Update vm.max_map_count

Linux

To check the value of vm.max_map_count:

$ sysctl vm.max_map_count

Reset vm.max_map_count to a value at least 262144 if it is not.

# In this case, we set it to 262144:
$ sudo sysctl -w vm.max_map_count=262144

This change will be reset after a system reboot. To ensure your change remains permanent, add or update the vm.max_map_count value in /etc/sysctl.conf accordingly:

vm.max_map_count=262144

Mac

$ screen ~/Library/Containers/com.docker.docker/Data/vms/0/tty
$ sysctl -w vm.max_map_count=262144

To exit the screen session, type Ctrl a d.

Windows and macOS with Docker Desktop

The vm.max_map_count setting must be set via docker-machine:

$ docker-machine ssh
$ sudo sysctl -w vm.max_map_count=262144

Windows with Docker Desktop WSL 2 backend

To manually set it every time you reboot, you must run the following commands in a command prompt or PowerShell window every time you restart Docker:

$ wsl -d docker-desktop -u root
$ sysctl -w vm.max_map_count=262144

If you are on these versions of WSL and you do not want to have to run those commands every time you restart Docker, you can globally change every WSL distribution with this setting by modifying your %USERPROFILE%.wslconfig as follows:

[wsl2]
kernelCommandLine = "sysctl.vm.max_map_count=262144"

This will cause all WSL2 VMs to have that setting assigned when they start.

If you are on Windows 11, or Windows 10 version 22H2 and have installed the Microsoft Store version of WSL, you can modify the /etc/sysctl.conf within the "docker-desktop" WSL distribution, perhaps with commands like this:

$ wsl -d docker-desktop -u root
$ vi /etc/sysctl.conf

and appending a line which reads:

vm.max_map_count = 262144