Run a Full Windows Desktop Inside Docker – Quick Guide

Developers often use macOS but sometimes need to run Windows programs. Instead of a slow virtual machine or remote desktop, the open‑source dockur/windows project allows you to run an entire Windows system directly inside a Docker container, even accessible via a browser.

Docker is a lightweight virtualization tool that packages applications with their runtime environment. Containers include all necessary code, dependencies, and configuration, start quickly, and consume fewer resources than traditional VMs.

The dockur/windows image puts Windows inside Docker, enabling you to launch Windows 11 Professional (or other versions) by setting the VERSION environment variable.

Installation and Usage Guide

1. Using Docker Compose

Create a docker-compose.yml file with the following content:

services:
  windows:
    image: dockurr/windows
    container_name: windows
    environment:
      VERSION: "11"
    devices:
      - /dev/kvm
      - /dev/net/tun
    cap_add:
      - NET_ADMIN
    ports:
      - 8006:8006
      - 3389:3389/tcp
      - 3389:3389/udp
    volumes:
      - ./windows:/storage
    restart: always
    stop_grace_period: 2m

2. Using Docker CLI

If you prefer not to write a Compose file, run the container directly:

docker run -it --rm --name windows \
  -p 8006:8006 \
  --device=/dev/kvm --device=/dev/net/tun \
  --cap-add NET_ADMIN \
  -v "${PWD:-.}/windows:/storage" \
  --stop-timeout 120 dockurr/windows

3. Deploying with Kubernetes

Apply the official Kubernetes manifest:

kubectl apply -f https://raw.githubusercontent.com/dockur/windows/refs/heads/master/kubernetes.yml

After configuring, start the services with docker-compose up -d. In a few minutes, open http://localhost:8006 in a browser to see the Windows desktop.

The process includes extracting the Windows 11 image, building the container, and completing the installation, after which the full Windows UI is available inside the Docker environment.