Unable to launch Docker Desktop on Windows 11 VDI

[StoilStoyanov]

Description

Since version 4.54 Docker Desktop is unable to start. It throws this exception:
Unable to launch Docker Desktop
An unexpected error occurred whilst trying to launch Docker Desktop. This may be the result of high resource usage. Try again later.
If the issue persists, contact Docker support.

Docker Desktop launches normally up to version 4.53.

Reproduce

1. Install Docker Desktop version 4.54.0 or newer
2. Start Docker Desktop
3. Docker desktop is unable to launch

Expected behavior

Docker Desktop should launch

docker version

Client:
 Version:           29.1.3
 API version:       1.52
 Go version:        go1.25.5
 Git commit:        f52814d
 Built:             Fri Dec 12 14:51:52 2025
 OS/Arch:           windows/amd64
 Context:           desktop-linux
request returned 500 Internal Server Error for API route and version http://%2F%2F.%2Fpipe%2FdockerDesktopLinuxEngine/v1.52/version, check if the server supports the requested API version

docker info

Client:
 Version:    29.1.3
 Context:    desktop-linux
 Debug Mode: false
 Plugins:
  ai: Docker AI Agent - Ask Gordon (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v1.17.1
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-ai.exe
  buildx: Docker Buildx (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v0.30.1-desktop.1
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-buildx.exe
  compose: Docker Compose (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v2.40.3-desktop.1
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-compose.exe
  debug: Get a shell into any image or container (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  0.0.45
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-debug.exe
  desktop: Docker Desktop commands (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v0.2.0
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-desktop.exe
  extension: Manages Docker extensions (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v0.2.31
    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
  mcp: Docker MCP Plugin (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v0.34.0
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-mcp.exe
  model: Docker Model Runner (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v1.0.2
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-model.exe
  offload: Docker Offload (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v0.5.33
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-offload.exe
  pass: Docker Pass Secrets Manager Plugin (beta) (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v0.0.21
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-pass.exe
  sandbox: Docker Sandbox (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v0.6.0
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-sandbox.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:  v1.18.3
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-scout.exe

Server:
ERROR: request returned 500 Internal Server Error for API route and version http://%2F%2F.%2Fpipe%2FdockerDesktopLinuxEngine/v1.52/info, check if the server supports the requested API version
errors pretty printing info

Diagnostics ID

542B4DEA-1A0E-4813-9696-F6DA015D6B05/20251222124859

Additional Info

No response

[chelnak]

@StoilStoyanov Thanks for logging the issue.

Something doesn't look quite right in the diagnostics. Do you have a ( in your Windows username?

[StoilStoyanov]

@chelnak Thanks for the response! Yes there is a ( in my Windows username. Can this be related to the issue?

[chelnak]

@chelnak Thanks for the response! Yes there is a ( in my Windows username. Can this be related to the issue?

Yes, I think that a regression was introduced in late November.

I've notified the correct team and I'm hoping that it will be resolved in the next release!

[vauns]

same + 1
Diagnostics ID：FA3CD76B-5C61-4733-8517-33E0432D6224
Windows 11 25H2、WSL Version: 2.6.3.0、DD Version 4.55.0 (213807)