https://github.com/docker/docker-credential-helpers/issues/24

Edit ~/.docker/config.json file to remove credsStore param.