Solving "docker-credential-desktop.exe: executable file not found in $PATH" Error

When working with Docker, you might encounter the error message: exec: "docker-credential-desktop.exe": executable file not found in $PATH. This error typically occurs during operations like docker build where Docker attempts to authenticate with a registry but cannot find the credential helper binary.

Understanding the Root Cause

The error stems from Docker's credential management system. When your Docker configuration file contains a credsStore property, Docker tries to use an external binary (docker-credential-<value>) to handle authentication credentials. If this binary isn't available in your system's PATH, the operation fails.

Common Scenarios

This issue commonly occurs when:

• Switching between Docker installations (Docker Desktop vs. Docker Engine)
• Using WSL2 with Docker Desktop on Windows
• Migrating from Docker Desktop to alternatives like Colima or Rancher Desktop
• After Docker Desktop updates or reinstallations

Primary Solutions

Method 1: Edit Docker Configuration File

The most reliable fix is to modify your Docker configuration to either remove or rename the problematic credential store setting.

1. Open your Docker configuration file:

nano ~/.docker/config.json

2. Look for the credsStore property and either:
   • Delete the entire line containing "credsStore": "desktop"
   • OR rename it to "credStore": "desktop"

Example before modification:

{
  "credsStore": "desktop",
  "auths": {}
}

Example after modification:

{
  "credStore": "desktop",
  "auths": {}
}

3. Save the file and try your Docker command again.

Windows Users

If you're using Windows with WSL2, you might have two Docker configuration files:

• ~/.docker/config.json (WSL environment)
• C:\Users\<username>\.docker\config.json (Windows host environment)

Make sure to update both if needed.

Method 2: Remove Docker Configuration Directory

If you don't have important Docker configurations to preserve, you can remove the entire Docker configuration directory:

rm -rf ~/.docker

This will reset all Docker configurations to defaults. Docker will recreate the directory with default settings when you next run a Docker command.

Data Loss Warning

This approach will remove all your Docker configurations, including registry credentials and custom settings. Only use this if you're comfortable with resetting everything.

Platform-Specific Solutions

For macOS Users

If you have Docker Desktop installed but still encounter the issue:

1. Ensure Docker CLI is in your PATH:

echo 'export PATH="/Applications/Docker.app/Contents/Resources/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zshrc
# For bash users: use ~/.bash_profile instead of ~/.zshrc

2. Reload your shell configuration:

source ~/.zshrc

3. Verify Docker is accessible:

which docker

4. Alternatively, install the credential helper:

brew install docker-credential-helper

For Windows Users

1. Try PowerShell: Some users report that using PowerShell instead of Command Prompt resolves the issue.

2. Update Docker Desktop: Check for and install any available updates to Docker Desktop.

3. Ensure WSL is running: If using WSL2, make sure your WSL environment is properly started before running Docker commands.

For Linux Users (Non-Docker Desktop)

If you're using Docker Engine without Docker Desktop:

1. Edit the configuration file as described in Method 1
2. Alternatively, install Docker Desktop if you need the credential helper functionality

Explanation: Why This Works

The credsStore property in Docker's configuration specifies an external credential helper binary. When set, Docker attempts to store and retrieve credentials using docker-credential-<value> (where <value> is the string specified in credsStore).

By removing or modifying this setting, you're telling Docker to:

1. Either use a different credential helper (if you rename credsStore to credStore)
2. Or fall back to storing credentials directly in the config file's auths property (if you remove the line entirely)

This approach eliminates the dependency on the missing docker-credential-desktop.exe binary.

Verification

After applying any of these solutions, verify that Docker commands work correctly:

docker pull ubuntu:18.04
docker build .

The error should no longer appear, and your Docker operations should proceed normally.

When to Seek Additional Help

If none of these solutions work, consider:

1. Checking Docker installation: Ensure Docker is properly installed and running
2. Reviewing system PATH: Verify that Docker binaries are included in your system's PATH
3. Checking file permissions: Ensure you have appropriate permissions for Docker operations
4. Consulting Docker documentation: Review the official Docker credential store documentation

Most users find that modifying the ~/.docker/config.json file resolves this issue permanently, allowing them to continue using Docker without credential-related errors.