Learn how to fix the “open pipe docker_engine: Access is denied” error in Docker for Windows. Our Docker Support team is here to help you with your questions and concerns.

“open \\.\pipe\docker_engine: Access is denied” Error | Solution

Stop worrying if you’re using Docker on Windows and run into the following error message.

open \\.\pipe\docker_engine: Access is denied

This error occurs when the Docker client cannot connect to the Docker daemon due to permission-related problems. Since Docker on Windows uses named pipes (.pipedocker_engine) for communication between the client and the daemon, restricted access can prevent it from functioning properly.

On Windows, Docker Desktop operates with a daemon running inside a virtual machine. The Docker client communicates with the daemon via a named pipe, a Windows feature for inter-process communication. When the user account lacks permission to access this named pipe, we will run into the “Access is denied” error.

Common Causes of “open pipe docker_engine: Access is denied”

• If we are running Docker commands from a regular (non-administrative) command prompt, the user account may not have the necessary access rights.
• Docker requires the user account to be part of the docker-users group. We may face access issues if we haven’t been added to this group.
• If Docker Desktop is not running, the named pipe will not be available for communication, resulting in connection errors.
• Some antivirus or security tools block access to named pipes, causing permission issues when running Docker.

Solutions to Fix the Error

Here are several methods to resolve the “Access is denied” error and get Docker running smoothly on a Windows system.

1. One of the most straightforward fixes is to execute Docker commands in an elevated Command Prompt or PowerShell session.

   All we have to do is click the Start menu, type cmd or powershell, then right-click and select Run as administrator. Now, try running the Docker command again and see if the issue persists.
2. Adding the account to the docker-users group can resolve the problem if it lacks the required permissions.
   1. Open Computer Management by right-clicking This PC and selecting Manage.
   2. Then, go to Local Users and Groups > Groups.
   3. Find and double-click docker-users.
   4. Next, click Add, enter the username, and click OK.
   5. Log out and log back in to apply the changes.
3. Docker commands will fail if Docker Desktop is not running.
   1. Check the system tray for the Docker icon.
   2. If it’s missing, open Docker Desktop from the Start menu.
   3. Wait until the status reads Docker is running before retrying your command.
4. Restarting the Docker Desktop can sometimes resolve connection issues.
   1. Right-click the Docker icon in the system tray.
   2. Select Quit Docker Desktop.
   3. Relaunch Docker Desktop from the Start menu.
5. Security tools can sometimes block access to Docker’s named pipes.
   1. Temporarily disable your antivirus software and check if the issue is resolved.
   2. If disabling it fixes the problem, add an exception for Docker in your security software settings.
6. If none of the above steps work, reinstalling Docker Desktop can help fix any corrupted configurations.
   1. Uninstall Docker Desktop via Settings > Apps > Installed Apps.
   2. Download the latest version from the website.
   3. Install Docker Desktop and follow the setup instructions carefully.

Troubleshooting Checklist

• Ensure the user account has the necessary permissions.
• Confirm that the account is part of the docker-users group.
• Verify that Docker Desktop is running.
• Check if security software is blocking Docker.
• Restart or reinstall Docker Desktop if needed.

[Need assistance with a different issue? Our team is available 24/7.]

Conclusion

By following the above steps, we can resolve the “open \\.\pipe\docker_engine: Access is denied” error and get Docker running on Windows without issues.

In brief, our Support Experts demonstrated how to fix the “open pipe docker_engine: Access is denied” error in Docker for Windows.