Fail to detect already installed & running docker

[zachary-wang12]

• VSCode Version: 1.106.0-insider (user setup)
• Local OS Version: Windows_NT x64 10.0.26200
• Remote OS Version: WSL 2 (Debian)
• Remote Extension/Connection Type: Dev Containers
• Logs:

Steps to Reproduce:

1. Install docker in WSL2, using curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com -o get-docker.sh | sudo sh;
2. Enable docker rootless mode with following Docker Engine Official Rootless Mode instruction;
3. Install VSCode

● docker.service - Docker Application Container Engine (Rootless)
     Loaded: loaded (/home/user/.config/systemd/user/docker.service; enabled; preset: enabled)
     Active: active (running) since Thu 2025-10-16 21:50:32 CST; 10min ago
 Invocation: 983dcf527f774acfbe4568340be4c4c1
       Docs: https://docs.docker.com/go/rootless/
   Main PID: 203 (rootlesskit)
      Tasks: 52
     Memory: 108.4M (peak: 145.5M)
        CPU: 1.456s
     CGroup: /user.slice/user-1000.slice/user@1000.service/app.slice/docker.service
             ├─203 rootlesskit --state-dir=/run/user/1000/dockerd-rootless --net=slirp4netns --mtu=65520 --slirp4netns-sandbox=auto --slirp4netns-seccomp=auto --disable-host-loopback --port-driver=builtin --copy-up=/etc --copy-up=/run --propagation=rslave /usr/bin/dockerd-rootless.sh
             ├─228 /proc/self/exe --state-dir=/run/user/1000/dockerd-rootless --net=slirp4netns --mtu=65520 --slirp4netns-sandbox=auto --slirp4netns-seccomp=auto --disable-host-loopback --port-driver=builtin --copy-up=/etc --copy-up=/run --propagation=rslave /usr/bin/dockerd-rootless.sh
             ├─261 slirp4netns --mtu 65520 -r 3 --disable-host-loopback --enable-sandbox --enable-seccomp 228 tap0
             ├─272 dockerd
             └─308 containerd --config /run/user/1000/docker/containerd/containerd.toml

Oct 16 21:50:32 HOSTNAME dockerd-rootless.sh[272]: time="2025-10-16T21:50:32.871788214+08:00" level=warning msg="WARNING: No io.max (rbps) support"   
Oct 16 21:50:32 HOSTNAME dockerd-rootless.sh[272]: time="2025-10-16T21:50:32.871793153+08:00" level=warning msg="WARNING: No io.max (wbps) support"   
Oct 16 21:50:32 HOSTNAME dockerd-rootless.sh[272]: time="2025-10-16T21:50:32.871797892+08:00" level=warning msg="WARNING: No io.max (riops) support"  
Oct 16 21:50:32 HOSTNAME dockerd-rootless.sh[272]: time="2025-10-16T21:50:32.871803032+08:00" level=warning msg="WARNING: No io.max (wiops) support"  
Oct 16 21:50:32 HOSTNAME dockerd-rootless.sh[272]: time="2025-10-16T21:50:32.871822749+08:00" level=info msg="Docker daemon" commit=f8215cc containerd-snapshotter=false storage-driver=overlay2 version=28.5.1
Oct 16 21:50:32 HOSTNAME dockerd-rootless.sh[272]: time="2025-10-16T21:50:32.872110236+08:00" level=info msg="Initializing buildkit"
Oct 16 21:50:32 HOSTNAME dockerd-rootless.sh[272]: time="2025-10-16T21:50:32.913620899+08:00" level=info msg="Completed buildkit initialization"      
Oct 16 21:50:32 HOSTNAME dockerd-rootless.sh[272]: time="2025-10-16T21:50:32.918442577+08:00" level=info msg="Daemon has completed initialization"    
Oct 16 21:50:32 HOSTNAME dockerd-rootless.sh[272]: time="2025-10-16T21:50:32.918588045+08:00" level=info msg="API listen on /run/user/1000/docker.sock"
Oct 16 21:50:32 HOSTNAME systemd[174]: Started docker.service - Docker Application Container Engine (Rootless).

However, when open workspace in dev container, VSCode asked to reinstall docker in wsl.

Does this issue occur when you try this locally?: Yes
Does this issue occur when you try this locally and all extensions are disabled?: Cannot Test

I checked several related issues, but didn't find helping info.

[zachary-wang12]

I tried to click refresh, log shown below:

[920911 ms] Start: Run: docker version --format {{json .}}
[920923 ms] CLI host's PATH: C:\Windows\system32;C:\Windows;C:\Windows\System32\Wbem;C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\;C:\Windows\System32\OpenSSH\;C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps;C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Programs\Microsoft VS Code Insiders\bin;D:\opt\vim;D:\opt\PortableGit\bin;
[920924 ms] Start: Run: docker version --format {{json .}}
[920934 ms] CLI host's PATH: C:\Windows\system32;C:\Windows;C:\Windows\System32\Wbem;C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\;C:\Windows\System32\OpenSSH\;C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps;C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Programs\Microsoft VS Code Insiders\bin;D:\opt\vim;D:\opt\PortableGit\bin;

[zachary-wang12]

I reinstalled the docker via apt, then the plugin works. However, the question now becomes: Should the plugin detect if docker is installed, and if it is installed, and if it is installed, then continue process next steps?

[mazharismail6363-tech]

@

[chrmarti]

We do not automatically look up docker in WSL. You need to enable the following setting:

[zachary-wang12]

Currently, I reinstalled docker with apt. If anyone using script, hope this works.

[zachary-wang12]

It works!