AI Diagnostic Summary

Docker Compose Not Found on Ubuntu 20.04 / 22.04 / 24.04

Well-Documented Error

This error matches known, documented patterns with reliable solutions.

Quick Fix (Most Common Solution)

Check which version is installed: run docker compose version (no hyphen) — if it works, V2 is already installed
If not found, install the V2 plugin: sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install docker-compose-plugin

Seeing "'compose' is not a docker command"? This error can be frustrating, but it's usually fixable. It typically affects your development workflow or system. Below you'll find clear, step-by-step solutions to resolve this issue.

High confidence

What This Error Means

Ubuntu separates Docker Compose V2 (docker-compose-plugin) from the legacy V1 binary (docker-compose). When Docker is installed via apt without the plugin, the 'docker compose' subcommand is missing from the Docker CLI.

Frequently documented in developer and vendor support forums.

Based on documented solutions and common real-world fixes.
Not affiliated with browser, OS, or device manufacturers.

New here? Learn why exact error messages matter →

Common Causes

Ubuntu package repositories separate docker-compose (legacy V1) from docker-compose-plugin (V2)
Docker Desktop on Ubuntu includes Compose V2 but the CLI standalone does not
Package manager installed an outdated version with a different binary path

How to Fix

Check which version is installed: run docker compose version (no hyphen) — if it works, V2 is already installed
If not found, install the V2 plugin: sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install docker-compose-plugin
Verify the install: docker compose version should return Docker Compose version v2.x.x
If you need V1 with a hyphen (legacy scripts): sudo apt install docker-compose

Last reviewed: June 2026 How we review solutions

Didn't fix it? Get a personalised solution

Environment-Specific Commands

Ubuntu 20.04 / 22.04 / 24.04 — Install V2 Plugin

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install docker-compose-plugin
docker compose version

Ubuntu — Install Legacy V1 Binary (if needed)

sudo apt install docker-compose
docker-compose --version

Quick Diagnostic Path

If docker compose version returns 'command not found' → Install V2 plugin: sudo apt-get install docker-compose-plugin
If docker-compose --version returns 'command not found' → Install V1: sudo apt install docker-compose
If Command found but version is very old (1.x) → Install V2 plugin alongside V1: sudo apt-get install docker-compose-plugin

If This Still Fails, Check

If you installed Docker via snap (snap install docker), the compose plugin may not be available — reinstall using the official Docker apt repository instead
On Ubuntu 18.04, docker-compose-plugin may not be in the repos — use pip3 install docker-compose or upgrade Ubuntu
ARM64 (Raspberry Pi, Parallels): verify architecture with dpkg --print-architecture before installing

Verify Compose is installed correctly

# V2 plugin (recommended)
docker compose version
# Expected: Docker Compose version v2.x.x

# V1 legacy binary
docker-compose --version
# Expected: docker-compose version 1.x.x

Version Notes

Docker Engine Versions and Compose Not Found Ubuntu Behavioral Differences

Docker Engine version differences cause Compose Not Found Ubuntu because core behaviors around networking, storage drivers, and BuildKit availability changed across major releases. Code that works on Docker 20.x may fail on Docker 24.x or vice versa. Check your Docker version with docker version — the output includes both client and server (daemon) versions, which may differ in remote environments. Docker Compose V2 (bundled as docker compose) replaced the standalone V1 (docker-compose) in 2023 and has subtle behavioral differences: the depends_on condition field, variable expansion in environment values, and profile behavior all changed. If your Compose file uses features from V2 but the environment has V1, commands may silently behave differently and produce Compose Not Found Ubuntu. Pin the Docker Compose version in CI with docker compose version checks. For production deployments, test Docker Engine upgrades in staging first — storage driver migrations (overlay2, devicemapper) are not always automatic and can cause data access errors resembling Compose Not Found Ubuntu.

Optional follow-up

Some users ask whether saving fixes for recurring errors would be useful when the same issue appears again.

Was this explanation helpful?

Explanations are based on documented fixes, real-world reports, and common system behavior. GetErrorHelp is independent and not affiliated with software vendors, device manufacturers, or service providers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'docker compose' and 'docker-compose'?

docker compose (no hyphen) is the V2 plugin integrated into the Docker CLI. docker-compose (with hyphen) is the legacy V1 Python binary. V2 is the current standard and is installed via docker-compose-plugin.

Which Ubuntu versions are affected?

All Ubuntu versions (20.04, 22.04, 24.04) when Docker is installed via apt without the compose plugin. Docker Desktop installs include V2 automatically.

Can I have both V1 and V2 installed?

Yes. V2 runs as 'docker compose' and V1 as 'docker-compose'. Both can coexist, but V2 is recommended for all new projects.

Related Resources

Also Known As

Docker container error
Docker build failure
Container runtime error
Docker daemon error

Common Search Variations

"docker container won't start"
"docker build error fix"
"docker image not found"
"container exited with error"
"docker daemon not responding"
"fix docker network error"

Related Errors

Still Stuck?

Paste a different error message or upload a screenshot to get help instantly.

Solutions are based on commonly documented fixes and may not apply in all situations.