Question 85101 in Docker Question posted in
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Docker failed to initialize | Docker Desktop is shutting down

I am facing an issue with Docker for Windows application. This is happening after updating to newer version of 4.3.2. Previous version was running without any issues. After downloading and updating to new version, whenever I launch Docker Desktop I get error message " Docker failed to initialize. Docker Desktop is shutting down. ".

I have tried many solutions like:

  1. Closed docker and restarted laptop after update.
  2. Deleting log files in C:Users{...}AppDataLocalDocker
  3. Deleting files in C:Users{...}AppDataRoamingDocker
  4. Tried to bump to previous release but unsuccessful with the message
    Docker
    Docker launch

Can anyone please help me resolve this issue as I have already wasted few hours to resolve this.

I am not sure if I should completely uninstall docker and install freshly. If doing so, may remove all existing volumes and containers. I don’t want to lose existing containers and data. BTW, I didn’t sign-in while working with containers.

Your help will be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance

P.S: I am working with Docker for Windows on Windows 10 machine with WSL2 enabled. I have also enabled Containers and Virtual Machine Platform in Windows Features.

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7

Answers


  1. Chosen as BEST ANSWER
    0

    I re-installed Docker Desktop 4.3.2 for Windows. But before installing I took the backup of ext4.vhdx file present in C:Users{...}AppDataLocalDockerwsldata. But fortunately any of the volumes and containers were removed and everything is restored and working fine.

    To be on safer side, if anyone is facing similar situation please have the backup of ext4.vhdx and you can restore your data from it.


  2. 0

    Try also delete roaming/docker-desktop only inner files.

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  3. 0

    Deleting docker folders in AppDataRoaming or AppDataRoaming did not work. Rolling back from v4.x to 3.6 worked.

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  4. 0

    It worked for me after removing the settings.json file as shown below

    enter image description here

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  5. 0

    Fix: Manually remove this file AppDataRoamingDockerlocked-directories

    I additionally run C:Program FilesDockerDockerresourcescom.docker.backend.exe
    and closed it gracefully.

    After that it worked for me though i haven’t tried a reboot.

    Edit: Yes, works after a reboot as well

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  6. 0

    If you are experiencing this on v 4.13,

    Then a simpler fix is described in the Docker for windows [issue: docker desktop failed to initialize](Per https://github.com/docker/for-win/issues/13025) from Oct 2022.

    You don’t have to delete %AppData%Roamingsettings.json,
    just change a value in it.

    Look for "vpnkitCIDR" in that settings.json file. If its value is:

      "vpnkitCIDR": "192.168.65.0/28",

    … then the fix is:

    1. Kill the Docker Desktop process (if running)
    2. in %AppData%Roamingsettings.json, change the value to
      "vpnkitCIDR": "192.168.65.0/24",
    1. Run Docker Desktop
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  7. 0

    I fixed this by removing following hidden folder
    C:Users{...}.docker

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