Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-03

How to Fix: Docker Compose prompted error: no configuration file provided: not found

Learn how to fix: Docker Compose prompted error: no configuration file provided: not found.

Quick Answer: Try checking your system settings or restarting.

Docker Compose has encountered an error when attempting to execute certain commands due to a missing configuration file. This issue affects users who have set up Docker Desktop with Windows WSL integration version 2 and are experiencing problems when running specific `docker compose` commands.

The lack of a configuration file provided can be frustrating, especially when other Docker-related commands like `docker-compose up` execute successfully without issues.

🛑 Root Causes of the Error

  • The primary reason for this error is that Docker Compose relies on the presence of a configuration file (usually named `docker-compose.yml`) in the current working directory. This file contains essential settings and information required for Docker Compose to function correctly.
  • An alternative explanation could be related to the specific version of Docker Desktop being used, as some versions might have compatibility issues or bugs that affect certain commands.

✅ Best Solutions to Fix It

Verify Configuration File Presence

  1. Step 1: Check if a `docker-compose.yml` file exists in the current working directory. If it does not exist, create a new file with the required Docker Compose configuration.
  2. Step 2: Ensure that the file is correctly formatted and follows the standard Docker Compose syntax.
  3. Step 3: Verify that the correct working directory is specified in the `docker-compose.yml` file, as this may cause issues if the current working directory is not the same.

Check Docker Desktop Version Compatibility

  1. Step 1: Update Docker Desktop to the latest version available. This might resolve any compatibility issues or bugs that could be causing the error.
  2. Step 2: Disable and re-enable Windows WSL integration if it's enabled, as some users have reported success with this step.

✨ Wrapping Up

To resolve the `no configuration file provided: not found` error when using Docker Compose, verify the presence of a `docker-compose.yml` file in the current working directory and ensure its correct formatting. If issues persist, check for compatibility problems related to the version of Docker Desktop being used and consider updating or disabling WSL integration.

Did this fix your problem?

If not, try searching for specific error codes.

🔍 Search Error Database

❓ Frequently Asked Questions