I'm trying to figure out if Docker Desktop can be installed on my Raspberry Pi that's running PiOS 64-bit Bookworm. I tried using the Debian installation instructions, but when I execute the command 'sudo apt-get install ./docker-desktop-amd64.deb', it throws an error saying the file isn't supported. Is there an alternative installation command I should use, or is it simply that Docker Desktop isn't compatible with PiOS? I'm new to Docker, although I've managed to get a container running already and am now looking to install more, especially since I've used Docker Desktop on my Windows 11 system.
3 Answers
Docker Desktop is really geared towards desktop environments like Windows and Mac, and it isn't suitable for Raspberry Pi OS. You can definitely use Docker Engine, which is more lightweight and doesn't require a GUI like Docker Desktop does. If you're looking for a GUI, consider using Portainer instead to manage your containers easily.
You won't be able to install an amd64 package on Raspberry Pi because it's ARM architecture, not AMD 64. Make sure you're following the right setup for Docker on your Pi. Check out the official Docker engine installation guide for Debian instead.
Thanks for pointing that out! I did confirm that I was trying to install Docker Desktop, not just Docker Engine. It looks like Docker Desktop isn't the best fit for the Pi at all.
Great call on looking for alternatives! Since Docker Desktop is resource-heavy and PiOS runs on limited hardware, sticking with Docker Engine through the command line is definitely a smarter route. If you want to visualize everything later on, tools like Portainer or other similar options can help you manage your containers.
Absolutely! I'll definitely give Portainer a try.
Good to know! I'll look into Portainer. Thanks for the suggestion!
Exactly! Docker Desktop is made for x86/x64 systems. For Raspberry Pi, command line tools will serve you much better.