Settings to Windows Firewall to allow Docker for Windows to share drive

Question

Windows Firewall is blocking my attempt to allows Docker for Windows to share C: on windows 10 machine.

Works fine when Windows Firewall off. When its on I get

Answer 1

In short, use the Edge version.

The Edge version of Docker for Windows since 2.1.5.0 (2019-11-04) has a new implementation of file sharing without requiring firewall modifications https://docs.docker.com/docker-for-windows/edge-release-notes/

"New file sharing implementation: Docker Desktop introduces a new file sharing implementation which uses gRPC, FUSE, and Hypervisor sockets instead of Samba, CIFS, and Hyper-V networking. The new implementation offers improved I/O performance. Additionally, when using the new file system:

Users don’t have to expose the Samba port, and therefore do not experience issues related to IT firewall or the drive-sharing policy.
There is no need to provide user credentials to Docker Desktop. File access rights are automatically enforced when accessing mounted folders through containers.

"

You can download the edge version: https://download.docker.com/win/edge/Docker%20Desktop%20Installer.exe

Note as of now, the edge version of 2.1.7.0 will be used for next stable release: "Note: Docker Desktop Edge 2.1.7.0 is the release candidate for the upcoming major Stable release.". So the risk of using Edge is relatively low. Or you can wait for next stable release, to avoid all these firewall issues.