Docker Desktop cannot switch to Windows Container

Question

I have installed latest Docker Desktop. Currently unable to switch to Windows container. The option is blocked from task bar :

I am running Windows 10 Home 64-bit Build 19042.

Answer 1

I had spent hours debugging this issue and have to purchase win 10 pro license as well but still faced the same issue, by default it takes linux containers, switching to windows shows waiting forever, anyway here is how I fixed:

1. Windows Pro

2. Close/Shutt down the client by right clicking on the tiny icon on taskbar, and wait for a minute or two to have it close itself. 3.Open command prompt with Administrative rights

3. Type in this command:

   c:\Program Files\Docker\Docker\resources>dockerd.exe

4. Open another command prompt with Administrative rights

   C:\Program Files\Docker\Docker>DockerCli.exe -SwitchDaemon

5. Type "C:\Program Files\Docker\Docker>docker version" command to make sure it has switched to windows containers, it should look like attached screenshot as per the latest Docker Desktop version, your settings should look like this

Quit Docker Desktop, and open again, Hope it helps some.

Answer 2

You need windows 10 Pro or Enterprise to have access to Windows containers.

Source

The other answer will indeed switch your daemon mode to Windows, but you will not be able to pull any Windows container.

Update 2022: The link above now mentions that it should work for

• Windows 11 64-bit: Home or Pro version 21H2 or higher, or Enterprise or Education version 21H2 or higher.
• Windows 10 64-bit: Home or Pro 21H1 (build 19043) or higher, or Enterprise or Education 20H2 (build 19042) or higher.