Windows - Docker Desktop Performance Tuning

Overview

If you're experiencing performance issues or limited container capacity while using Docker Desktop on Windows, adjusting the amount of RAM and CPU resources allocated to Docker and WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) can significantly improve overall performance.

This guide walks you through how to safely and effectively increase those resources.

Step-by-Step Guide

1️⃣ Open Docker Desktop Settings

• Click the Docker Desktop icon in your system tray.

• Navigate to Settings → Resources.

2️⃣ Increase CPU and Memory Allocation

• In the Resources tab, adjust the sliders for CPU and Memory (RAM).

Recommended settings:

• CPU: Allocate at least 50% of your total cores (e.g., 4 out of 8).

• Memory: Allocate at least 12 GB; ideally 16 GB or more, depending on workload.

Click Apply & Restart to save changes.

3️⃣ (Optional) Adjust Disk Image Size

• If your containers require additional storage, increase the disk image size from the same Resources tab.

Configure WSL 2 Resource Limits (Advanced)

While WSL 2 allocates resources dynamically by default, you can manually define limits for more consistent performance.

1️⃣ Create or Edit .wslconfig File

• Open Notepad and paste the following:

ini
CopyEdit
[wsl2]
memory=16GB
processors=4
swap=4GB

• Save the file as .wslconfig in your user directory (e.g., C:\Users\YourUsername\.wslconfig).

2️⃣ Restart WSL

• Open Command Prompt or PowerShell, and run:

arduino
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wsl --shutdown

• Reopen your terminal or restart Docker Desktop to apply the new settings.

Additional Tips
✅ Ensure Virtualization is enabled in your system BIOS
✅ Monitor usage via Task Manager or docker stats.
✅ Avoid running resource-heavy applications alongside Docker to maintain stable performance.
✅ Do not attempt to run multiple Docker projects.