Migration guide

How to migrate from Docker Desktop to Portainer

Technical infrastructure migrations vary a lot depending on the tool — these are the general steps that apply to most cases.

1. 1

   Export your configuration and data from Docker Desktop

   Check Docker Desktop's documentation for exporting projects, configuration and integrations — the exact format depends on the service, but almost all offer some export path for paid accounts.

2. 2

   Prepare the Portainer environment

   Deploy Portainer in a staging environment first (not production) and replicate the base configuration before moving any real data.

3. 3

   Migrate in pieces and validate each one

   Move one project or integration at a time instead of all at once, checking that each piece works in Portainer before moving on to the next.

4. 4

   Update integrations that depended on Docker Desktop

   Any external service (CI/CD, webhooks, SDKs) that pointed at Docker Desktop needs to be reconfigured to point at your new Portainer instance.

These steps are a general guideline — the exact export menu can vary depending on Docker Desktop's plan and version.