Kill Docker Auto Updates

This repository contains patched binaries that disable the auto-updating process of Docker Desktop. If you rather patch the binaries yourself, the instructions can be found under Patching Docker Manually.

Patching Docker

Simply navigate to C:\Program Files\Docker\Docker and drop the assemblies found in this repository. Use the binaries for the correct version of Docker.

Patching Docker Manually

Required tool: https://github.com/dnSpy/dnSpy/releases/download/v6.1.8/dnSpy-net-win64.zip

Version 4.x.x

1. Navigate to C:\Program Files\Docker\Docker. In this directory you will find a file called Docker.Core.dll.
2. Open the file with dnSpy.
3. On the left, Docker.Core will appear. Navigate to Docker.Core > Docker.Core.Dll > Docker.Core.UpdateDownloader > BuildComparer > IsVersionSuperior. This is the function that checks if another version of Docker Desktop is newer than the currently installed version.
4. Right click on the code that appears on the right and press Edit Method (C#).
5. Remove all the code from the function body and simply add return false;.
6. Hit compile and save the module (File -> Save All). Docker Desktop no longer finds new versions automatically.
7. Navigate to %AppData%\Docker Desktop. In this directory you will find a file called versions.json.
8. Remove the versions.json file. This file may contain data about newer versions that have been found already.

💡 If you can't write to the Docker directory directly due to permission issues: Save the file somewhere else and manually drag the file into the Docker directory.

Version 3.x.x

1. Navigate to C:\Program Files\Docker\Docker. In this directory you will find a file called Docker.ApiServices.dll.
2. Open the file with dnSpy.
3. On the left, Docker.ApiServices will appear. Navigate to Docker.ApiServices > Docker.ApiServices.Dll > Docker.ApiServices.Update > Updater > CheckForUpdates. This is the function that checks for Docker Desktop updates.
4. Right click on the code that appears on the right and press Edit Method (C#).
5. Remove all the code from the function body and simply add return;.
6. Hit compile and save the module. Auto-updating is now disabled in Docker Desktop.

💡 If you can't write to the Docker directory directly due to permission issues: Save the file somewhere else and manually drag the file into the Docker directory.