How to Setup Docker Compose on Windows Server in Azure/AWS/GCP
To run the Docker Compose on Windows Server in Azure, AWS or GCP, the best way is to install the Docker Compose Windows image from the marketplace. It comes fully configured as per the requirements to run Docker Compose in the cloud. Click on the links below to deploy into your environments
Docker Compose Windows
Setup Docker Compose on Azure
Setup Docker Compose on AWS
Setup Docker Compose on GCP
Table of Contents
Getting Started with Docker Compose Windows
RDP into new server
Once you have deployed Docker Compose on Windows server, the first step is to RDP into the new instance once it has fully booted up. The following links explain how to connect the VM once it has finished being deployed:
- How to RDP to AWS Windows Instance
- How to RDP to Google GCP Windows Instance
- How to RDP to Azure Windows Virtual Machine
Once logged in, you’re now ready to start setting up your new server as per the following sections.
Using Docker Compose
Test Docker Compose - Check Version
Open up a command prompt or Powershell session and run the following command from to confirm Docker Compose is installed:
docker compose version
Or try the following if the above doesn’t work, depending on the version of Docker Compose installed:
docker-compose -version
Install Docker Engine
In order to run Docker Compose we need to install Docker Engine. Run the following PowerShell commands from an Elevated (Right click run as Administrator) Powershell command
[Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [Net.SecurityProtocolType]::Tls12
Install-PackageProvider -Name NuGet -RequiredVersion 2.8.5.201 -Force
Install-Module DockerMsftProvider -Force
Invoke-WebRequest -UseBasicParsing "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/microsoft/Windows-Containers/Main/helpful_tools/Install-DockerCE/install-docker-ce.ps1" -o install-docker-ce.ps1
.\install-docker-ce.ps1 -Force
The server will then automatically reboot. Log back in and wait for the script to finish loading.
Build Windows Docker Compose Hello World Container
As a test, you can build a Hello World Windows Docker Container, by first creating a folder on your c:\ drive. In my example i will create a folder called c:\project.
In this folder create a yaml file called docker-compose.yaml
Open up the docker-compose.yaml in notepad and add the following config:
On Versions running Docker Compose on Windows Server 2019 / 2022 / 2025
services:
webserver:
image: hello-world:nanoserver
networks:
- default
networks:
default:
name: nat
external: true
On Versions running Docker Compose on Windows Server 2016
version: "3"
services:
webserver:
image: hello-world:nanoserver-sac2016
networks:
- default
networks:
default:
external:
name: nat
Build and Run Docker Hello World App
Using an elevated (Right-click run as Administrator) Windows Powershell or Windows Command line, make sure the location is where your project folder is c:\project
Run the following command to build your test app:
docker compose up
Or if you’re using Compose V1, try the following command:
docker-compose up
And you should see the following message:
[+] Running 4/4
✔ webserver Pulled 43.8s
✔ 3c572c5b651b Pull complete 40.4s
✔ a575af90262d Pull complete 41.3s
✔ 6308f12cac64 Pull complete 41.9s
[+] Running 1/1
✔ Container test-webserver-1 Created 0.8s
Attaching to webserver-1
webserver-1 |
webserver-1 | Hello from Docker!
webserver-1 | This message shows that your installation appears to be working correctly.
webserver-1 |
webserver-1 | To generate this message, Docker took the following steps:
webserver-1 | 1. The Docker client contacted the Docker daemon.
webserver-1 | 2. The Docker daemon pulled the "hello-world" image from the Docker Hub.
webserver-1 | (windows-amd64, nanoserver-ltsc2025)
webserver-1 | 3. The Docker daemon created a new container from that image which runs the
webserver-1 | executable that produces the output you are currently reading.
webserver-1 | 4. The Docker daemon streamed that output to the Docker client, which sent it
webserver-1 | to your terminal.
webserver-1 |
webserver-1 | To try something more ambitious, you can run a Windows Server container with:
webserver-1 | PS C:\> docker run -it mcr.microsoft.com/windows/servercore:ltsc2025 powershell
webserver-1 |
webserver-1 | Share images, automate workflows, and more with a free Docker ID:
webserver-1 | https://hub.docker.com/
webserver-1 exited with code 0
Documentation
Please refer to Dockers documentation on how to use Docker Compose
Support
Any questions regarding the installation of this solution, please leave a comment below or contact us and we will assist as much as we can to help you get Docker up and running in your environment.
Disclaimer: Docker is a registred trademark of Docker Inc and is licensed under Apache LicenseV2. No warrantee of any kind, express or implied, is included with this software. Use at your risk, responsibility for damages (if any) to anyone resulting from the use of this software rest entirely with the user. The author is not responsible for any damage that its use could cause.
