How to uninstall Docker on your Mac

Looking for ways to uninstall Docker Desktop on your Mac? Surprising to many, the uninstall steps for this popular, open-source platform are somewhat unclear online, but we're here to help.

Why uninstall Docker from Mac

Docker is a trusted platform that enables developers to run, manage, and deploy applications efficiently. Still, there are many reasons why people might want to remove it from their devices — let's take a look.

• Docker Desktop (a containerization tool powered by the Docker engine) consumes quite a considerable amount of disk space (typically, at least 2-4 GB), so if your Mac is slow, removing this software could instantly save you space.
• If you're a developer, you might be facing shifting development needs and looking to transition to another tool like Kubernetes or Podman, or perhaps your personal preferences have changed.
• Battery drain (usually, minus 3-4 hours of battery life on a laptop) and high CPU and memory usage are also common issues when using Docker Desktop.

Whatever your reason, we've got some straightforward steps in this article for you for safe removal, plus some bonus material on what to do if Docker is misbehaving or suffering from performance issues. So let's begin.

How to uninstall Docker desktop on macOS 

Below, we'll provide several different ways to uninstall Docker. We'll start with the simplest one and proceed to a more complicated, manual process. Here's a quick overview of all the methods: 

Use a Mac app uninstaller — one-click solution

When it comes to safely removing unwanted applications, the easiest and most reliable way is to use a dedicated removal tool, like the Uninstaller from CleanMyMac. 

You don't have to worry that sneaky leftovers will remain on your MacBook, and you don't need to go hunting in hidden library folders; this smart tool ensures all traces and application leftovers are wiped clean. Try the free version of this tool —get your free trial here.

1. Open the app and choose Applications in the sidebar.
2. Click Scan > Manage My Applications > Uninstaller.
3. Locate Docker on the list, select it, and click Uninstall.

That's it, you're finished, and Docker is no longer on your Mac. Simple, right?

Why use CleanMyMac? 

• Trusted by users in 185+ countries (TrustPilot rating: 4.7/5)
• Not only uninstalls apps but also clears out unneeded stuff: on average, users find and remove 6.5 GB of junk files, 4 duplicates, and 5 similar images
• Cleans and maintains over 50,000 Macs daily
• Protects MacBooks from Mac-specific threats: on average, users find at least 1 malware 

Get your free CleanMyMac trial — see the market leader in action (free for 7 days). 

Not into cleaner apps? We've got three more ways to remove Docker safely from your MacBook.

Use a built-in uninstaller

Did you know that Docker comes with a built-in uninstaller, but it is tucked away and not easy to find. Here's how to use it. 

1. Click the Docker icon in the menu bar and choose Troubleshoot. 
2. In the window that opens, click Uninstall and confirm the action. 

It is a good idea to check for app-related files even after using the built-in uninstaller. You can either run the Applications feature from CleanMyMac again (this time, check Leftovers) or jump to the steps below to see the locations where these files can be found. 

Manual removal — browse the library

It's alarming just how many people think that dragging your old or unwanted apps into your Trash or Bin will uninstall and remove them.

Although the method is practiced by many, it removes the application icon but not all its associated files and hidden leftovers. Meaning you are left with debris scattered across your Mac and consuming space.

The truth is, there's a little bit more that goes into manual app removal. In fact, it's a two-part process.

Here's how to safely uninstall Docker Desktop manually:

Step one: Delete the binary

The part that everyone seems familiar with.

1. Make sure Docker is not open. You can double-check it's not running in the background by opening Activity Monitor from Finder > Applications > Utilities to make sure it's fully closed.

2. Now, open the Finder once again and under Applications, locate the Docker application icon and drag it to your Trash.

Step two: Remove Docker-related files

The step most users forget.

1. Back in the Finder, click Go to Folder from within the Go menu.

2. One by one, enter the following file pathways: 
   ~/Library/Cookies/com.Docker.Docker.binarycookies
   ~/Library/Logs/Docker Desktop
   ~/Library/Saved Application State/com.electron.docker-frontend.savedState
   ~/Library/Preferences/com.electron.docker-frontend.plist
   ~/Library/Caches/com.docker.docker
   ~/Library/Group Containers/group.com.docker
   /Library/LaunchDaemons/
   /Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/com.docker.vmnetd
   /private/var/run/com.docker.vmnetd.sock
   /private/var/folders/*/com.electron.dockerdesktop
   /private/var/folders/*/com.electron.dockerdesktop.helper.GPU
   /Library/Caches
   ~/Library/Containers/
   ~/Library/Preferences/com.electron.dockerdesktop.plist

3. Remove all the files and folders with Docker in their names you find in these pathways by moving them to your Trash. 

4. To ensure that you've not missed a single file, type Docker in the Finder's search bar and remove anything your may have found.

5. Empty your Trash to fully complete the manual removal process.

This amount of manual search and removal might come as a shock to some. If you're not comfortable with this process, just use a dedicated uninstaller like CleanMyMac.

Tip: If you want to remove any other app from Mac, check out this handy guide on all the ways to uninstall programs on Mac.

Run Terminal [advanced]

If you are comfortable with running a few Terminal command, you can also use it to remove Docker. Here's what to do: 

1. Open Terminal from Applications > Utilities. 
2. Run this command followed by Return:
   /Applications/Docker.app/Contents/MacOS/uninstall
3. Now, remove leftover files using these commands one by one:
   rm -rf ~/Library/Group\ Containers/group.com.docker
   rm -rf ~/.docker

Important: Make sure you provided Full Disk Access to Terminal in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access. If Terminal is not on the list, click + bottom left, enter your password, find Terminal, and click Open. Otherwise, you may get the 'Operation not permitted' error. 

What to do if Docker is misbehaving 

If you're having performance issues with Docker, before you wave it goodbye, why not try these simple troubleshooting tips? You might not need to remove it after all.

1. Update your device

It's common knowledge that ensuring your Mac is up to date with the latest software will not only keep your device in good shape and boost performance but also solve annoying application glitches. So if it's been a while, this is worth a try. Here's a quick reminder of how to do it:

1. Select System Settings from the main Apple menu.
2. Go to General > Software Update.
3. Once the screen loads, select Restart Now if you have available software updates.

2. Reset Docker

You can use the application mentioned earlier, CleanMyMac, to reset Docker back to its initial state. This can help to solve many annoying glitches; here's how:

1. Open the app once again and choose Applications in the sidebar.
2. Click Scan > Manage My Applications > Uninstaller.
3. Locate Docker on the list and choose everything except Binaries from the drop-down menu next to its name.
4. Click Remove.

Tip: For more uninstall tips, check out other articles on our blog. You can learn how to remove gaming applications like Steam, antivirus programs, and all other kinds of apps from Mac.

3. Search Dockers online manuals

For more complex software issues, Docker has a known issues section on their online manuals; it's worth doing some research and investigation here to see if you can solve your problem.

Now you know how to uninstall Docker Desktop on your Mac. Let's close this article by taking a look at some commonly asked uninstall questions.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to remove Docker entities before uninstalling it? 

No, not necessarily. The only reason to do it is if you uninstall Docker to free up space. If you do not plan to reinstall it, you will remove the entities during the uninstallation. However, if you want to, run this command in Terminal:
docker system prune -a

It will delete all entities: images, cache, all stopped containers, all networks not used by at least one container, and all volumes not used by at least one container.

How to delete PrivilegedHelperTools? 

You can find them in these locations: 
/Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/com.docker.socket
/Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/com.docker.vmnetd
Make sure to check them if you remove Docker Desktop version 4.36 and earlier — they are usually left over. 

Can I clear Docker cache without uninstalling it? 

Yes. Just check these locations for Docker-related files: ~/Library/Caches and /Library/Caches

Why won't Docker uninstall from my Mac?

If Docker isn't closed correctly when you try to uninstall it, you'll run into removal issues. You need to ensure it's fully shut down and not active in the background; here's how:

1. Open Finder > Applications > Utilities> Activity Monitor.
2. Under the CPU tab, use the search feature to locate Docker.
3. Select Docker and click the X button to quit the software immediately.

With Docker fully closed, you can try the removal tips once again.

How to uninstall Docker Compose? 

Based on how it is installed, run one of these commands: 

• If installed system-wide:
  sudo rm /usr/local/lib/docker/cli-plugins/docker-compose
• If installed manually using curl:
  rm $DOCKER_CONFIG/cli-plugins/docker-compose
• If installed via Homebrew:
  brew uninstall docker-compose

How do I uninstall Docker Agent?

You'll need to run several Terminal commands: sudo docker ps -a to list all Docker containers first. Take note of the ID for Docker Agent container and run this command:
sudo docker rm -f <container_id>