Uninstall Docker on your Mac

Recently we found a question on the StackOverflow platform for developers, asking how to easily uninstall Docker on Mac and we couldn’t find an answer on the developer’s help page.

Since some users face this same problem when trying to delete 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. What is Docker and why remove it?
2. Uninstalling Docker manually
3. Uninstalling Docker within the app itself
4. Uninstalling Docker using Terminal
5. The quickest way to remove Docker on Mac
6. How to clear the Docker cache

Before we start

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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.

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

What is Docker and why remove it?

Docker is a package software used by developers for coding, shipment, and deployment. It runs the same way on Mac, Windows, Linux, or cloud servers, making it easy to move applications between different environments without compatibility issues.

Despite Docker’s many benefits, there are some reasons why you might want to remove it from your device. Here’s a list of them:

1. High RAM usage. The app consumes a lot of CPU, RAM, and disk space, affecting overall Mac performance.
2. Battery drain. It can significantly reduce MacBook’s battery life due to high power consumption.
3. Switching to an alternative. If you no longer use Docker, keeping it installed might not be necessary.

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 remove Docker from your Mac.

1. Quit the Docker app.
2. Close all Docker-related processeses running on the background. For this, launch Activity Monitor and 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.
4. Find and remove Docker 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.

5. In Finder, press the Command+Shift+G key shortcut.
6. 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….


7. In the search field that appears, type ~/Library and press Return.
   

Now you have access to the Library folder. Check its subfolders and remove all Docker’s service files you find there.

8. First, check the Application Scripts folder. Here you can find the com.docker.helper folder. Select and place it into the Trash Bin.


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


10. Open the Containers folder in the Library folder, find com.docker.docker as well as com.docker.helper and delete them.
11. 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
12. 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 within the app itself

Docker Desktop provides an option to uninstall it from the Troubleshoot menu. Follow these steps:

1. In Finder, go to the Applications folder.
2. Locate and double-click on Docker.
3. In the window that appears, click the Bug icon. It will open the Troubleshoot menu.
4. Click the Uninstall button at the bottom.
5. Provide your user password to allow the removal.
6. Once the uninstallation is finished, click Quit.
7. Trash the Docker app from the Applications folder.

Despite the promise from developers that this should cleanly uninstall Docker Desktop from your Mac, it may leave residual files on your disk. Please, follow the steps from the method above to find and remove Docker’s leftovers from the Library folder.

How to uninstall Docker using Terminal

Another way to get rid of Docker Desktop from a Mac is to use the Terminal command line. Here’s how:

1. Ensure Docker is located in the Applications folder.
2. Close Docker.
3. Open Terminal.
4. Copy and paste the following command and press Return:
   
   /Applications/Docker.app/Contents/MacOS/uninstall

Note: Terminal may show an error telling that the operation is not permitted. This error can be ignored as you have successfully uninstalled Docker Desktop.
5. To remove Docker leftover files use these commands:
   
   rm -rf ~/Library/Group\ Containers/group.com.docker
   
   rm -rf ~/.docker

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.

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 the Remove button.



Important fact
In the screenshot above, you can see that Docker occupies 3.87 GB of Mac hard drive, while the executable file is only 1.66 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.
4. You will see the confirmation window. Click again the Remove button.



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.
2. Enable the Expert mode.
3. Select Docker in the left panel.
4. In the right pane, scroll down and tick Caches.
5. Click the Remove button.
6. Confirm the removal of cache files.