⚙️ Automating Docker Startup on Windows: Ensuring Hassle-Free Workflows

Let us see how to automatically start Docker on Windows immediatly after start-up.
In order to do that, you just need to perform the following steps:

1. Create a text file and rename it dockerAtStartup.ps1
2. Add the following code:

   start-service -Name com.docker.service
   start C:\'Program Files'\Docker\Docker\'Docker Desktop.exe'
   

   NB: Don’t forget to write ‘Program Files’ instead of Program Files to cope with the space in the path. Do the same for ‘Docker Desktop.exe’.

3. In the same folder, create a text file and rename it registerNewTask.ps1

4. Add the following code:

   $trigger = New-ScheduledTaskTrigger -AtStartup
   $action = New-ScheduledTaskAction -Execute "C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe" -Argument "-File C:\PowershellScripts\dockerAtStartup.ps1"
   $settings = New-ScheduledTaskSettingsSet -Compatibility Win8 -AllowStartIfOnBatteries
   Register-ScheduledTask -Action $action -Trigger $trigger -TaskName "Launch Docker on Start up" -Settings $settings -User "Your user account" -Password "Your password" -RunLevel Highest
   try {
       Add-LocalGroupMember -Group docker-users -Member "Your user" -ErrorAction Stop
   }
       catch [Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.MemberExistsException] {
   }
   

5. Open you Powershell CLI as admin,

6. Go to the folder where the scripts (“.ps1 files”) are located and run:

   cd C: ... to-the-folder-where-the-scripts-are-located...
   

7. run:

   .\registerNewTask
   

8. then:

   .\dockerAtStartup
   

   That is all, you have now you Docker launching automatically on start up.