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docs: Added section for WSL installation and verification #22825

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Added instructions for WSL installation
chaomonica Jun 11, 2025
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chaomonica Jun 11, 2025
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chaomonica Jun 11, 2025
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chaomonica Jun 13, 2025
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35 changes: 35 additions & 0 deletions content/manuals/desktop/setup/install/windows-install.md
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Expand Up @@ -158,6 +158,41 @@

{{< /accordion >}}

## Administrator privileges and installation requirements

Installing Docker Desktop requires administrator privileges. However, once installed, it can be used without administrative access. Some actions, though, still need elevated permissions. See [Understand permission requirements for Windows](./windows-permission-requirements.md) for more detail.

If your users do not have administrator rights and plan to perform operations that require elevated privileges, be sure to install Docker Desktop using the `--always-run-service` installer flag. This ensures those actions can still be executed without prompting for User Account Control (UAC) elevation. See [Installer Flags](#installer-flags) for more detail.

## WSL: Verification and setup

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GitHub Actions / vale 

[vale] reported by reviewdog 🐶
[Docker.HeadingSentenceCase] Use sentence case for headings: 'WSL: Verification and setup'.

Raw Output:
{"message": "[Docker.HeadingSentenceCase] Use sentence case for headings: 'WSL: Verification and setup'.", "location": {"path": "content/manuals/desktop/setup/install/windows-install.md", "range": {"start": {"line": 167, "column": 4}}}, "severity": "WARNING"}

If you have chosen to use WSL, first verify that your installed version meets system requirements by running the following command in your terminal:

```console
wsl --version
```

If version details do not appear, you are likely using the inbox version of WSL. This version does not support modern capabilities and must be updated.

You can update or install WSL using one of the following methods:

### Option 1: Install or update WSL via the terminal

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[vale] reported by reviewdog 🐶
[Docker.HeadingLength] Try to keep headings short (< 8 words).

Raw Output:
{"message": "[Docker.HeadingLength] Try to keep headings short (\u003c 8 words).", "location": {"path": "content/manuals/desktop/setup/install/windows-install.md", "range": {"start": {"line": 179, "column": 5}}}, "severity": "INFO"}

1. Open PowerShell or Windows Command Prompt in administrator mode.
2. Run either the install or update command. You may be prompted to restart your machine. For more information, refer to [Install WSL](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install).
```console
wsl --install

wsl --update
```

### Option 2: Install WSL via the MSI package

If Microsoft Store access is blocked due to security policies:
1. Go to the official [WSL GitHub Releases page](https://github.com/microsoft/WSL/releases).
2. Download the `.msi` installer from the latest stable release (under the Assets drop-down).
3. Run the downloaded installer and follow the setup instructions.

## Install Docker Desktop on Windows

> [!TIP]
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