<p>As Samit commented, the options for Kubernetes are only available if Linux containers are currently set as the environment.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-17T21:31:52.873Z
2021-08-17T21:31:52.873Z
Nate Zaugg
<p>I faced the similar issues with Docker Windows. I realized we need to switch to linux by clicking on <strong>windows tray right click docker</strong> as below:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/UxW00.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/UxW00.png" alt="Switch to Linux Conatiners" /></a>ur.com/C0e4r.png</p>
<p>Please note, if your previous images are on windows you need to run the same process after switching to linux and then continue with your Kubernetes kubectl</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-07-12T14:01:59.893Z
2023-07-12T14:01:59.893Z
Ravi Kiran Ayinampudi
<p>My problem was that I had installed some version or configuration of docker that I got from a Udemy course. There was no Kubernetes anywhere. Once I removed that version of docker and installed a new one downloaded from <a href="https://docs.docker.com/get-docker/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://docs.docker.com/get-docker/</a> , the k8s option was there.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-10-28T18:54:40.010Z
The similar issue has happend to me. I didn't see K8s menu item in General settings. Once I've ununstall and downloaded from official site I was starting to see it.
Eugene
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-06-12T09:02:12.287Z
2023-06-12T09:02:12.287Z
Viktor
<p>You need to first switch to Edge version by going to the </p>

<p>Docker -> Settings -> General tab.</p>

<p>Then, you have to enable the kubernetes. </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Open Docker for Windows settings by accessing your system tray and navigate to the Kubernetes tab. Select the checkbox for Enable Kubernetes to start a single-node cluster when starting Docker.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Reference: <a href="https://medium.com/@damiannolan/kubernetes-on-docker-for-windows-5ca0c6395668" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://medium.com/@damiannolan/kubernetes-on-docker-for-windows-5ca0c6395668</a></p>

<p>As per this old <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/56157504/how-to-run-windows-containers-on-local-kubernetes">link</a> and a <a href="https://blog.sixeyed.com/getting-started-with-kubernetes-on-windows/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">latest one</a>, Kubernetes needs a Linux master node and thus the kubernetes cluster can be initialized only from <code>linux containers</code> in Docker desktop for Windows. After enabling and starting the docker containers, you can add Windows containers the the running kubernetes cluster.</p>

<p><a href="https://cloudblogs.microsoft.com/opensource/2019/03/25/windows-server-containers-now-supported-kubernetes/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">This</a> will give you much clear context.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-20T14:25:58.777Z
Could you mark the answer as accepted if it solved the issue?
030
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-20T16:53:09.843Z
Thanks for the quick reply, however after I updated to 2.1.7.0 edge, the option still doesn't appear with Windows containers.
ACB
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-20T16:55:16.863Z
What all options you see when you click on `settings`
Samit
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-20T16:57:38.453Z
Left side tabs: General, Resources, Docker Engine, Command Line
ACB
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-20T17:11:48.513Z
Updated original post with screen caps
ACB
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-20T18:00:59.303Z
unfortunately, kubernetes cannot be enabled from `Windows containers` option as the kubernetes control plane must be running on Linux container. I've updated the answer with more details.
Samit
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-19T20:13:10.923Z
2019-12-20T17:59:28.617Z
2019-12-20T17:59:28.617Z
Samit
<p>Just getting started on Docker and after installing Docker Desktop on a Windows 10 Pro machine, the option to enable Kubernetes is missing from the context menu when using Windows containers. See the attached image. When I switch to Linux containers the option appears. Various reading I've done seems to indicate that it should be available to Windows containers too. What am I missing?</p>

<p>Windows 10 Pro (10.0.17134.1006)</p>

<p>Docker Desktop 2.1.0.5</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/oLYZg.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/oLYZg.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>After update:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/8IZzA.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/8IZzA.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>Settings after update:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/XK7kp.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/XK7kp.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<docker><kubernetes><windows><configuration>
No Kubernetes Option in Docker Desktop for Windows
ACB
# No Kubernetes Option in Docker Desktop for Windows

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-12-19)

Just getting started on Docker and after installing Docker Desktop on a Windows 10 Pro machine, the option to enable Kubernetes is missing from the context menu when using Windows containers. See the attached image. When I switch to Linux containers the option appears. Various reading I've done seems to indicate that it should be available to Windows containers too. What am I missing?

Windows 10 Pro (10.0.17134.1006)

Docker Desktop 2.1.0.5

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/oLYZg.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/oLYZg.png)

After update:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/8IZzA.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/8IZzA.png)

Settings after update:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/XK7kp.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/XK7kp.png)

**Tags:** docker, kubernetes, windows, configuration


---

## 4 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2019-12-19. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

You need to first switch to Edge version by going to the

Docker -> Settings -> General tab.

Then, you have to enable the kubernetes.

> Open Docker for Windows settings by accessing your system tray and navigate to the Kubernetes tab. Select the checkbox for Enable Kubernetes to start a single-node cluster when starting Docker.

Reference: <https://medium.com/@damiannolan/kubernetes-on-docker-for-windows-5ca0c6395668>

As per this old [link](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/56157504/how-to-run-windows-containers-on-local-kubernetes) and a [latest one](https://blog.sixeyed.com/getting-started-with-kubernetes-on-windows/), Kubernetes needs a Linux master node and thus the kubernetes cluster can be initialized only from `linux containers` in Docker desktop for Windows. After enabling and starting the docker containers, you can add Windows containers the the running kubernetes cluster.

[This](https://cloudblogs.microsoft.com/opensource/2019/03/25/windows-server-containers-now-supported-kubernetes/) will give you much clear context.

> **Comments:**
> **username_6**: Could you mark the answer as accepted if it solved the issue?  
> **username_0**: Thanks for the quick reply, however after I updated to 2.1.7.0 edge, the option still doesn't appear with Windows containers.  
> **username_5**: What all options you see when you click on `settings`  
> **username_0**: Left side tabs: General, Resources, Docker Engine, Command Line  
> **username_0**: Updated original post with screen caps  
> **username_5**: unfortunately, kubernetes cannot be enabled from `Windows containers` option as the kubernetes control plane must be running on Linux container. I've updated the answer with more details.  

---

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-08-17. Score: 1

As username_5 commented, the options for Kubernetes are only available if Linux containers are currently set as the environment.


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2023-07-12. Score: 0

I faced the similar issues with Docker Windows. I realized we need to switch to linux by clicking on **windows tray right click docker** as below:

[![Switch to Linux Conatiners](https://i.sstatic.net/UxW00.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/UxW00.png)ur.com/C0e4r.png

Please note, if your previous images are on windows you need to run the same process after switching to linux and then continue with your Kubernetes kubectl


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2023-06-12. Score: 0

My problem was that I had installed some version or configuration of docker that I got from a Udemy course. There was no Kubernetes anywhere. Once I removed that version of docker and installed a new one downloaded from <https://docs.docker.com/get-docker/> , the k8s option was there.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: The similar issue has happend to me. I didn't see K8s menu item in General settings. Once I've ununstall and downloaded from official site I was starting to see it.  

---

