Docker is an open platform for several operations. It includes developing, shipping, and running applications. It enables users to separate applications from the infrastructure so users can deliver software as soon as possible. With Docker, users can manage their infrastructure as they manage their software or applications. When you make use of Docker’s methodology for shipping, testing, and deploying code, you can drastically cut down the amount of time that passes between developing code and being able to execute it in production.
Docker Desktop was made by Docker and serves as a native desktop app for Windows and Mac users. This makes it easy to run, build, fix, and test containerized apps. Docker enables you to simply build up and maintain isolated environments for each of your projects. It ensures that all dependencies are kept separately and prevents conflicts in the process. Docker also enables you to avoid any potential conflicts. The wonderful part is that Docker’s installation on your Mac is just as simple as it is on any other computer. Through this blog, we’re going to tell you How to install Docker on Mac and system requirements to install Docker on MacOs.
Table of Contents
System Requirements to Install Docker on Mac
Docker for macOS can be installed on both Intel and Apple silicon Macs. The requirements for each item are listed below:
Mac With Intel chip
- macOS version 11 (Big Sur) or newer
- A minimum of 4GB of RAM
- The latest version of VirtualBox on your Mac.
Mac With Apple Silicon
- Starting with Docker Desktop 4.3.0, Docker no longer requires you to install Rosetta 2. But if you want a better experience, use Rosetta 2.
In order to install Rosetta 2 via the command line, use the following command:
How to install Docker on Mac
To install Docker on macOS, you need to get Docker Desktop for Mac. You can do this by following these steps:
- To get Docker, first visit the official Docker website.
- There you’ll find a “Download for Mac” button. Click that button to download the latest version of Docker Desktop for Mac.
- After the download gets completed, double-click the Docker.dmg file and then it will display the installer window.
- To install Docker on Mac drag the Docker icon to the Applications folder.
- From the Applications folder Open Docker Desktop.
Also Check: Our blog post on how to delete docker images
Configure Docker Settings
After the installation process of Docker is done, you need to configure a few settings to make sure that Docker is working correctly on the macOS system.
- From the Applications folder open Docker Desktop.
- In the Docker Desktop menu, click on “Preferences”.
- In the “Resources” section, you can adjust or change the CPU and memory which is allocated to Docker.
- In the “Advanced” section, you can configure network settings and other advanced settings.
Verifying the Docker Installation on Your Mac
After installing Docker on your Mac, you should do some verification to see that it is working properly or not. To do this, first, open the Terminal app on your Mac and run the given command:
- sudo docker --version
This command will return the version of Docker that was installed on your Mac system.
Enter the following commands which are given below, to check that the composition and machine versions of your setup are correct.
- sudo docker-compose --version
- sudo docker-machine --version
You also have the option of using the following command to verify if the installation was successful or not.
- sudo docker run hello-world
If you notice any issues or if the command does not provide any output, then there may be something wrong with how Docker was installed on your computer.
Conclusion
Docker may be installed on macOS in a variety of different methods, although the official installer is by far the easiest way to follow. On the other hand, if for some reason the official installer does not work for you, you may alternatively try installing Docker on your Mac by using the Homebrew package instead. The fact that Homebrew can also be used to install other applications on your Mac is the most useful feature.
Follow the steps given above to install docker on Mac and its verification process. If you face any difficulty, or have any queries, you can reach out to our support team by clicking here.
We simply looked over the most basic commands, but Docker has a lot more to offer than that. Visit the official website of SupportFly if you are interested in consulting more about Docker and our Docker consulting services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How to set up Docker on Mac?
Visit the Docker Desktop for Mac Page:
Go to the official Docker website’s download page for Mac: Docker Desktop for Mac.
Download Docker Desktop:
Click on the “Download for Mac” button to get the Docker Desktop installer.
Install Docker Desktop:
Open the downloaded Docker.dmg file.
Drag the Docker icon to the Applications folder.
Launch Docker Desktop:
Open Docker Desktop from your Applications folder.
Q2. How to install and use Docker Mac?
Using Docker on Mac:
Open Terminal:
Docker can be used through the command line. Open Terminal on your Mac.
Verify Docker Installation:
Run the following command to check that Docker is installed and running:
-docker –version
Run a Docker Container:
You can now pull and run Docker images:
-docker run -p 8080:80 nginx
Access Docker Desktop GUI (Optional):
Docker Desktop also provides a graphical user interface (GUI) for managing containers. You can access it by clicking the Docker icon in your system tray.
Explore Docker Documentation:
Docker has extensive documentation that can help you get started with containers and orchestration. Visit the Docker Documentation for more details.
Q3. Can I install Docker engine on Mac?
Docker Desktop for Mac includes the Docker Engine, so you don’t need to separately install the Docker Engine on your Mac. When you install Docker Desktop, it installs the Docker Engine along with other tools and utilities necessary for container development and management.
