Description

Issue: Docker Desktop Update Fails to Restart on macOS, Prevents Uninstallation/Reinstallation

Problem Description

This issue occurs reliably after updating Docker Desktop on macOS. The application fails to restart, and attempts to manually uninstall the application via Finder fail because macOS claims the application is still "open," despite standard termination attempts.

System Configuration

• Operating System: macOS 26.0.1 (25A362) (User is on M4 chip system, but states issue persists for years across hardware)
• RAM: 128 GB
• Shell used during troubleshooting: Nushell (nu)
• Docker Version: Occurs during update process (cannot retrieve version of the broken install)

Symptoms

• Docker Desktop app hangs or fails to launch after an automatic or manual update.
• Moving Docker.app to the Trash in Finder results in the error: The item "Docker.app" can't be moved to the Trash because it's open.
• Multiple docker processes are visible in ps output, even after initial kill commands.
• Processes appear to be root-owned (ppid 1) and resistant to standard user kill commands.

Troubleshooting Steps Attempted (and their results)

1. Standard kill commands on identified PIDs:

kill 76331 15766 ...

### Reproduce

## Steps to Reproduce
1. Install Docker Desktop on macOS
2. Use Docker Desktop normally until an update notification appears
3. Initiate the update process through Docker Desktop's built-in updater
4. Wait for the update to download and begin installation
5. Observe Docker Desktop attempting to restart after the update
6. Note that the application fails to relaunch successfully
7. Attempt to manually uninstall by moving Docker.app to Trash via Finder

### Expected behavior

## Expected Behavior
- Docker Desktop should complete the update process successfully
- The application should restart normally after the update
- All previous Docker processes should be properly terminated during the update
- Users should be able to manually uninstall the application if desired
- Moving Docker.app to Trash should succeed without "application is open" errors
- The uninstall command should be accessible and functional

## Actual Behavior
- Docker Desktop app hangs or fails to launch after an automatic or manual update.
- Moving Docker.app to the Trash in Finder results in the error: `The item "Docker.app" can't be moved to the Trash because it's open.`
- Multiple docker processes are visible in `ps` output, even after initial kill commands.
- Processes appear to be root-owned (ppid 1) and resistant to standard user kill commands.


### docker version

```bash
It is usually the latest. I'm unable to determine version b/c I can't open it!

docker info

returns nothing

Diagnostics ID

44931BC3-74BB-44E3-A1FD-8236FE7010EA/20251109012414 (uploaded)

Additional Info

This has been a persistent problem for YEARS.
https://www.reddit.com/r/docker/comments/vwq724/wtf_is_up_with_docker_desktop_on_macos/

There's no The only way to fix is usually to reboot. I should not have to do that every time I update.

It's an utter joke that a firm as large as yours can't properly service the mac developer community!