Error starting Docker Desktop: "registry startup key watcher error: More data is available"

[Galloxitl]

Description

Docker Desktop throws the following error at startup when first installed:
registry startup key watcher error: getting system startup: getting registry key SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StartupApproved\Run value: More data is available.

Reproduce

1. Launch Docker Desktop manually or let it start automatically with Windows.
2. Wait for initialization.
3. The error message appears.
4. Docker Desktop fails to start properly.

Expected behavior

Docker Desktop should start successfully without registry-related errors.

docker version

Client:
 Version:           28.0.4
 API version:       1.48
 Go version:        go1.23.7
 Git commit:        b8034c0
 Built:             Tue Mar 25 15:07:48 2025
 OS/Arch:           windows/amd64
 Context:           desktop-linux
error during connect: Get "http://%2F%2F.%2Fpipe%2FdockerDesktopLinuxEngine/v1.48/version": open //./pipe/dockerDesktopLinuxEngine: The system cannot find the file specified.

docker info

Client:
 Version:    28.0.4
 Context:    desktop-linux
 Debug Mode: false
 Plugins:
  ai: Docker AI Agent - Ask Gordon (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v1.1.3
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-ai.exe
  buildx: Docker Buildx (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v0.22.0-desktop.1
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-buildx.exe
  cloud: Docker Cloud (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  0.2.20
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-cloud.exe
  compose: Docker Compose (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v2.34.0-desktop.1
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-compose.exe
  debug: Get a shell into any image or container (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  0.0.38
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-debug.exe
  desktop: Docker Desktop commands (Beta) (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v0.1.6
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-desktop.exe
  dev: Docker Dev Environments (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v0.1.2
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-dev.exe
  extension: Manages Docker extensions (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v0.2.27
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-extension.exe
  init: Creates Docker-related starter files for your project (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v1.4.0
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-init.exe
  sbom: View the packaged-based Software Bill Of Materials (SBOM) for an image (Anchore Inc.)
    Version:  0.6.0
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-sbom.exe
  scout: Docker Scout (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v1.17.0
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-scout.exe

Server:
ERROR: error during connect: Get "http://%2F%2F.%2Fpipe%2FdockerDesktopLinuxEngine/v1.48/info": open //./pipe/dockerDesktopLinuxEngine: The system cannot find the file specified.
errors pretty printing info

Diagnostics ID

A42B999B-7D32-481A-BE4B-DC52B2C5C810/20250416200114

Additional Info

I already tried:

• Restarting docker
• Using the self-diagnose tool
• Turning off the antivirus
• Resetting Docker
• Updating everything on my computer (Windows and WSL).

[Julieblaze]

i am undergoing same issues here

[mat007]

Can you run this in a CMD shell and post back the result?

reg query "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StartupApproved\Run" /v "Docker Desktop"

[mat007]

We believe we have fixed this issue, if someone could confirm it with this build?
Also does it only happen on first launch? If yes, then I suppose it’s going to be hard to test the fix 🤔

[Galloxitl]

Can you run this in a CMD shell and post back the result?

reg query "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StartupApproved\Run" /v "Docker Desktop"

It gave me this:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StartupApproved\Run
Docker Desktop REG_BINARY CC87BB6F010000000000000000000000

[Galloxitl]

Is't towing a message that it's not the right visión for my equipment, i'm using windows.

[mat007]

It gave me this:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\StartupApproved\Run
Docker Desktop REG_BINARY CC87BB6F010000000000000000000000

Thank you, that’s very useful!

Is't towing a message that it's not the right visión for my equipment, i'm using windows.

Can you show a screenshot of the message popup?

[Galloxitl]

It's in Spanish. It translates to:
"This app can't run on your PC"
To find a version for your PC, check with the software publisher.

[mat007]

Ooh sorry about that, I linked to the Arm version 🤦
I fixed it now, and here it is again.

[lorenrh]

Hi Docker Desktop 4.42.0 has been released, with a fix for this issue. So I'll be closing this. If th issue eprsist, please feel free to open a new issue.

For more information see Docker Desktop 4.42.0 release notes