Docker on macOS Silicon

Docker on Apple Silicon (M-series, arm64) runs Linux containers in a lightweight VM. See Docker.

Installation #

Docker Desktop: brew install --cask docker

Lighter alternatives: OrbStack, Colima (brew install colima docker && colima start), Rancher Desktop.

Most images have arm64 variants. For amd64-only images, emulation (slower) can be selected explicitly:

docker run --platform linux/arm/v7

docker run --platform linux/amd64

COMMAND	DESCRIPTION
`docker run --platform linux/amd64 <IMAGE>`	Run an Intel image under emulation
`docker build --platform linux/amd64 -t <NAME> .`	Build an Intel image
`docker buildx build --platform linux/amd64,linux/arm64 -t <NAME> --push .`	Multi-arch image
`docker image inspect <IMAGE> --format '{{.Architecture}}'`	Architecture of an image
`docker manifest inspect <IMAGE>`	Platforms an image supports
`export DOCKER_DEFAULT_PLATFORM=linux/amd64`	Make amd64 the default for the shell

In Compose, set platform: linux/amd64 on a service (Docker-Compose).

Shared volumes can be configured in the Docker Desktop Settings Docker -> Preferences... -> Resources -> File Sharing

Use VirtioFS file sharing (Settings > General) and “Use Rosetta for x86_64/amd64 emulation” (Settings > General).
Bind mounts are slower than named volumes. Keep node_modules and databases in volumes.
Give the VM enough memory and CPUs under Settings > Resources, but not all of your Mac.
docker system df and docker system prune reclaim the disk image space.

exec format error: image architecture does not match, use --platform.
Slow amd64 containers: look for an arm64 tag or build natively.
Ports unreachable from the LAN: publish with -p 0.0.0.0:<PORT>:<PORT>. Check the macOS firewall.