Overview of installing Docker Compose

Important

Docker's documentation refers to and describes Compose V2 functionality.

Effective July 2023, Compose V1 stopped receiving updates and is no longer in new Docker Desktop releases. Compose V2 has replaced it and is now integrated into all current Docker Desktop versions. For more information, see Migrate to Compose V2.

This page contains summary information about the available options for installing Docker Compose.

Installation scenarios

Scenario one: Install Docker Desktop

The easiest and recommended way to get Docker Compose is to install Docker Desktop. Docker Desktop includes Docker Compose along with Docker Engine and Docker CLI which are Compose prerequisites.

Docker Desktop is available on:

If you have already installed Docker Desktop, you can check which version of Compose you have by selecting About Docker Desktop from the Docker menu whale menu .

Scenario two: Install the Compose plugin

If you already have Docker Engine and Docker CLI installed, you can install the Compose plugin from the command line, by either:

Important

This is only available on Linux

Scenario three: Install the Compose standalone

You can install the Compose standalone on Linux or on Windows Server.

Warning

This install scenario is not recommended and is only supported for backward compatibility purposes.