Unable to start or even install docker

[LukeCSYello]

Description

Turning on my Mac, I am immediately presented a popup that cannot be dismissed.

I uninstall the app, and attempt to re-install it from the latest version.

I am then given the error "Docker is damaged and can't be opened", in a similar dialog, with the buttons 'Ok' and 'Show in Finder'.

I then follow the steps given in #7527
(Although the first step sudo pkill '[dD]ocker' did not work as Docker had already been uninstalled.

I have tried to install previous versions but all versions tested (listed in reproduce steps) yielded the same results.

I am not sure what triggered the popup to show initially as it was only when I first started my machine this morning, rather than in response to trying to install for first time or update.

Reproduce

1. Get popup saying "Docker will damage your computer"
2. Click ok, it keeps popping up
3. Uninstall docker, including removing from trash bin
4. Follow steps from Malware detection prevents Docker Desktop to start #7527
5. Try to install 4.37.2, 4.37.1, 4.37.0, 4.36.0, all with the same "Docker is damaged and can't be opened" dialogs

Of course, I had tried restarting my machine after uninstalling before trying to reinstall the freshly downloaded .dmg files.

Expected behavior

Docker should run.

docker version

No output, Docker is not able to be installed.

Tried installing Docker desktop versions 4.37.2, 4.37.1, 4.37.0, 4.36.0. 

The original version that broke was first downloaded 24 May 2024, so I suspect it would have been 4.30.0, but I don't know for certain if it had been updated, and to which version it may have been updated to. The original .dmg installed was 502.3MB if that helps to narrow it down.

docker info

No output, Docker is not able to be installed.

Diagnostics ID

No diagnostics ID as Docker is not able to be installed.

Additional Info

macOS: Sonoma 14.4.1
Processor: 2GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5
Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics 1536 MB

[IPPO355]

Hi,

Some of the Users in my organisation are facing this issue, When they normally tried opening Docker Desktop they were provided with the error referred in 7527, Tried the steps specified in the same article but it returned no directory found as the same was uninstalled. The devices reported this issue were running Ventura 13.4.1, Monterey 12.7.6 Also there was another instance but the same was remediated once i uninstalled and reinstalled (That too was with Ventura) and same happened with another Monterey machine as well but remediated once i uninstalled and reinstalled.

The steps i followed to uninstall are as follows:-

Option+Command+Delete the Docker.app
Remove Docker Desktop Under ~/Library/Application Support
Removed associated container and cache
Removed ~/.docker

I followed the above for the specified 2 devices (Which i am actually having issues with) above yielded same result as specifed by @LukeCSYello moreover in my case the application does not inflate but still it is running as per the activity monitor tried various steps from ChatGPT.

[newnakashima]

I also tried following the steps in #7527, but the issue was not resolved. My OS is Sonoma 14.6.1, and I'm using a MacBook Air M2 2022.
When I run the command mentioned in the steps, I get the following result:

$ ./fix-docker.sh
Stopping Docker...
Stopping com.docker.vmnetd service...
Boot-out failed: 5: Input/output error
Stopping com.docker.socket service...
Boot-out failed: 5: Input/output error
Removing com.docker.vmnetd binary...
Removing com.docker.socket binary...
Install new binaries...

I tried Docker Desktop 4.37.2 for Mac with Apple chip.

In my case, uninstalling and reinstalling Docker Desktop did not resolve the issue.

[sambegin]

Also tried all the above, on Sonoma 14.7.1 MacBook Pro M1 Chip.

Tried with the most recent version available on the website (4.29.0) and many others... same result. This popup continues to open each and every time.

EDIT:
I've followed these steps: #7520 (comment) and was able to re-open docker and make it work properly by re-installing it from brew instead

[varma-shipsy]

Still Facing the issue, tried as mentioned in #7527

[cloudworkpro-sean]

Our team is experiencing the same issue mentioned by @varma-shipsy.

[haoxi911]

Same here. I am on macOS 14.6.1 (23G93).

[ravishankarchaubey]

I had the same issue on Apple M1Pro / MacOS Sonoma 14.3.1. Finally, Docker Desktop was moved to Bin.
After updating the MacOS to Seqoia 15.2 (24C101), I started getting this pop-up as soon as the OS starts/restarts.

“com.docker.vmnetd” was not opened because it contains malware. This action did not harm your Mac.

I tried installing Docker Desktop v4.37.2, and v4.36.0 but all of them failed to start.

[chartera]

sudo /Volumes/Docker/Docker.app/Contents/MacOS/install

[rizvee1982]

sudo /Volumes/Docker/Docker.app/Contents/MacOS/install

This seemed to resolve it for me.

[milesj76]

sudo /Volumes/Docker/Docker.app/Contents/MacOS/install

Reinstall was still giving me issues. Uninstalled using instructions from #7527 and reinstalled using this command fixed for me as well.

UPDATE:
Ended up being unable to run mssql container, seemed to be either a permissions or volumes issue with Docker. Had to uninstall and use an older version of Docker to get things working again. Figured I'd add this in case anyone still has problems with this new version of Docker.

[angelica-varesi]

I have the same problem with another container!v What version did you install?
Thanks

[homains-ou]

Does anyone know the root cause of this? Does Docker have malware, or why was it detected like this?

[Skountz]

Does anyone know the root cause of this? Does Docker have malware, or why was it detected like this?

The problem comes from a failed certificate rotation, and is fixed in the latest version.

But after trying all recommended steps provided by #7527 and running the command provided in this issue (and waiting for a few minutes for a final pop-up to ask my password), Docker is now able to start.

[gnulnx]

If your issues is CDK related this is the work around we are using...

brew install colima
colima start
cdk deploy

CDK will invoke the Docker CLI, which now points to Colima.

[wahyubudii]

sudo /Volumes/Docker/Docker.app/Contents/MacOS/install

thanks it's works for me
Mac M3 Air

[ogidimitrov]

Description

Turning on my Mac, I am immediately presented a popup that cannot be dismissed.

I uninstall the app, and attempt to re-install it from the latest version.

I am then given the error "Docker is damaged and can't be opened", in a similar dialog, with the buttons 'Ok' and 'Show in Finder'.

I then follow the steps given in #7527 (Although the first step sudo pkill '[dD]ocker' did not work as Docker had already been uninstalled.

I have tried to install previous versions but all versions tested (listed in reproduce steps) yielded the same results.

I am not sure what triggered the popup to show initially as it was only when I first started my machine this morning, rather than in response to trying to install for first time or update.

Reproduce

1. Get popup saying "Docker will damage your computer"
2. Click ok, it keeps popping up
3. Uninstall docker, including removing from trash bin
4. Follow steps from Malware detection prevents Docker Desktop to start #7527
5. Try to install 4.37.2, 4.37.1, 4.37.0, 4.36.0, all with the same "Docker is damaged and can't be opened" dialogs

Of course, I had tried restarting my machine after uninstalling before trying to reinstall the freshly downloaded .dmg files.

Expected behavior

Docker should run.

docker version

No output, Docker is not able to be installed.

Tried installing Docker desktop versions 4.37.2, 4.37.1, 4.37.0, 4.36.0.

The original version that broke was first downloaded 24 May 2024, so I suspect it would have been 4.30.0, but I don't know for certain if it had been updated, and to which version it may have been updated to. The original .dmg installed was 502.3MB if that helps to narrow it down.

docker info

No output, Docker is not able to be installed.

Diagnostics ID

No diagnostics ID as Docker is not able to be installed.

Additional Info

macOS: Sonoma 14.4.1 Processor: 2GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5 Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics 1536 MB

the key statement for me was including removing from trash bin

[FCBTruong]

Same, any solutions, please

[rizvee1982]

Docker provided the resolution here: https://www.docker.com/blog/incident-update-docker-desktop-for-mac/?utm_source=marketo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ES-O+2025-01-09+Incident%3A+iOS+Cert&mkt_tok=NzkwLVNTQi0zNzUAAAGX8R_MBvNNoRzunqwUvSr4B-dqmVyMXS6f-DU8o33SJIt0ScAwwINn4XH4HS-2dpsk3NvBi1IbyriiPyBXwc1EMXvPQDhyWruMhgVqMXG-wU3c

[LukeCSYello]

Docker provided the resolution here: https://www.docker.com/blog/incident-update-docker-desktop-for-mac/?utm_source=marketo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ES-O+2025-01-09+Incident%3A+iOS+Cert&mkt_tok=NzkwLVNTQi0zNzUAAAGX8R_MBvNNoRzunqwUvSr4B-dqmVyMXS6f-DU8o33SJIt0ScAwwINn4XH4HS-2dpsk3NvBi1IbyriiPyBXwc1EMXvPQDhyWruMhgVqMXG-wU3c

Thanks! This seemed to fix the issue for me (particularly https://docs.docker.com/desktop/cert-revoke-solution/#install-a-patch-if-you-have-version-432---436 steps 1-5)