Link to open Docker Dashboard missing from menubar icon on Mac

[streetlogics]

• I have tried with the latest version of Docker Desktop
• I have tried disabling enabled experimental features
• I have uploaded Diagnostics
• Diagnostics ID: 525DFAFE-9B6B-431C-A0CE-0E3D63545334/20220222182044

Expected behavior

When clicking the Docker icon in the menu bar, there should be a link to open the "Docker Dashboard" / Docker desktop app.

Actual behavior

The link is missing and the only way to get to the dashboard is by hitting cmd + space and launching docker.app from there.

Information

• Is it reproducible?
  • Yes, started happening after restarting the computer after the latest update
• Is the problem new?
  • Yes
• Did the problem appear with an update?
  • Happened after updating to 4.5.0
• macOS Version:
  • 12.1
• Intel chip or Apple chip:
  • Apple M1
• Docker Desktop Version:
  • 4.5.0
  • 

Output of /Applications/Docker.app/Contents/MacOS/com.docker.diagnose check

Starting diagnostics

[PASS] DD0027: is there available disk space on the host?
[PASS] DD0028: is there available VM disk space?
[PASS] DD0031: does the Docker API work?
[PASS] DD0004: is the Docker engine running?
[PASS] DD0011: are the LinuxKit services running?
[FAIL] DD0016: is the LinuxKit VM running? vm is not running: vm has not started
[PASS] DD0001: is the application running?
[PASS] DD0018: does the host support virtualization?
[FAIL] DD0017: can a VM be started? vm has not started: vm has not started
[PASS] DD0015: are the binary symlinks installed?
[PASS] DD0003: is the Docker CLI working?
[PASS] DD0013: is the $PATH ok?
[PASS] DD0007: is the backend responding?
[PASS] DD0014: are the backend processes running?
[PASS] DD0008: is the native API responding?
[PASS] DD0009: is the vpnkit API responding?
[PASS] DD0010: is the Docker API proxy responding?
[PASS] DD0012: is the VM networking working?
[PASS] DD0032: do Docker networks overlap with host IPs?
[SKIP] DD0030: is the image access management authorized?
[PASS] DD0019: is the com.docker.vmnetd process responding?
[PASS] DD0033: does the host have Internet access?

Please investigate the following 1 issue:

1 : The test: can a VM be started?
    Failed with: vm has not started: vm has not started

The Docker engine runs inside a Linux VM. Therefore we must be able to start Virtual Machines.

Steps to reproduce the behavior

1. Upgrade to 4.5.0
2. Restart
3. Wait for docker to launch / show up in menu bar
4. Click menu bar icon

[ericpoe]

This is also seen on x86_64 Mac, Monterey & Big Sur.

[niccolomineo]

I am observing the same issue.

[nmeegama]

Experiencing the same issue

[GM-Alex]

I expecting the same issue since the last update. I'm using an intel macbook pro.

[ozzyjr]

Same issue on an Intel iMac, Monterey 12.2.1

In addition, even if I enter my username, it does not remain logged in.

[einord]

Same here. Quite the surprise this morning when starting work.
MacOs Monterey (12.2.1) on Intel Mac.

But there's more than just the dashboard missing. This is a screen shot of one of my other computers that hasn't updated yet:

Other missing menu items are:

• Preferences
• Troubleshoot
• Quick start guide
• The Kubernetes login
• Pause
• Restart

[mrmachine]

Yep. Same here. Without access to the dashboard there is no way to change resources allocated to the Docker VM anymore. Or factory reset.

[StefanScherer]

Thanks for the diagnostics. For all others if you can, please upload your diagnostics from the command line as described at https://docs.docker.com/desktop/mac/troubleshoot/#diagnosing-from-the-terminal

With 4.5.0 we've introduced a new whale icon. In case of a problem there's a workaround to switch back to the old menu described in this blog post https://www.docker.com/blog/new-docker-menu-improved-release-highlights-with-docker-desktop-4-5/

We're investigating further to improve the experience with the new menu. Sorry for the inconvenience.

[jamesfernandes]

Thanks for the guidance @StefanScherer. Just a quick follow-up that I appear to have been able to correct this issue. I wonder if something got "stuck" somewhere, and using the override file unstuck?

Repro:

• add the features-overrides.json file with recommended content per the blog post
• start Docker Desktop
• quit Docker Desktop
• remove the JSON file

Menu appears to be functioning properly now when I start Docker Desktop.

UPDATE: After restarting my machine, I'm back to the old problem again. I have uploaded diagnostics as requested.

[StefanScherer]

The features-overrides.json is only a temporary workaround as we plan to remove the old code in the next scheduled release. We really want to understand the root cause why this happens to some users, so diagnostics could really help us to understand the issue. Thanks.

[streetlogics]

I don't know if this helps or not @StefanScherer, but on my Mac, if I cmd + space and type docker and launch Docker.app from there, the dashboard does launch, but the menu doesn't update.

Also worth noting that I did the latest Monterey update yesterday (now on MacOS v12.2.1), and I'm not sure what else I did, but the menu bar was working without having to do anything special (it's possible I did the cmd+space launch trick, but this time the menu bar dropdown had dashboard and all the other expected stuff). This morning after a fresh restart, it's back to how it's been acting / as reported.