enable-macos-virtualization-framework

How-To Enable virtualization.framework on macOS hosts

Docker Desktop on macOS is configured by default to use macOS's hypervisor.framework as the virtualization technology used with Docker Desktop Containers. A peformance gain can be achieved by utilizing macOS's virtualization.framework which is an optional setting in Docker Desktop.

There are two ways to enable virtualization.framework, one is more suitable to one-off configuration and the other is more suitable for mass deployment with the tooling of your choice.

Option 1: Configuration with Docker Desktop UI

1. Navigate to the Settings menu in Docker Desktop and click on General

2. Click the box next to Use Virtualization framework and then click on Apply & restart

3. Docker Desktop is now using macOS's virtualization.framework

Option 2: Configuration by distributing a custom settings.json

1. Start with a baseline settings.json,: 1a. If you don't have a baseline settings.json you can start with this example

2. Edit your settings.json and change "useVirtualizationFramework":false, to "useVirtualizationFramework:true,.

3. Use the tooling of your choice to distribute the settings.json file to each machine at the following path: $HOME/Library/Group\ Containers/group.com.docker/settings.json

4. Restart Docker Desktop.

Citations and helpful links

• Change Docker Desktop Settings on Mac
• The Magic behind the scenes of Docker Desktop