BuildWithMatija
  1. Home
  3. Blog
  5. Docker
  7. Install Docker CLI on Mac with Colima — Fast Guide 2026

Install Docker CLI on Mac with Colima — Fast Guide 2026

Move from Docker Desktop to Colima: lightweight CLI-only Docker with Compose, Buildx, and Homebrew setup

5th January 2026·Updated on:3rd June 2026··
Docker
Install Docker CLI on Mac with Colima — Fast Guide 2026

🐳 Docker & DevOps Implementation Guides

Complete Docker guides with optimization techniques, deployment strategies, and automation prompts to streamline your containerization workflow.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Related Posts:

  • •Docker Compose env_file: When to Use vs environment Variables
  • •Docker Volume is in Use Error? 4 Proven Solutions
  • •Update Docker to Latest Version on Ubuntu
📄View markdown version
0

Frequently Asked Questions

About the author

Matija Žiberna

Matija Žiberna

Full-stack developer, co-founder

AboutResume

Self-taught full-stack developer sharing lessons from building software and startups.

I'm Matija Žiberna, a self-taught full-stack developer and co-founder passionate about building products, writing clean code, and figuring out how to turn ideas into businesses. I write about web development with Next.js, lessons from entrepreneurship, and the journey of learning by doing. My goal is to provide value through code—whether it's through tools, content, or real-world software.

You might be interested in

Docker Compose env_file: When to Use vs environment Variables
Docker Compose env_file: When to Use vs environment Variables

13th May 2025

Docker Volume is in Use Error? 4 Proven Solutions
Docker Volume is in Use Error? 4 Proven Solutions

13th May 2025

Update Docker to Latest Version on Ubuntu
Update Docker to Latest Version on Ubuntu

16th August 2025

Contents

  • **1. Why Docker Desktop Often Fails or Is Unsuitable**
  • **2. Use Colima for a CLI-Only Docker Environment**
  • **3. Install Required Tools**
  • **Step 1: Install Homebrew (if not installed)**
  • **Step 2: Install Colima**
  • **Step 3: Install Docker CLI and Compose**
  • **Step 4: Start Colima**
  • **4. Handling Credential Helper Issues**
  • **5. Running Docker Compose Projects**
  • **Tip:** Alias for convenience
  • **6. Cleaning Up Disk Space**
  • **7. Summary of Steps**
  • **8. Why This Setup Is Better**
On this page:
  • **1. Why Docker Desktop Often Fails or Is Unsuitable**
  • **2. Use Colima for a CLI-Only Docker Environment**
  • **3. Install Required Tools**
  • **4. Handling Credential Helper Issues**
  • **5. Running Docker Compose Projects**
Build with Matija logo

Build with Matija

Modern websites, content systems, and AI workflows built for long-term growth.

Services

  • Headless CMS Websites
  • Next.js & Headless CMS Advisory
  • AI Systems & Automation
  • Website & Content Audit

Resources

  • Case Studies
  • How I Work
  • Blog
  • CMS Hub
  • E-commerce Hub
  • Dashboard

Headless CMS

  • Payload CMS Developer
  • CMS Migration
  • Multi-Tenant CMS
  • Payload vs Sanity
  • Payload vs WordPress
  • Payload vs Contentful

Get in Touch

Ready to modernize your stack? Let's talk about what you're building.

Book a discovery callContact me →
© 2026Build with Matija•All rights reserved•Privacy Policy•Terms of Service
BuildWithMatija
Get In Touch

1. Why Docker Desktop Often Fails or Is Unsuitable

Docker Desktop on macOS is a GUI application that bundles:

  • Docker daemon
  • Docker CLI
  • Docker Compose
  • Credential helpers
  • GUI system tray and settings

Issues we encountered:

  • Homebrew installation repeatedly failed because of a conflicting binary (/usr/local/bin/hub-tool) pointing to a missing /Applications/Docker.app.
  • Docker Desktop requires a large macOS GUI app that some developers may not want.
  • GUI apps consume more system resources and don’t integrate well in a pure CLI workflow.
  • CLI-only workflows with Docker Desktop require workarounds for credential helpers and build tools.

Conclusion: For pure command-line workflows, a lightweight Linux VM running Docker/Containerd is better.

2. Use Colima for a CLI-Only Docker Environment

Colima creates a lightweight Linux VM on macOS and runs a Docker-compatible runtime inside. It fully supports the Docker CLI and Compose.

Benefits:

  • CLI-only, no GUI
  • Small disk and memory footprint
  • Fully compatible with docker and docker-compose
  • Works with Apple Silicon and Intel Macs

3. Install Required Tools

Step 1: Install Homebrew (if not installed)

bash
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

Step 2: Install Colima

bash
brew install colima

Step 3: Install Docker CLI and Compose

bash
brew install docker docker-compose docker-buildx
  • docker → CLI
  • docker-compose → standalone Compose
  • docker-buildx → build plugin for advanced builds

Note: Do not try to install Docker Desktop via Homebrew cask — it will fail if previous binaries exist or /Applications/Docker.app is missing.

Step 4: Start Colima

bash
colima start
  • Colima creates a Linux VM and runs a Docker daemon inside.
  • After starting, you can use Docker CLI commands normally.

4. Handling Credential Helper Issues

In CLI-only mode, the macOS credential helper (docker-credential-osxkeychain) is not available. To fix:

  1. Edit Docker config:
bash
nano ~/.docker/config.json
  1. Remove or comment out:
json
"credsStore": "osxkeychain"
  1. Save the file. Docker CLI will now pull/push images without the credential helper.

5. Running Docker Compose Projects

Assuming you have a Compose file (e.g., compose.dev.yml) in your project:

bash
docker-compose -f compose.dev.yml up -d
  • -f compose.dev.yml points to your Compose file
  • up -d runs containers in detached mode

Check running containers:

bash
docker-compose ps

Follow logs:

bash
docker-compose logs -f

Stop containers:

bash
docker-compose down

Tip: Alias for convenience

To unify commands with the modern CLI:

bash
alias docker-compose='docker compose'

Then you can run your usual docker-compose commands and they will invoke the CLI-compatible version automatically.

6. Cleaning Up Disk Space

Stopped containers, old images, volumes, and build cache can fill your disk. Recommended commands:

  • Remove stopped containers:
bash
docker container prune -f
  • Remove unused images:
bash
docker image prune -a -f
  • Remove volumes:
bash
docker volume prune -f
  • Remove build cache:
bash
docker builder prune -a -f
  • One-shot cleanup:
bash
docker system prune -a --volumes -f

7. Summary of Steps

  1. Remove broken Docker Desktop remnants.
  2. Install Colima via Homebrew.
  3. Install Docker CLI, Compose, and Buildx.
  4. Start Colima (colima start) to create a Linux VM with Docker daemon.
  5. Fix docker-credential-osxkeychain issue by editing ~/.docker/config.json.
  6. Use docker-compose -f compose.dev.yml up -d to run projects.
  7. Clean up old containers, images, volumes, and build cache as needed.

8. Why This Setup Is Better

  • Works entirely in the terminal.
  • Lightweight and faster than Docker Desktop.
  • No GUI app conflicts.
  • Fully supports Docker CLI, Compose, Buildx, and Colima VM networking.
  • Easier to automate for scripts, CI/CD, and development workflows.