Temporary Trick to Keep Docker Desktop Working Correctly on Ubuntu(24.04+; including 24.10) Without Losing Data 🐳🚀

This script provides a temporary workaround to make Docker Desktop function "correctly" on Ubuntu 24.04+ without losing volumes, images, or containers. It helps avoid the common issue where Docker Desktop fails to start, requiring users to delete ~/.docker or reinstall Docker Desktop repeatedly to make it work again.

🛠 How It Works?

When Ubuntu starts or a user logs in, the script checks if Docker Desktop is running. If Docker is NOT running, it deletes a specific file that may be preventing it from starting correctly. This trick avoids unnecessary resets and ensures Docker Desktop can start properly without erasing your existing containers, images, or volumes. It also runs before shutdown or reboot, ensuring a clean state for the next session.

⚠️ Important Notes:

No need to delete ~/.docker manually
Preserves your containers, images, and volumes
Avoids constant reinstallations of Docker Desktop
Fully automated at startup, login, and shutdown

Create the Script

Save the following script as /usr/local/bin/check_docker.sh:

#!/bin/bash
FILE_TO_REMOVE="/home/$USER/.docker/desktop/settings-store.json"
if ! pgrep -x "Docker Desktop" > /dev/null; then
    if [ -f "$FILE_TO_REMOVE" ]; then
        rm -f "$FILE_TO_REMOVE"
    fi
fi

Set Permissions

sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/check_docker.sh

Run the Script at Startup and Before Shutdown

Create a systemd service file:

sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/check_docker.service

Add the following content:

[Unit]
Description=Checks if Docker is running and deletes a file if not
After=network.target
Before=shutdown.target reboot.target halt.target

[Service]
Type=oneshot
ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/check_docker.sh
RemainAfterExit=yes

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target shutdown.target reboot.target halt.target

Save the file (press Ctrl + X, then Y, and Enter).

Enable and Start the Service

Run these commands to enable and start the service:

sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable check_docker.service
sudo systemctl start check_docker.service

Run the Script on User Login

To execute the script when a user logs in, add the following line to your ~/.bashrc or ~/.bash_profile:

/usr/local/bin/check_docker.sh

If you want it to run when a graphical session starts, add it to ~/.profile:

echo "/usr/local/bin/check_docker.sh" >> ~/.profile

Verify Everything Works

To manually test the script, run:

/usr/local/bin/check_docker.sh

To check the systemd service status:

systemctl status check_docker.service

Summary

Checks if Docker Desktop is running
Deletes a file if Docker is not active
Runs at system startup, before shutdown, and on user login

olaferlandsen/INSTRUCTIONS.md