Uninstall Docker on your Mac

Docker is a package software used by developers for coding, shipment, and deployment. Recently we found a question on the StackOverflow platform for developers, asking how to easily uninstall Docker on Mac and couldn’t find an answer on the Docker help page. Since some users face this same problem when trying to uninstall this app, we’ve decided to prepare a detailed step-by-step guide explaining two ways how to correctly and completely remove Docker from Mac.

Contents:

1. How to manually uninstall Docker on Mac
2. How to uninstall Docker using Terminal
3. The quickest way to uninstall Docker on Mac
4. How to clear the Docker cache

Tip 1: How to quickly uninstall Docker

If you do not have time to explore the manual way of uninstalling Docker from Mac, use App Cleaner & Uninstaller.

This is a special uninstaller that will help you to completely uninstall any application from your Mac along with their caches, logs, login items, preferences, and browser extensions.

App Cleaner & Uninstaller

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Before we start, watch a short video how to uninstall Docker on Mac.

How to manually uninstall Docker on Mac

Every application creates support files on a computer so that all functions work properly. Somehow these files penetrate deeply into the system folders. That’s why simply moving the Docker application into Trash is not enough for a total deletion from the computer.

We recommend that you carefully follow all the steps provided below to completely uninstall Docker from your Mac.

1. First, close the Docker app.
2. Make sure that there are no running background processes of Docker. For this, launch Activity Monitor and check all running processes on your Mac. If you find any process that has “Docker” in its name, select it and click the “X” button in the top left corner to close it.
3. Go to the Applications folder in Finder and find and remove the Docker app to Trash.

Now you need to find and remove all application support files of Docker. They are usually stored in the Library folder. As the system Library folder keeps important data, by default, it is hidden from users. Keep on reading, and we will explain how to get the ~/Library location.

4. In Finder, press the Command+Shift+G key shortcut. It will open the “Go to Folder “search field. Also, you can call this option from the menu bar – click on Go menu → select “Go to Folder…”.



5. In the search field that appears, type ~/Library and click Go.



6. Now you have access to the Library folder. Check its subfolders and remove all Docker’s service files you find there. First, check the Application Scripts folder. Here you can find the com.docker.helper folder. Select and place it into the Trash Bin.



7. Then check the Caches folder and delete the com.docker.docker folder from there.



8. Open the Containers folder in the Library folder, find com.docker.docker as well as com.docker.helper and delete them.
9. Finally, to clean up all remains that were created by Docker, check the following directories:
   • /Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/com.docker.vmnetd
   • /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.docker.vmnetd.plist
   • /usr/local/lib/docker
   • ~/.docker
   • ~/Library/Application Support/Docker Desktop
   • ~/Library/Preferences/com.docker.docker.plist
   • ~/Library/Saved Application State/com.electron.docker-frontend.savedState
   • ~/Library/Group Containers/group.com.docker
   • ~/Library/Logs/Docker Desktop
   • ~/Library/Preferences/com.electron.docker-frontend.plist
   • ~/Library/Cookies/com.docker.docker.binarycookies
10. Once you have removed all Docker files, empty your Trash. The Docker app is now completely uninstalled from your Mac.

Please note that some apps can spread out their service files in more hidden folders on your Mac’s hard drive, and it may be hard to find absolutely all service files. That’s why we recommend that you use an easier and safer way to uninstall apps on Mac. Keep on reading. Below we will share a software tool that can help to completely uninstall 1000+ Mac apps, including Docker.

How to uninstall Docker using Terminal

Another way to uninstall Docker Desktop from a Mac is to use Terminal command line. Here’s how:

1. Ensure Docker is lolated in the Applications folder on your Mac.
2. Open Terminal.
3. Copy and paste the following command:
   [path to Docker app]/Contents/MacOS/uninstall
4. Press Enter.

The quickest way to uninstall Docker on Mac

Use App Cleaner & Uninstaller to completely and easily remove programs from Mac. It automatically finds absolutely all apps’ leftovers and helps to uninstall apps with just two clicks. You can download and try App Cleaner & Uninstaller for free.

Here is how to uninstall Docker on Mac using App Cleaner & Uninstaller:

1. Launch App Cleaner & Uninstaller.
2. Select Docker from the list of applications. All system files and folders related to this app will also be selected.
3. Click to remove Docker.



Important fact
In the screenshot below, you can see that Docker occupies 2.71 GB of Mac hard drive, while the executable file is only 1.34 GB. This means that there are gigabytes of service files related to Docker. That’s why it is so important to find and remove all support files of apps that you want to uninstall so that you can keep your system clean from useless files. You will see the confirmation window. Click the Remove button to confirm uninstalling Docker desktop app.
4. You will see the confirmation window. Click the Remove button to confirm uninstalling of the Docker app.



5. Finally, empty the Trash to completely get rid of Docker and all its service files.

How to clear the Docker cache

1. Open App Cleaner & Uninstaller and enable the Expert mode.
2. Select Docker in the left panel.
3. In the right pane, scroll down and tick Caches.
4. Click the Remove button.
5. Confirm the removal of cache files.

Conclusion
We shared two ways how you can uninstall Docker from your Mac. However, we recommend using App Cleaner & Uninstaller because it removes applications from Mac completely and safely in less than a minute. Download an uninstaller for Docker and other apps, and you will forget about seeking out unnecessary files on your computer or wasting your time uninstalling applications manually.