What is Windows in Docker used for?

Windows in Docker is a community project that runs Windows inside a Docker container with automatic installation and KVM acceleration, accessible through a web browser. It is a good fit for disposable Windows test environments, running Windows apps on a Linux server and backend for desktop Windows-in-container tools.

Is Windows in Docker open source?

Yes. Windows in Docker is open source under the MIT licence. Its source code is on GitHub at dockur/windows and is written mainly in Shell.

Is Windows in Docker free?

Yes. Windows in Docker is open source, so the software itself is free to use.

Can I self-host Windows in Docker?

Yes. Windows in Docker can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure; there is no official hosted version.

What are some alternatives to Windows in Docker?

Similar open-source tools in the Infrastructure & Containers category include Quickemu, Firecracker and Moby. SaaS products in the same category include Docker Desktop, Docker Hub and OrbStack.

Is Windows in Docker actively maintained?

Yes. The most recent commit to Windows in Docker was on 27 September 2026, and the latest release is v6.05, published on 21 August 2026. The project has 53k stars on GitHub.

Windows in Docker: open-source infrastructure & containers

About Windows in Docker

This project, published as dockur/windows, runs Windows inside a Docker container. The container downloads Windows and installs it without manual steps, supports modern and legacy releases, and uses KVM acceleration for near-native performance. It is written mostly in shell script and released under the MIT license.

Resources are customizable, including CPU, memory and storage, with dynamic memory allocation through ballooning. USB passthrough and host folder sharing are supported, and networking can use NAT, user-mode, macvlan or macvtap. It can be started with Docker Compose, the Docker CLI, Kubernetes or GitHub Codespaces. Windows 11 Pro is installed by default, and a version variable selects another release.

To use it you start the container and open port 8006 in a web browser to watch the installation and then use the desktop. It needs a Linux host with KVM and either Docker or Podman, or nested virtualization on Windows 11, plus at least 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of free disk. Separate desktop projects such as WinBoat and WinApps use it as a backend. It suits developers and testers who need a disposable Windows environment.

Key features

Runs a full Windows desktop in Docker
Automatic download and hands-free installation
KVM acceleration for near-native performance
Configurable CPU, memory and storage
USB passthrough and host folder sharing
Browser-based access on port 8006

Good fit for

→Disposable Windows test environments
→Running Windows apps on a Linux server
→Backend for desktop Windows-in-container tools

Built with: Shell; Docker
Tags: docker; windows; virtualization; kvm; containers; self-hosted; virtual-machine; shell

Windows in Docker: questions and answers

What is Windows in Docker used for?: Windows in Docker is a community project that runs Windows inside a Docker container with automatic installation and KVM acceleration, accessible through a web browser. It is a good fit for disposable Windows test environments, running Windows apps on a Linux server and backend for desktop Windows-in-container tools.
Is Windows in Docker open source?: Yes. Windows in Docker is open source under the MIT licence. Its source code is on GitHub at dockur/windows and is written mainly in Shell.
Is Windows in Docker free?: Yes. Windows in Docker is open source, so the software itself is free to use.
Can I self-host Windows in Docker?: Yes. Windows in Docker can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure; there is no official hosted version.
What are some alternatives to Windows in Docker?: Similar open-source tools in the Infrastructure & Containers category include Quickemu, Firecracker and Moby. SaaS products in the same category include Docker Desktop, Docker Hub and OrbStack.
Is Windows in Docker actively maintained?: Yes. The most recent commit to Windows in Docker was on 27 September 2026, and the latest release is v6.05, published on 21 August 2026. The project has 53k stars on GitHub.