# Docker is installed but devKinsta is not starting

**URL:** <https://community.kinsta.com/t/docker-is-installed-but-devkinsta-is-not-starting/4722>\
**Category:** Installation\
**Created:** [January 16, 2025, 2:20pm UTC](https://community.kinsta.com/t/docker-is-installed-but-devkinsta-is-not-starting/4722 "2025-01-16T14:20:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 18\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![abhishek](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.kinsta.com/abhishek/32/4617_2.png) [@abhishek](https://community.kinsta.com/u/abhishek)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2025, 2:20pm UTC](https://community.kinsta.com/t/docker-is-installed-but-devkinsta-is-not-starting/4722/1 "2025-01-16T14:20:36Z")

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I have Docker Desktop Running, but Devkinsta kept saying I need to install Docker on my computer

I have followed the steps from past topic, but that is not solving my problem

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**Author:** ![merineth](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.kinsta.com/merineth/32/3022_2.png) [@merineth](https://community.kinsta.com/u/merineth)\
**Post date:** [January 17, 2025, 3:21am UTC](https://community.kinsta.com/t/docker-is-installed-but-devkinsta-is-not-starting/4722/2 "2025-01-17T03:21:16Z")

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Hi @abhishek Welcome to the Kinsta Community!

I am sorry to hear that you are having issues with running DevKinsta.

Are you able to provide a screenshot of your screen and provide the following information?

**DevKinsta Version:**  
**OS Version:**  
**Docker Desktop Version:**

Also, have you tried doing this?

Open **Docker Desktop** , and go to **Settings → Advanced** , see if the checkbox is enabled for the “_Allow the default Docker socket to be used (requires password)_” ?

If it doesn’t work, please close DevKinsta completely, then enable that checkbox mentioned above, and quit Docker and open DevKinsta again.

Please let me know if that helps. I will wait for your update.  
Thank you.

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**Author:** ![abhishek](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.kinsta.com/abhishek/32/4617_2.png) [@abhishek](https://community.kinsta.com/u/abhishek)\
**Post date:** [January 17, 2025, 12:45pm UTC](https://community.kinsta.com/t/docker-is-installed-but-devkinsta-is-not-starting/4722/3 "2025-01-17T12:45:26Z")

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Hey @merineth,  
DevKinsta Version: 2.13.4  
OS Version: sequoia 15.2  
Docker Desktop Version: 4.37.2

Yes I have tried `Allow the default Docker socket to be used (requires password)`, but unfortunately that did not help

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**Author:** ![Andrew](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.kinsta.com/andrew/32/2792_2.png) [@Andrew](https://community.kinsta.com/u/Andrew)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2025, 1:56am UTC](https://community.kinsta.com/t/docker-is-installed-but-devkinsta-is-not-starting/4722/4 "2025-01-19T01:56:52Z")

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Hi @abhishek! Thank you for your reply.

We would like to review the log information being generated by DevKinsta during the startup process. This information can help point us in the direction of the root cause of the issue. Could you please send me a direct/private message that has a copy of the main.log file generated by DevKinsta attached? This log file can be found in the “/Users//Library/Logs/DevKinsta” directory.

We look forward to hearing from you!

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**Author:** ![Andrew](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.kinsta.com/andrew/32/2792_2.png) [@Andrew](https://community.kinsta.com/u/Andrew)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2025, 2:16am UTC](https://community.kinsta.com/t/docker-is-installed-but-devkinsta-is-not-starting/4722/6 "2025-01-20T02:16:37Z")

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Hi @abhishek! Thank you for sending me the main.log file!

I have reviewed the log and I see DevKinsta is experiencing an issue with connecting to the Docker socket file. I would like to ensure the proper symlink is setup for this file. If you could please run the following command in a Terminal on your system to setup the symlink:

sudo ln -s “$HOME/.docker/run/docker.sock” /var/run/docker.sock

You will be prompted for the administrator password. If your user is an administrator you may enter your password. After running this command it should simply run silently and take you back to a prompt after it has completed running.

Once this symlink has been setup please try fully exiting DevKinsta and relaunching it to see if it can now connect to Docker properly.

Please let us know if this helps. We are looking forward to hearing back from you!

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**Author:** ![abhishek](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.kinsta.com/abhishek/32/4617_2.png) [@abhishek](https://community.kinsta.com/u/abhishek)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2025, 11:55am UTC](https://community.kinsta.com/t/docker-is-installed-but-devkinsta-is-not-starting/4722/7 "2025-01-20T11:55:22Z")

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Hey @Andrew ,  
Thanks a lot, I tried created symlink and it did not help me, I am still facing same issue.

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**Author:** ![VladimirM](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.kinsta.com/vladimirm/32/2786_2.png) [@VladimirM](https://community.kinsta.com/u/VladimirM)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2025, 2:04pm UTC](https://community.kinsta.com/t/docker-is-installed-but-devkinsta-is-not-starting/4722/8 "2025-01-20T14:04:06Z")

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Hello Abishek 👋

Since the symlinks solution didn’t work, did you try backing up the sites in DevKinsta and reinstalling it and Docker completely?

Kind regards

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**Author:** ![aaj](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.kinsta.com/aaj/32/4502_2.png) [@aaj](https://community.kinsta.com/u/aaj)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2025, 8:16pm UTC](https://community.kinsta.com/t/docker-is-installed-but-devkinsta-is-not-starting/4722/9 "2025-02-24T20:16:58Z")

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Hi there,  
Same issue for me! Have run the docker.sock command, have enabled the default Docker socket in settings. Force quit devKinsta, deleted the application, re-downloaded, re-installed, same exact issue.

Andrew

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**Author:** ![Adrian\_L](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.kinsta.com/adrian_l/32/2810_2.png) [@Adrian\_L](https://community.kinsta.com/u/Adrian_L)\
**Post date:** [February 25, 2025, 4:41am UTC](https://community.kinsta.com/t/docker-is-installed-but-devkinsta-is-not-starting/4722/10 "2025-02-25T04:41:43Z")

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Hi @aaj

Please check for warnings or notifications in Docker Desktop and click the “Reapply Configuration” or “Repair” button if you see them. Hopefully, this will fix the issue.

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/kinsta/original/2X/4/489ce0410b2ca0f2c1f8bf2cf9a63c7aba88898b.png)

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/kinsta/original/2X/1/146bfed3552e056583fe5cfbfa86e3c383eda348.png)

If the issue persists, please provide the following information so we can better assist you.

**DevKinsta Version:**  
**OS Version:**  
**Docker Desktop Version:**  
**DevKinsta main.log:** This is usually stored at _`~Library/Logs/DevKinsta`_ directory.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![aaj](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.kinsta.com/aaj/32/4502_2.png) [@aaj](https://community.kinsta.com/u/aaj)\
**Post date:** [February 25, 2025, 3:01pm UTC](https://community.kinsta.com/t/docker-is-installed-but-devkinsta-is-not-starting/4722/11 "2025-02-25T15:01:20Z")

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Yes, there are no issues to clear. I installed Docker from the link at the same time I installed devKinsta.

OS: Sequoia 15.3  
DK: Version 2.13.4 (2.13.4.8833)  
Docker Desktop: 4.38.0 (181591)  
main.log (redacted)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![VladimirM](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.kinsta.com/vladimirm/32/2786_2.png) [@VladimirM](https://community.kinsta.com/u/VladimirM)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 10:32am UTC](https://community.kinsta.com/t/docker-is-installed-but-devkinsta-is-not-starting/4722/12 "2025-02-26T10:32:26Z")

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Apologies for the delayed reply @aaj 👋

Just to confirm, you are able to start Docker Desktop separately? What I’m asking is whether Docker is installed as standalone and working when you run it separately?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![aaj](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.kinsta.com/aaj/32/4502_2.png) [@aaj](https://community.kinsta.com/u/aaj)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2025, 3:01pm UTC](https://community.kinsta.com/t/docker-is-installed-but-devkinsta-is-not-starting/4722/13 "2025-02-26T15:01:48Z")

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Yes, it sure is. I have no containers present in the app, but it shows as running with no issues at all.

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**Author:** ![Adrian\_L](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.kinsta.com/adrian_l/32/2810_2.png) [@Adrian\_L](https://community.kinsta.com/u/Adrian_L)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 2:12am UTC](https://community.kinsta.com/t/docker-is-installed-but-devkinsta-is-not-starting/4722/14 "2025-02-27T02:12:56Z")

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@aaj

While the Docker Desktop is running, when you launch the DevKinsta app, can you check the status of the DevKinsta containers to see if they are running?

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/kinsta/original/2X/d/da73b6e3bb2f83c917b5e7a5e3f2a04b2ceed2e3.png)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![VladimirM](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.kinsta.com/vladimirm/32/2786_2.png) [@VladimirM](https://community.kinsta.com/u/VladimirM)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 7:11am UTC](https://community.kinsta.com/t/docker-is-installed-but-devkinsta-is-not-starting/4722/16 "2025-02-27T07:11:09Z")

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Hello Andrew 👋 @aaj

I just noticed you stated there are no containers.

Did you try going to **Docker Desktop** , and go to **Settings → Advanced** , see if the checkbox is enabled for the “_Allow the default Docker socket to be used (requires password)_ ” ?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![aaj](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.kinsta.com/aaj/32/4502_2.png) [@aaj](https://community.kinsta.com/u/aaj)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 4:01pm UTC](https://community.kinsta.com/t/docker-is-installed-but-devkinsta-is-not-starting/4722/17 "2025-02-27T16:01:57Z")

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Yes, that’s enabled:

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/kinsta/original/2X/c/c955523ee93e699fe3d01d5bff650d0f816b18a9.png)  
However, no running containers show up on the opening screen of the app (I just installed Docker Desktop at the same time as DevKinsta, I don’t use it for anything else).

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**Author:** ![merineth](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.kinsta.com/merineth/32/3022_2.png) [@merineth](https://community.kinsta.com/u/merineth)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2025, 7:19am UTC](https://community.kinsta.com/t/docker-is-installed-but-devkinsta-is-not-starting/4722/18 "2025-02-28T07:19:34Z")

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Hi @aaj Thank you for providing a screenshot.

Could you try running the following command in your Mac’s terminal while ensuring that both DK and Docker are completely closed and not running in the background?

`sudo ln -s "$HOME/.docker/run/docker.sock" /var/run/docker.sock`

Let us know the results after. We will wait for your update.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![aaj](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.kinsta.com/aaj/32/4502_2.png) [@aaj](https://community.kinsta.com/u/aaj)\
**Post date:** [February 28, 2025, 5:35pm UTC](https://community.kinsta.com/t/docker-is-installed-but-devkinsta-is-not-starting/4722/19 "2025-02-28T17:35:40Z")

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Hi there,  
I’d already tried that, but I ran it again with neither program running. I got this message:  
ln: /var/run/docker.sock: File exists

Still getting the error message when I open up DevKinsta. After I ran the command I opened Docker Desktop, verified it had started, then opened DevKinsta.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Andrew](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.kinsta.com/andrew/32/2792_2.png) [@Andrew](https://community.kinsta.com/u/Andrew)\
**Post date:** [March 1, 2025, 2:54am UTC](https://community.kinsta.com/t/docker-is-installed-but-devkinsta-is-not-starting/4722/20 "2025-03-01T02:54:04Z")

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Hi Andrew! Thank you for your reply!

I am sorry to hear that this issue is persisting and prevening you from using DevKinsta. I understand the importance of finding a solution as soon as possible!

As I understand you have not yet been able to start using DevKinsta. Additionally, you have just installed Docker Desktop and currently have no containers or volumes created. In this case, I would like to see if we can essentially start over by completely removing DevKinsta and Docker and reinstalling everything.

**Please note that performing this clean reinstallation will delete everything related to DevKinsta and Docker. This includes any Docker container or volumes not associated with DevKinsta if you have any.**

Please start with completely removing DevKinsta. This can be accomplished by uninstalling the application as you did earlier. Then remove the “DevKinsta” directory in your home folder. In addition to removing this folder please remove the Library \>\> Application Support \>\> DevKinsta folder. The Library directory can be accessed by opening Finder, selecting “Go” in the top bar and then hold the “Option” key to expose “Library” in the folder list.

Next, let’s remove Docker Desktop. To uninstall Docker Desktop please launch it so it’s top bar icon is visible. Next, secondary click the Docker Desktop top bar icon and select “Troubleshoot” from the drop down menu. From here you should see an option to uninstall Docker Desktop. Please select this option to remove it from the system.

Next, navigate to Library \>\> Application Support. In here locate the “Docker Desktop” folder and remove it.

After both applications have been uninstalled and the folders removed please restart your Mac.

We now need to reinstall the applications. Please download a fresh copy of Docker Desktop from the link below:

> **[Mac](https://docs.docker.com/desktop/setup/install/mac-install/)**
>
> Install Docker for Mac to get started. This guide covers system requirements, where to download, and instructions on how to install and update.

After you have downloaded the new installer please complete the installation. During the installation please leave the defaults, and use the recommended settings. You may be prompted for your administrator password during the installation. Please provide it so Docker Desktop can be configured properly.

After Docker Desktop has been reinstalled you may try reinstalling DevKinsta. You can use the same DevKinsta installer you downloaded earlier. Once DevKinsta has been reinstalled please try launching it again to see if a clean reinstallation has helped resolve the issue.

We look forward to hearing back from you!
