Docker Desktop 4.42 introduces powerful new capabilities that enhance network flexibility, improve security, and deepen AI toolchain integration, all while reducing setup friction. With native IPv6 support, a fully integrated MCP Toolkit, and major upgrades to Docker Model Runner and our AI agent Gordon, this release continues our commitment to helping developers move faster, ship smarter, and build securely across any environment. Whether you\u2019re managing enterprise-grade networks or experimenting with agentic workflows, Docker Desktop 4.42 brings the tools you need right into your development workflows.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Docker Desktop now provides IPv6 networking capabilities with customization options to better support diverse network environments. You can now choose between dual IPv4\/IPv6 (default), IPv4-only, or IPv6-only networking modes to align with your organization\u2019s network requirements. The new intelligent DNS resolution behavior automatically detects your host\u2019s network stack and filters unsupported record types, preventing connectivity timeouts in IPv4-only or IPv6-only environments.\u00a0<\/p>\n
These ipv6 settings are available in Docker Desktop Settings > Resources > Network section and can be enforced across teams using Settings Management, making Docker Desktop more reliable in complex enterprise network configurations including IPv6-only deployments.<\/p>\n
Further documentation here.<\/a><\/p>\n Figure 1: Docker Desktop IPv6 settings <\/strong><\/p>\n\n Last month, we launched the Docker MCP Catalog and Toolkit to help developers easily discover MCP servers and securely connect them to their favorite clients and agentic apps. We\u2019re humbled by the incredible support from the community. User growth is up by over 50%, and we\u2019ve crossed 1 million pulls! Now, we\u2019re excited to share that the MCP Toolkit is built right into Docker Desktop, no separate extension required.<\/p>\n You can now access more than 100 MCP servers, including GitHub, MongoDB, Hashicorp, and more, directly from Docker Desktop \u2013 just enable the servers you need, configure them, and connect to clients like Claude Desktop, Cursor, Continue.dev, or Docker\u2019s AI agent Gordon.<\/p>\n Unlike typical setups that run MCP servers via npx or uvx processes with broad access to the host system, Docker Desktop runs these servers inside isolated containers with well-defined security boundaries. All container images are cryptographically signed, with proper isolation of secrets and configuration data.\u00a0<\/p>\n Figure 2: Docker MCP Toolkit is now integrated natively into Docker Desktop <\/strong><\/p>\n To meet developers where they are, we\u2019re bringing Docker MCP support to the CLI, using the same command structure you\u2019re already familiar with. With the new docker mcp commands, you can launch, configure, and manage MCP servers directly from the terminal. The CLI plugin offers comprehensive functionality, including catalog management, client connection setup, and secret management.<\/p>\n Figure 3: \u00a0Docker MCP CLI commands.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n In this release, we\u2019ve upgraded Gordon, Docker\u2019s AI agent, with direct integration to the MCP Toolkit in Docker Desktop. To enable it, open Gordon, click the \u201cTools\u201d button, and toggle on the \u201cMCP\u201d Toolkit option. Once activated, the MCP Toolkit tab will display tools available from any MCP servers you\u2019ve configured.<\/p>\n\n Figure 4: Docker\u2019s AI Agent Gordon now integrates with Docker\u2019s MCP Toolkit, bringing 100+ MCP servers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n This integration gives you immediate access to 100+ MCP servers with no extra setup, letting you experiment with AI capabilities directly in your Docker workflow. Gordon now acts as a bridge between Docker\u2019s native tooling and the broader AI ecosystem, letting you leverage specialized tools for everything from screenshot capture to data analysis and API interactions \u2013 all from a consistent, unified interface.<\/p>\n <\/strong>Figure 5: Docker\u2019s AI Agent Gordon uses the GitHub MCP server to pull issues and suggest solutions.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n Finally, we\u2019ve also improved the Dockerize feature with expanded support for Java, Kotlin, Gradle, and Maven projects. These improvements make it easier to containerize a wider range of applications with minimal configuration. With expanded containerization capabilities and integrated access to the MCP Toolkit, Gordon is more powerful than ever. It streamlines container workflows, reduces repetitive tasks, and gives you access to specialized tools, so you can stay focused on building, shipping, and running your applications efficiently.<\/p>\n\n Staying true to our philosophy of giving developers more flexibility and meeting them where they are, the latest version of Docker Model Runner adds broader OS support, deeper integration with popular Docker tools, and improvements in both performance and usability.<\/p>\n In addition to supporting Apple Silicon and Windows systems with NVIDIA GPUs, Docker Model Runner now works on Windows devices with Qualcomm chipsets. Under the hood, we\u2019ve upgraded our inference engine to use the latest version of llama.cpp<\/a>, bringing significantly enhanced tool calling capabilities to your AI applications.Docker Model Runner can now be installed directly in Docker Engine Community Edition across multiple Linux distributions<\/a> supported by Docker Engine. This integration is particularly valuable for developers looking to incorporate AI capabilities into their CI\/CD pipelines and automated testing workflows. To get started, check out our documentation for the <\/a>setup guide.<\/a><\/p>\n\n The Docker Model Runner user experience has been upgraded with expanded GUI functionality in Docker Desktop. All of these UI enhancements are designed to help you get started with Model Runner quickly and build applications faster. A dedicated interface now includes three new tabs that simplify model discovery, management, and streamline troubleshooting workflows. Additionally, Docker Desktop\u2019s updated GUI introduces a more intuitive onboarding experience with streamlined \u201ctwo-click\u201d actions.<\/p>\n After clicking on the Model tab, you\u2019ll see three new sub-tabs. The first, labeled \u201cLocal,\u201d displays a set of models in various sizes that you can quickly pull. Once a model is pulled, you can launch a chat interface to test and experiment with it immediately.<\/p>\n <\/strong>Figure 6: Access a set of models of various sizes to get quickly started in Models menu of Docker Desktop<\/strong><\/p>\n\n The second tab \u201dDocker Hub\u201d offers a comprehensive view for browsing and pulling models from Docker Hub\u2019s AI Catalog, making it easy to get started directly within Docker Desktop, without switching contexts.<\/p>\n <\/strong>Figure 7: A shortcut to the Model catalog from Docker Hub in Models menu of Docker Desktop<\/strong><\/p>\n\n The third tab \u201cLogs\u201d offers real-time access to the inference engine\u2019s log tail, giving developers immediate visibility into model execution status and debugging information directly within the Docker Desktop interface.<\/p>\n Figure 8: Gain visibility into model execution status and debugging information in Docker Desktop<\/strong><\/p>\n\n As part of the Docker Model CLI, the most significant enhancement is the introduction of the docker model package command. This new command enables developers to package their models from GGUF format into OCI-compliant artifacts, fundamentally transforming how AI models are distributed and shared. It enables seamless publishing to both public and private and OCI-compatible repositories such as Docker Hub and establishes a standardized, secure workflow for model distribution, using the same trusted Docker tools developers already rely on. See our docs<\/a> for more details.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n From intelligent networking enhancements to seamless AI integrations, Docker Desktop 4.42 makes it easier than ever to build with confidence. With native support for IPv6, in-app access to 100+ MCP servers, and expanded platform compatibility for Docker Model Runner, this release is all about meeting developers where they are and equipping them with the tools to take their work further. Update to the latest version today and unlock everything Docker Desktop 4.42 has to offer.<\/p>\n\n Authenticate and update<\/a> today to receive your subscription level\u2019s newest Docker Desktop features.<\/p>\n Subscribe to the Docker Navigator Newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Learn about our sign-in enforcement options<\/a>.<\/p>\n New to Docker? Create an account<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\nDocker MCP Toolkit integrated into Docker Desktop<\/h2>\n
Docker AI Agent Gordon Now Supports MCP Toolkit Integration<\/h2>\n
Docker Model Runner adds Qualcomm support, Docker Engine Integration, and UX Upgrades<\/h2>\n
Get Up and Running with Models Faster<\/h3>\n
Model Packaging Made Simple via CLI<\/h3>\n
Conclusion\u00a0<\/h3>\n
Learn more<\/h3>\n