How to Hide Kubernetes and System Containers in Docker Desktop

Containers have been around in kitchens and shipping docks for a long time. But in the software world, containers have taken over just recently through technologies like Docker and PodMan.

What is a Docker Container?

A Container is a basic package "containing" everything needed to run specific software or a more extensive software system component. Docker is the technology used to create containers. Taking care of your Docker containers is easy when their count is negligible. But in the case of large software systems, the number of containers can swell real quick. Kubernetes is the technology used to manage your container sprawl. There are other technologies, but Kubernetes comes built-in with Docker Desktop. This article is written using Docker Desktop for Windows. You can download the Docker Desktop from this link. This article is not concerned with the Docker Desktop settings file.

Docker itself is built using containers. It uses containers to take care of its internal operation.

Kubernetes on Docker Desktop

When we install Docker Desktop, Kubernetes is not enabled by default. You can install and enable Kubernetes later. Kubernetes is the king of container orchestration technologies. Having Kubernetes installed with Docker Desktop means you don't need to install tools like MiniKube.

One day, you may open Docker Desktop, and a terrifying list of containers will greet you on the Containers screen. 

Please take a look at the screenshot shown above. You can see the list of Kubernetes containers in a red box. An arrow is added on the bottom left of the same screenshot, and the vast green tile contains a tiny Kubernetes icon. It is easy to miss for newbies, and there is room for UX improvement in Docker Desktop.

How to optimize the number of containers shown by Docker Desktop UI

The list of containers displayed by the Docker Desktop contains the containers used by the Docker system to keep the "lights on." These containers are called system containers. The name of Docker system containers is hard to remember for humans, at least in the current Docker Desktop version. You may not enjoy seeing them again and again. It is possible to hide the system containers through Docker desktop settings. 

The Docker Desktop settings can be opened through an icon on the top right corner of the Docker window. 

The Docker Desktop Settings icon is shown above. The Docker Settings icon could've been slightly more prominent, and the tiny bug nearby makes it less visible. Clicking it is going to lead us to the Docker Settings UI.

The Kubernetes settings are hidden in a tab on the Docker Desktop settings UI. By default, you can see the option "Show system containers (advanced)" is enabled. This tiny checkbox contributes to the long list of items from where we started the chase. It is time to uncheck the setting "Show system containers (advanced)" and click the button "Apply & Restart." The apply button is below the settings UI, towards the right side.

The screenshot above shows the Docker Desktop (for Windows) settings after unchecking the option "Show system containers (advanced)." Clicking the "Apply & Restart" button will not do much on the surface but will change the relevant settings behind the scenes. You must close the Docker Desktop window and reopen it to see the results.

 

The screenshot above shows how the Docker Desktop for Windows. The containers UI section will look when the system containers are not displayed.

Conclusion:

It is straightforward to enable/disable whether you want to see the Docker system containers. The number can be large, and most of the time, you don't need to look at the list all the time. My personal preference is to hide the system containers from Docker settings. I'll be writing more about containerization and Docker in the future. Please stay tuned. Please do share your feedback about the post as well. It is most welcome.