Explore Docker Desktop
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When you open Docker Desktop, the Docker Desktop Dashboard displays.

Docker Desktop Dashboard on Containers view

It provides a centralized interface to manage your containers, images, volumes, and builds.

In addition, the Docker Desktop Dashboard lets you:

  • Use Ask Gordon, a personal AI assistant embedded in Docker Desktop and the Docker CLI. It's designed to streamline your workflow and help you make the most of the Docker ecosystem.

  • Navigate to the Settings menu to configure your Docker Desktop settings. Select the Settings icon in the Dashboard header.

  • Access the Troubleshoot menu to debug and perform restart operations. Select the Troubleshoot icon in the Dashboard header.

  • Be notified of new releases, installation progress updates, and more in the Notifications center. Select the bell icon in the bottom-right corner of the Docker Desktop Dashboard to access the notification center.

  • Access the Learning center from the Dashboard header. It helps you get started with quick in-app walkthroughs and provides other resources for learning about Docker.

    For a more detailed guide about getting started, see Get started.

  • Access Docker Hub to search, browse, pull, run, or view details of images.

  • Get to the Docker Scout dashboard.

  • Navigate to Docker Extensions.

Docker terminal

From the Docker Dashboard footer, you can use the integrated terminal directly within Docker Desktop.

The integrated terminal:

  • Persists your session if you navigate to another part of the Docker Desktop Dashboard and then return.
  • Supports copy, paste, search, and clearing your session.

Open the integrated terminal

To open the integrated terminal, either:

  • Hover over your running container and under the Actions column, select the Show container actions menu. From the drop-down menu, select Open in terminal.
  • Or, select the Terminal icon located in the bottom-right corner, next to the version number.

To use your external terminal, navigate to the General tab in Settings and select the System default option under Choose your terminal.

Use Quick Search, which is located in the Docker Dashboard header, to search for:

  • Any container or Compose application on your local system. You can see an overview of associated environment variables or perform quick actions, such as start, stop, or delete.

  • Public Docker Hub images, local images, and images from remote repositories (private repositories from organizations you're a part of in Hub). Depending on the type of image you select, you can either pull the image by tag, view documentation, go to Docker Hub for more details, or run a new container using the image.

  • Extensions. From here, you can learn more about the extension and install it with a single click. Or, if you already have an extension installed, you can open it straight from the search results.

  • Any volume. From here you can view the associated container.

  • Docs. Find help from Docker's official documentation straight from Docker Desktop.

The Docker menu

Docker Desktop also includes a tray icon, referred to as the Docker menu whale menu for quick access.

Select the whale menu icon in your taskbar to open options such as:

  • Dashboard. This takes you to the Docker Desktop Dashboard.
  • Sign in/Sign up
  • Settings
  • Check for updates
  • Troubleshoot
  • Give feedback
  • Switch to Windows containers (if you're on Windows)
  • About Docker Desktop. Contains information on the versions you are running, and links to the Subscription Service Agreement for example.
  • Docker Hub
  • Documentation
  • Extensions
  • Kubernetes
  • Restart
  • Quit Docker Desktop