Docker Desktop for Linux stuck on "Starting" screen after installation

[mk1337]

Description

After installing Docker Desktop on Linux Mint, the application is stuck on the "Starting" screen. The GUI does not respond to input, including login, and the process cannot be closed without being force-killed.

I have followed troubleshooting steps, including removing all Docker components (Desktop, CLI, dependencies), clearing /var/lib/docker and related files, and performing a clean reinstall, but the issue persists.

When the desktop is active and stuck on running, trying to run docker version / info in terminal also hangs and never resolves.

System Details

OS: Linux Mint 22.1 Kernel Version: 6.8.0-51-generic CPU Architecture: x86_64 Docker CLI Previously Installed: Yes

Steps to Reproduce

Install Docker Desktop using the .deb package for Linux from the official website. Start Docker Desktop: systemctl --user start docker-desktop. Open Docker Desktop. Observe the status stuck on "Starting" with no response from buttons.

Logs (journalctl --user -u docker-desktop -n 50 --no-pager)

Jan 25 00:15:39 com.docker.backend[16074]: - The AI Catalog in Docker Hub is directly available through Docker Desktop.}}] {...}
Jan 25 00:15:39 com.docker.backend[16074]: [22:15:39.463445011Z][main.updater] [W] converting currentTarget string to number, strconv.Atoi: parsing "": invalid syntax
Jan 25 00:15:39 com.docker.backend[16074]: [22:15:39.463477439Z][main.updater] Listing modules...
Jan 25 00:15:39 com.docker.backend[16074]: [22:15:39.464879229Z][main.ipc] (2e21e4df-1) BackendAPI GET /features
Jan 25 00:15:39 com.docker.backend[16074]: [22:15:39.465145532Z][main.updater][W] failed to get module updates for DD 4.37.1: error while listing module updates: {"message":"modules disabled, enable feature flag if you want to use them"}
Jan 25 00:15:39 com.docker.backend[16074]: [22:15:39.816805446Z][main.ipc] (bc0f4e59) BackendAPI GET /notify/messagebox/events
Jan 25 00:15:39 com.docker.backend[16074]: [22:15:39.888444073Z][main.ipc] (bc0f4e59) BackendAPI GET /pause/events
Jan 25 00:15:39 com.docker.backend[16074]: [22:15:39.888637639Z][main.ipc] (bc0f4e59) BackendAPI GET /engine/events
Jan 25 00:15:39 com.docker.backend[16074]: [22:15:39.889033072Z][main.ipc] (bc0f4e59) BackendAPI GET /app/settings
Jan 25 00:15:39 com.docker.backend[16074]: [22:15:39.889932230Z][main.ipc] (bc0f4e59) BackendAPI GET /app/settings response: {"cli": {...}, "desktop": {...}}
Jan 25 00:15:40 com.docker.backend[16074]: [22:15:40.008913687Z][main.features/unleash] fetching features from remote
Jan 25 00:15:40 com.docker.backend[16074]: [22:15:40.398085358Z][main.ipc] (bc0f4e59) BackendAPI GET /install/check response: {"binariesBasePath":"","valid":false}
Jan 25 00:15:40 com.docker.backend[16074]: [22:15:40.947030622Z][main.ipc] (bc0f4e59) BackendAPI POST /analytics/track action: "EngineScreenDisplayed", state: "EngineWaiting"
Jan 25 00:15:41 com.docker.backend[16074]: [22:15:41.005927778Z][main.ipc] (bc0f4e59) BackendAPI POST /analytics/track action: "EngineScreenDisplayed", state: "EngineStarting"
Jan 25 00:15:41 com.docker.backend[16074]: [22:15:41.006289282Z][main.ipc] (bc0f4e59) BackendAPI POST /analytics/track OK
Jan 25 00:15:44 com.docker.backend[16074]: [22:15:44.177172523Z][main.segment] flushing 6 messages
Jan 25 00:15:45 com.docker.backend[16074]: [22:15:45.699741176Z][main.segment] response 200 OK

Reproduce

• Install Docker Desktop using the .deb package for Linux from the official website.
• Start Docker Desktop: systemctl --user start docker-desktop.
• Open Docker Desktop.
• Observe the status stuck on "Starting" with no response from buttons.

Expected behavior

Docker Desktop should start successfully and allow interaction with the GUI.

docker version

Client: Docker Engine - Community
 Version:           27.5.1
 API version:       1.47
 Go version:        go1.22.11
 Git commit:        9f9e405
 Built:             Wed Jan 22 13:41:31 2025
 OS/Arch:           linux/amd64
 Context:           desktop-linux
Cannot connect to the Docker daemon at unix:///home/mish-box/.docker/desktop/docker.sock. Is the docker daemon running?

docker info

Client: Docker Engine - Community
 Version:    27.5.1
 Context:    desktop-linux
 Debug Mode: false
 Plugins:
  ai: Ask Gordon - Docker Agent (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v0.5.1
    Path:     /usr/lib/docker/cli-plugins/docker-ai
  buildx: Docker Buildx (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v0.19.2-desktop.1
    Path:     /usr/lib/docker/cli-plugins/docker-buildx
  compose: Docker Compose (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v2.31.0-desktop.2
    Path:     /usr/lib/docker/cli-plugins/docker-compose
  debug: Get a shell into any image or container (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  0.0.37
    Path:     /usr/lib/docker/cli-plugins/docker-debug
  desktop: Docker Desktop commands (Beta) (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v0.1.0
    Path:     /usr/lib/docker/cli-plugins/docker-desktop
  dev: Docker Dev Environments (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v0.1.2
    Path:     /usr/lib/docker/cli-plugins/docker-dev
  extension: Manages Docker extensions (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v0.2.27
    Path:     /usr/lib/docker/cli-plugins/docker-extension
  feedback: Provide feedback, right in your terminal! (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v1.0.5
    Path:     /usr/lib/docker/cli-plugins/docker-feedback
  init: Creates Docker-related starter files for your project (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v1.4.0
    Path:     /usr/lib/docker/cli-plugins/docker-init
  sbom: View the packaged-based Software Bill Of Materials (SBOM) for an image (Anchore Inc.)
    Version:  0.6.0
    Path:     /usr/lib/docker/cli-plugins/docker-sbom
  scout: Docker Scout (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v1.15.1
    Path:     /usr/lib/docker/cli-plugins/docker-scout

Server:
ERROR: Cannot connect to the Docker daemon at unix:///home/mish-box/.docker/desktop/docker.sock. Is the docker daemon running?
errors pretty printing info

Diagnostics ID

15392EC0-2C74-40A6-8F5C-639D2B6E486C/20250124222337

Additional Info

No response