Docker Desktop update results in... an uninstallation(?)

[SpiralBrad]

Description

Twice now, I I have tried to update Docker Desktop (from 4.32.0 and I think even 4.33.1) to the more recent 4.34.1 and now 4.34.2, and it results in... no errors, but also no more Docker Dekstop.

The UI alerts me to a newer version, and it allows me to download and update it within the UI. I do that, and... the UI goes away, with nothing further. At that point, I no longer have Docker Desktop installed.

Reproduce

1. Install Docker Desktop 4.32.0 or 4.33.1
2. Use the UI to do an in-place update.
3. Docker Desktop is seemingly uninstalled.

Expected behavior

Docker Desktop should UPDATE (as that is what the user is doing), not uninstall.

An uninstallation should not be part of the process. It should update in-place, and if there are maintenance or cleanup tasks needed from older versions, they should be handled as part of the update; not via a complete uninstallation.

docker version

(can't get anything of use, as docker was uninstalled under my nose; reinstalling would be of no use for this)

docker info

(can't get anything of use, as docker was uninstalled under my nose; reinstalling would be of no use for this)

Diagnostics ID

(can't get anything of use, as docker was uninstalled under my nose; reinstalling would be of no use for this)

Additional Info

No response

[SpiralBrad]

This may be related to #14299

[SpiralBrad]

An an attempted reinstallation with the 4.33.1 installer just gave the following error:

Component Docker.Installer.EnableFeaturesAction failed: 
   at Docker.Installer.InstallWorkflow.<DoHandleD4WPackageAsync>d__30.MoveNext()
--- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown ---
   at System.Runtime.ExceptionServices.ExceptionDispatchInfo.Throw()
   at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.HandleNonSuccessAndDebuggerNotification(Task task)
   at Docker.Installer.InstallWorkflow.<DoProcessAsync>d__23.MoveNext()

[MihaelaStoica]

@SpiralBrad I am sorry to hear that you are having troubles upgrading Docker Desktop.
I don't know if this is possible with the state of the application on your machine, but could you please try create and upload a diagnostic via the command line, as per instructions here?
If this doesn't work, could you please share the install logs, which should have been preserved. There are 2 sets of install logs:

• the user instal logs in C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Local\Docker
• the admin install logs in C:\ProgramData\DockerDesktop

[SpiralBrad]

I could do neither thing in the state it was in, but I did manage to reinstall Docker Desktop 4.33.1.

I am certain that if I were to upgrade to 4.34.2 (current) using the UI at this point, I would return to the state of this issue, where Docker was completely uninstalled (as the same process has caused it twice).

But with my current installation of 4.33.1, the diagnostic confirmed an upload, and is: DAC528BD-C4E4-4BF2-B504-28FF4B6BAE1C/20240918191054

I saw it gathering tons of logs from previous dates, so that may have plenty of data for you.

[chandrabhan-singh-1]

Download the latest release 4.34.2 . This may solve the problem for you, But, it also giving errors while starting for me these days. Maybe, it will work for you. Just don't use WSL and Docker together, Their compatibility issues are causing most of these problems.

[SpiralBrad]

Download the latest release 4.34.2 . This may solve the problem for you, But, it also giving errors while starting for me these days. Maybe, it will work for you. Just don't use WSL and Docker together, Their compatibility issues are causing most of these problems.

I was indeed able to update to 4.34.2 using the installer on its' release notes page. Had I updated using the UI in 4.33.1 I think it would have broken again.

I'm gonna be rather leary of updating from the UI for a while, heh.

[egcmi]

i just had the same issue with docker desktop 4.38.0 trying to update to 4.39.0. also this happened to me multiple times in the past trying to update from various different versions, however i don't remember which ones exactly. i did just reinstall version 4.38.0 with the installer provided on the docker website (i guess it's not updated to the latest version). i ran the diagnostics tool and this is the result:

Diagnostics ID: 5B2825E6-5E75-434A-9C36-3AE6667A92C1/20250310170607 (uploaded)

i will now try updating again and report back

[egcmi]

it worked this time, here is the result of the diagnose tool

Diagnostics ID: 5B2825E6-5E75-434A-9C36-3AE6667A92C1/20250310171245 (uploaded)

[jamiehankins]

I just had this happen with v4.39.0. At the bottom of Docker Desktop, it said to click to update. It went through a process, and when it was finished, there was no more Docker.

I just downloaded and installed v4.39.0, and it installed and is running.

I ran the diagnose and upload utility (193B3209-1A91-486E-A851-4526CB4C2779/20250311173624).