Description

I am trying to install Docker Desktop on Windows 11 Professional with Administration rights. All required features are enabled. Installation keeps failing at certain step, right after creating shortcuts. I tried with versions 4.51.0 and 4.50.0, both had the same error. After fail, I removed all left-over files and tried again to no avail.

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Version: 4.50.0 (209931)
Sha1:
Started on: 2025/11/14 13:36:43.477
Resources: C:\Users\xxxx\AppData\Local\Temp\DockerDesktopInstallers\1763127394516938900\resources
OS: Windows 10 Pro
Edition: Professional
Id: 2009
Build: 26200
BuildLabName: 26100.1.amd64fre.ge_release.240331-1435
File: C:\ProgramData\DockerDesktop\install-log-admin.txt
CommandLine: "C:\Users\xxxx\AppData\Local\Temp\DockerDesktopInstallers\1763127394516938900\Docker Desktop Installer.exe" "install" -package "C:\Users\xxxx\AppData\Local\Temp\DockerDesktopInstallers\1763127394551570400\DockerDesktop.d4w" --relaunch-as-admin
You can send feedback, including this log file, at https://github.com/docker/for-win/issues
[2025-11-14T13:36:43.861359500Z][Installer][I] No installation found
[2025-11-14T13:36:44.324174900Z][AdminInstallHandler][I] Running admin installation
[2025-11-14T13:36:45.072306700Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Using package: C:\Users\xxxx\AppData\Local\Temp\DockerDesktopInstallers\1763127394551570400\DockerDesktop.d4w
[2025-11-14T13:36:45.215306000Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Extracting manifest
[2025-11-14T13:36:49.529116800Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Manifest found: version=209931, displayVersion=4.50.0
[2025-11-14T13:36:49.529116800Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Checking prerequisites
[2025-11-14T13:36:51.980594700Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Prompting for optional features
[2025-11-14T13:36:53.578261500Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Selected backend mode: wsl-2
[2025-11-14T13:36:53.590030500Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Unpacking artifacts
[2025-11-14T13:37:28.796902400Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Deploying component Docker.Installer.CreateGroupAction
[2025-11-14T13:37:28.879046500Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Deploying component Docker.Installer.AddToGroupAction
[2025-11-14T13:37:28.888587100Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Deploying component Docker.Installer.EnableFeaturesAction
[2025-11-14T13:37:28.889597500Z][InstallWorkflow-EnableFeaturesAction][I] Required features: VirtualMachinePlatform, Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux
[2025-11-14T13:37:35.624116900Z][InstallWorkflow-EnableFeaturesAction][I] All features are already installed.
[2025-11-14T13:37:35.624116900Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Deploying component Docker.Installer.ServiceAction
[2025-11-14T13:37:35.626115800Z][InstallWorkflow-ServiceAction][I] Removing service
[2025-11-14T13:37:35.627116800Z][InstallWorkflow-ServiceAction][I] Creating service
[2025-11-14T13:37:35.644278800Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Deploying component Docker.Installer.ShortcutAction
[2025-11-14T13:37:35.687528100Z][InstallWorkflow-ShortcutAction][I] Creating shortcut: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Docker Desktop.lnk/Docker Desktop
[2025-11-14T13:37:35.717914300Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Deploying component Docker.Installer.ShortcutAction
[2025-11-14T13:37:35.723919800Z][InstallWorkflow-ShortcutAction][I] Creating shortcut: D:\Desktop\Docker Desktop.lnk/Docker Desktop
[2025-11-14T13:37:35.750114300Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Deploying component Docker.Installer.AutoStartAction
[2025-11-14T13:37:35.771194700Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Deploying component Docker.Installer.PathAction
[2025-11-14T13:37:35.817541900Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Deploying component Docker.Installer.ExecAction
[2025-11-14T13:37:35.820540300Z][InstallWorkflow-ExecAction][I] Running: C:\Program Files\Docker\Docker\InstallerCli.exe -i with timeout=-1
[2025-11-14T13:37:42.593436300Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Registering product
[2025-11-14T13:37:42.594448700Z][RegisterProductStep][I] Creating installation manifest
[2025-11-14T13:37:42.605436600Z][RegisterProductStep][I] Registering product information
[2025-11-14T13:37:42.621720300Z][RegisterProductStep][I] Registering docker-desktop url-protocol
[2025-11-14T13:37:42.625721200Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Reading existing install-settings
[2025-11-14T13:37:42.684244600Z][InstallWorkflow][E] Installation failed System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
at Docker.Installer.InstallWorkflow.UpdateInstallSettings()
at Docker.Installer.InstallWorkflow.d__29.MoveNext()
--- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown ---
at System.Runtime.ExceptionServices.ExceptionDispatchInfo.Throw()
at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.HandleNonSuccessAndDebuggerNotification(Task task)
at Docker.Installer.InstallWorkflow.d__25.MoveNext()
[2025-11-14T13:37:42.685244700Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Rollbacking component Docker.Installer.ExecAction
[2025-11-14T13:37:42.685244700Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Rollbacking component Docker.Installer.PathAction
[2025-11-14T13:37:42.719809200Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Rollbacking component Docker.Installer.AutoStartAction
[2025-11-14T13:37:42.720801400Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Rollbacking component Docker.Installer.ShortcutAction
[2025-11-14T13:37:42.725077100Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Rollbacking component Docker.Installer.ShortcutAction
[2025-11-14T13:37:42.727089200Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Rollbacking component Docker.Installer.ServiceAction
[2025-11-14T13:37:42.731080400Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Rollbacking component Docker.Installer.EnableFeaturesAction
[2025-11-14T13:37:42.731080400Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Rollbacking component Docker.Installer.AddToGroupAction
[2025-11-14T13:37:42.731080400Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Rollbacking component Docker.Installer.CreateGroupAction
[2025-11-14T13:37:42.731080400Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Rollbacking component Docker.Installer.UnpackArtifactsStep
[2025-11-14T13:37:42.738087400Z][FileSystem][I] Deleting C:\Program Files\Docker\Docker
[2025-11-14T13:37:43.669919600Z][FileSystem][I] Deleted C:\Program Files\Docker\Docker successfully
[2025-11-14T13:37:43.669919600Z][InstallWorkflow][I] Rollbacking component Docker.Installer.ExtractManifestStep

Reproduce

1. Download and run installer.

Expected behavior

No response

docker version

Not available since installation fails.

docker info

Not available since installation fails.

Diagnostics ID

Not available since installation fails.

Additional Info

No response