Error AtlasError Documentation and Resolution
Back to searchMore Docker errors

Docker

Docker client cannot connect to the Docker daemon

Cannot connect to the Docker daemon. Is 'docker daemon' running on this host?

The Docker client could not reach a running Docker daemon, either because the daemon is not started locally or because the client is pointed at an unreachable host.

Cannot connect to the Docker daemondaemon

Observed message

Cannot connect to the Docker daemon. Is 'docker daemon' running on this host?

Also seen as

  • Cannot connect to the Docker daemon at unix:///var/run/docker.sock.
  • Cannot connect to the Docker daemon at tcp://localhost:2375.

Why it happens

  • The Docker daemon is not running on the current system.
  • The Docker client is configured to use a different host and that host is unreachable.
  • The DOCKER_HOST environment variable points to the wrong daemon endpoint.

How to fix it

  1. Check whether Docker is running by using docker info or the platform service manager.
  2. Inspect the DOCKER_HOST environment variable and unset it if it is pointing to the wrong host.
  3. If the client is meant to use a remote daemon, verify that the remote service is up and reachable.

Official reference

Docker Docs: Troubleshooting the Docker daemon

Related errors

unable to configure the Docker daemon with file /etc/docker/daemon.jsonDocker daemon failed to start because daemon.json conflicts with startup flagscould not get XDG_RUNTIME_DIRDocker rootless mode could not get XDG_RUNTIME_DIRfailed to solveDocker build failed to solveLoading the build result for multi-platform images is not supportedDocker Buildx could not load a multi-platform build result locally

Explore more

DockerBrowse more Docker errorsdaemonBrowse more daemon errors
Cannot connect to the Docker daemon: causes and fixes | Error Atlas