TidyMacUse Docker Desktop’s own uninstaller: open the Troubleshoot menu (the bug icon) and choose Uninstall, or run /Applications/Docker.app/Contents/MacOS/uninstall. It deletes every container, image and volume. Then drag Docker to the Trash and check for leftovers: the com.docker.docker container, group.com.docker, ~/.docker and Application Support/Docker Desktop.
Uninstall Docker Desktop step by step
- Save images you need (docker save) and back up any named volumes. Uninstalling deletes all containers, images and volumes.
- In Docker Desktop, open Troubleshoot (the bug icon) and choose Uninstall. Or run /Applications/Docker.app/Contents/MacOS/uninstall in Terminal.
- Quit Docker Desktop and drag Docker from Applications to the Trash.
- Move ~/Library/Containers/com.docker.docker and ~/Library/Group Containers/group.com.docker to the Trash, if they’re still there.
- Move ~/Library/Application Support/Docker Desktop and ~/Library/Preferences/com.docker.docker.plist to the Trash.
- Move ~/.docker to the Trash if you no longer use the docker command at all.
- Empty the Trash and restart.
Where Docker Desktop leaves files
| Location | What it is | After uninstalling |
|---|---|---|
| ~/Library/Containers/com.docker.docker | Docker.raw virtual disk: every image, container and volume | Check first |
| ~/Library/Group Containers/group.com.docker | Settings shared by Docker Desktop’s components | Safe |
| ~/Library/Application Support/Docker Desktop | Docker Desktop app data | Safe |
| ~/Library/Preferences/com.docker.docker.plist | Preferences | Safe |
| ~/.docker | CLI config, contexts and credential helper settings | Check first |
| /Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/com.docker.vmnetd | Networking helper installed by some versions (needs your password) | Safe |
In Finder choose Go › Go to Folder (Shift-Command-G) and paste a path to open it. Safe means nothing you made is inside; Check first means it may hold the only copy of something. To see how much space they use, run this read-only command in Terminal:
du -sh ~/Library/Containers/com.docker.docker ~/Library/Group\ Containers/group.com.docker ~/Library/Application\ Support/Docker\ Desktop ~/Library/Preferences/com.docker.docker.plist ~/.docker 2>/dev/nullDocker.raw is where the gigabytes are
Docker Desktop runs a Linux virtual machine whose disk is a single file, Docker.raw, inside ~/Library/Containers/com.docker.docker. It holds every image, container, volume and build cache, and it doesn’t shrink by itself when you delete images. Why Docker.raw gets huge
Just want the space back?
You probably don’t need to uninstall. Inside Docker, prune what you don’t use:
docker system prune
docker system prune -a --volumes # also unused images and volumesYou can also lower the disk size limit in Docker Desktop’s Settings › Resources.
~/.docker is shared
~/.docker belongs to the docker command, not just Docker Desktop. If you switch to another container runtime that uses the same CLI, keep it.
Uninstall Docker Desktop with TidyMac
TidyMac’s uninstaller lists every app with its size and last use, and finds the leftovers that belong to it by bundle ID. Remove Docker Desktop and its leftovers in one review: everything goes to the Trash first, you confirm twice, TidyMac checks the disk afterwards, and you can put anything back. Leftovers from apps you already deleted are found too, labelled Check first.
Uninstall apps and their leftovers in one step
See every part of your storage explained, and clean only what’s safe after you confirm twice. $9.99, one time.
Frequently asked questions
Does dragging Docker Desktop to the Trash uninstall it completely?
No. It removes the app, but Docker Desktop leaves 6 kinds of files behind in your Library and elsewhere: docker.raw virtual disk: every image, container and volume; settings shared by docker desktop’s components; docker desktop app data. The steps above remove them.
What is Docker Desktop’s bundle ID on Mac?
com.docker.docker. Most of its leftover files and folders are named after it, which is how you (and TidyMac) can tell they belong to Docker Desktop.
Can I reinstall Docker Desktop later?
Yes. Download it again from Docker. Anything stored in your account online comes back when you sign in; local-only data you removed does not.