Linux: Disk image relocation fails because Docker.raw workflow attempts missing Docker.qcow2 #763

Description

Docker Desktop for Linux cannot change the Disk image location from the default directory to /run/media/ravindra/DATADISK/docker.

Version

Docker Desktop 4.96.0
Platform: Linux x86_64

Current storage state

• Active image format: Docker.raw
• Source/default directory: /home/ravindra/.docker/desktop/vms/0/data
• Intended location: /run/media/ravindra/DATADISK/docker
• Image size: approximately 509315383296 bytes (~475 GiB virtual maximum)
• Host filesystem: ext4 mounted at /run/media/ravindra/DATADISK
• Docker.raw is sparse; actual host blocks are much smaller than the virtual maximum.

Steps to reproduce

1. Start Docker Desktop.
2. Open Settings > Resources > Advanced.
3. Set Disk image location to /run/media/ravindra/DATADISK/docker.
4. Apply the setting.

Actual result

The setting fails and reverts to /home/ravindra/.docker/desktop/vms/0/data with:

opening the source file: open /home/ravindra/.docker/desktop/vms/0/data/Docker.qcow2: no such file or directory

Relevant backend log entries show Docker Desktop first handles Docker.raw, then incorrectly attempts to copy/size Docker.qcow2:

Docker.raw is on a different volume: copying it
Docker.qcow2 is on a different volume: copying it
sizing .../Docker.qcow2 before the copy: no such file or directory
failed to move VM disk ... Docker.qcow2: no such file or directory
New setting not applied

Workaround

The Docker.raw file was moved to /run/media/ravindra/DATADISK/docker/Docker.raw and the original path was symlinked to it. Docker Desktop still registers and displays the default path, and QEMU receives the symlink path rather than the registered DATADISK path.

Diagnostics

Diagnostics ID: 7D31614E-41EF-42CC-842F-07FA53567441/20261020120635

The diagnostics bundle was uploaded by com.docker.diagnose gather -upload.

Expected result

Docker Desktop should detect the active Docker.raw format and update the registered disk image location without attempting to access a nonexistent Docker.qcow2 file.