Docker Cross-Platform Installation

Docker Installation Guide

Quick guide to install Docker and Docker Compose across macOS, Windows, and Linux.

Info

Select your operating system tab below for terminal commands.

---

macOS Setup

Homebrew (Docker Desktop)OrbStack (Lightweight)Colima (CLI / Daemon)

# Install Docker Desktop via Homebrew
brew install --cask docker

# Launch Docker Desktop
open /Applications/Docker.app

# Install OrbStack (Fast alternative to Docker Desktop)
brew install orbstack

# Start OrbStack service
orb

# Install Colima and Docker CLI
brew install colima docker docker-compose

# Start Colima background engine
colima start

---

Windows Setup

Winget (PowerShell)WSL 2 BackendChocolatey

# Run in PowerShell as Administrator
winget install -e --id Docker.DockerDesktop

# Verify Docker CLI & Compose
docker --version
docker compose version

# Install & enable WSL 2 engine
wsl --install
wsl --set-default-version 2

# Install Docker Desktop using Choco
choco install docker-desktop

---

Linux Setup

Arch LinuxDebian / Ubuntu / Proxmox LXC

sudo pacman -S docker docker-compose
sudo systemctl enable --now docker
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER

curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com -o get-docker.sh
sudo sh get-docker.sh
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER