Docker: This error may also indicate that the docker daemon is not running. & Use the WSL 2 based engine (Windows Home can only run the WSL 2 backend) settings check box greyed out on Windows 11

[Tasker-AI]

The original issue was closed, and did not have the solution for me.
https://github.com/docker/for-win/issues/1825

I am using Windows 11.
This was a first time docker install.

First issue:
Docker desktop was 'stopped'

Solution:

• Follow the official steps on how to install WSL 2 at https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install
• Open PowerShell and run command:
  wsl --update
• Uninstall Docker.
• Delete temporary data:
  C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Roaming\Docker
C:\Users\ProgramData\Docker
C:\Users\ProgramData\DockerDesktop
• Reinstall Docker, ensure wsl box is ticked during install.
• Restart computer.
• Run Docker as administrator.
• Run PowerShell as administrator.
• Run the following command:
  & 'C:\Program Files\Docker\Docker\DockerCli.exe' -SwitchDaemon
• If this doesn't work, you may need to run the above command one or two more times.

Second issue:
Docker desktop settings check box 'Use the WSL 2 based engine (Windows Home can only run the WSL 2 backend)' was greyed out and unchecked.

Solution:

• Open:
  C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Roaming\Docker\settings.json
• Change: "wslEngineEnabled": false to "wslEngineEnabled": true
• Reinstall Docker. (not sure if necessary.)
• Restart computer. (not sure if necessary.)
• Run Docker as administrator.
• Run PowerShell as administrator.
• Run the following command:
  & 'C:\Program Files\Docker\Docker\DockerCli.exe' -SwitchDaemon
• If this doesn't work, you may need to run the above command one or two more times.

[KushpreetViria]

Thank you! You saved me literal hours!

[Tasker-AI]

Thank you! You saved me literal hours!

Glad it helped someone! That took me 8 hours hahaha

[senst-dev]

Thanks for this, been struggling with this for a while! Just to confirm, when I previously ran & 'C:\Program Files\Docker\Docker\DockerCli.exe' -SwitchDaemon twice I could get Docker Desktop working but with when running docker commands eg docker version, would produce the error: docker: error during connect: In the default daemon configuration on Windows, the docker client must be run with elevated privileges to connect.: Post "http://%2F%2F.%2Fpipe%2Fdocker_engine/v1.24/containers/create": open //./pipe/docker_engine: The system cannot find the file specified. My "Use the WSL 2 based engine" checkbox was also greyed out and unchecked.

Changing wslEngineEnabled to true and then re-running Docker as admin along with & 'C:\Program Files\Docker\Docker\DockerCli.exe' -SwitchDaemon in Powershell as admin fixed issues without having to reinstall docker.

[mat007]

Hi, thanks for reporting, and sorry about the inconvenience, I’ll close this issue in favor of #12545 which has a temporary workaround until we release Desktop 4.5.1

[docker-robott]

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This helps our team focus on active issues.

If you have found a problem that seems similar to this, please open a new issue.

Send feedback to Docker Community Slack channels #docker-for-mac or #docker-for-windows.
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