How To Install Docker On Debian 13 In Rootful Mode

Docker is one of the most popular tools for running applications in containers. By default, Docker can run in rootless mode (without requiring root privileges), but for many production use cases and compatibility reasons, running Docker in rootful mode (with full root privileges) is still the standard approach.

In this guide, we’ll walk through installing Docker on Debian 13 (Trixie) in rootful mode.

Step 1: Update Your System

Before installing anything, make sure your package list and system packages are up to date:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Install Required Packages

We need a few dependencies to allow apt to fetch packages over HTTPS:

sudo apt install -y ca-certificates curl gnupg lsb-release

Step 3: Add Docker’s Official GPG Key

Docker packages are signed, so we need to add Docker’s GPG key:

sudo install -m 0755 -d /etc/apt/keyrings
curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/debian/gpg | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.gpg
sudo chmod a+r /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.gpg

Step 4: Set Up the Docker Repository

Now add the Docker APT repository:

echo \
"deb [arch=$(dpkg --print-architecture) signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/docker.gpg] https://download.docker.com/linux/debian \
$(lsb_release -cs) stable" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list > /dev/null

Update your package index again:

sudo apt update

Step 5: Install Docker Engine

Now install the latest version of Docker Engine, CLI, and containerd:

sudo apt install -y docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io docker-buildx-plugin docker-compose-plugin

Step 6: Enable and Start Docker

Enable the Docker service so it starts automatically on boot:

sudo systemctl enable docker
sudo systemctl start docker

Check the status:

sudo systemctl status docker

You should see that Docker is active (running).

Step 7: Verify the Installation

Run the classic hello-world test container:

sudo docker run hello-world

If everything is working, you’ll see a success message from Docker.

Why Rootful Mode?

While rootless mode can be useful for development environments and enhanced security, rootful mode remains the most compatible way to run Docker:

• Works seamlessly with systemd and other system-level services.
• Provides full control over networking and volumes.
• Required by some production-grade workloads.

Conclusion

You’ve successfully installed Docker on Debian 13 in rootful mode. From here, you can start pulling images and running containers. If you want to manage Docker without typing sudo every time, you can add your user to the docker group:

sudo usermod -aG docker $USER

(You’ll need to log out and back in for this change to take effect.)

Now your Debian 13 system is ready to handle containers in full rootful mode.

✅ That’s it! You now have a working Docker setup on Debian 13.

Mark Vincent

Tech enthusiast and content creator passionate about making technology simple for everyone. I share practical tips, guides, and reviews on the latest in computers, software, and gadgets. Let’s explore the digital world together!