How to Install Docker Desktop for Linux on Ubuntu 24.04

Docker Desktop isn’t just for Mac and Windows anymore. If you’re running Ubuntu 24.04 and want a full-featured Docker Desktop experience—with GUI, Kubernetes support, and container management tools—you’re in luck.

In this post, I’ll walk you through exactly how to install Docker Desktop for Linux on Ubuntu 24.04, step by step.

Why Use Docker Desktop on Linux?

If you’re already comfortable with Docker Engine and CLI, you might wonder why you’d want Docker Desktop at all. Here’s what it adds:

• A graphical dashboard to manage containers, images, volumes, and more.
• Built-in Kubernetes (optional but useful for dev environments).
• Docker Extensions for extra features.
• Consistent experience across platforms.

If you work in a cross-platform team or just want a friendlier way to manage your containers, Docker Desktop for Linux is worth it.

Prerequisites

Before you start, make sure:

• You’re running Ubuntu 24.04 (fresh or upgraded).
• Your system supports virtualization (Docker Desktop uses a VM under the hood).
• You’ve removed any conflicting Docker packages.

Step-by-Step Installation

1. Download Docker Desktop for Linux

Head to the official Docker Desktop for Linux downloads page and grab the .deb package for Ubuntu.

Or, use wget in your terminal:

wget https://desktop.docker.com/linux/main/amd64/docker-desktop-<version>-amd64.deb

Replace <version> with the latest version number from the site.

2. Install Required Dependencies

Install these packages if they’re not already present:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y apt-transport-https ca-certificates curl software-properties-common

Docker Desktop also depends on gnome-terminal, so make sure it’s installed:

sudo apt install -y gnome-terminal

3. Install the .deb Package

Run this command to install Docker Desktop:

sudo apt install ./docker-desktop-<version>-amd64.deb

4. Start Docker Desktop

Once installed, you can launch it from your application menu or via terminal:

systemctl --user start docker-desktop

The first startup may take a minute or two.

5. Enable Docker Daemon at Login (Optional)

To start Docker Desktop automatically on login:

systemctl --user enable docker-desktop

Common Issues and Fixes

• Virtualization not enabled? Check your BIOS settings. You need Intel VT-x or AMD-V enabled.
• Wayland issues? If you run into GUI problems, try logging in with the X11 session instead of Wayland.

Bonus: Test It

Run this to check if everything’s working:

docker run hello-world

You should see a confirmation that Docker is pulling and running the image.

Conclusion

Docker Desktop for Linux gives you the best of both worlds: a sleek UI and the full power of the Docker CLI. On Ubuntu 24.04, installation is smooth and fast if you follow the steps.

Got questions or want to automate this with a script? Drop a comment and I’ll help you out.