Docker Desktop (or Docker) is a multi-functional developer environment manager used to build, run, and share containerized applications on your local machine. It is compatible with macOS, Windows, and Linux operating systems.
However, many developers like you are going to uninstall Docker on Mac due to its high CPU, RAM, and disk space consumption, instability, bugs, and the appearance of better alternatives.
If you are confused about how to uninstall Docker Desktop on your Mac completely, follow our tutorial. Here, we'll show you three ways to remove the app from your Mac, including through simple clicks or running Terminal.
How to uninstall Docker on Mac completely
Uninstalling Docker Desktop on your Mac is not a simple move-to-trash operation. This only moves the application to the Trash but leaves all its related files on your Mac.
To delete everything of Docker Desktop, you can follow one of the three ways below.
Uninstall Docker on your Mac with its built-in uninstall button
The built-in uninstall feature in Docker Desktop is designed to destroy all Docker Desktop containers and images local to your Mac and remove all files generated by it. After using this functionality, you'll also need to manually move the Docker Desktop application installer to the Trash.
Uninstall Docker Desktop on your Mac with one click
Although Docker Desktop has a built-in uninstaller, it can only delete the related files. You still need to manually delete the application's installer after using the built-in uninstall button.
Moreover, generally, a software's built-in uninstaller can't remove it completely, since developers often leave traces behind for data analysis, easier reinstallation, and other business purposes.
Thus, to make uninstalling Docker on a Mac simpler and more totally, we suggest you use a professional app uninstaller like CleanMyApp.
This free and lightweight app uninstaller supports scanning everything of the third-party apps on your Mac for one-click deletion.
Here's how:
Then, let the tool quickly and fully uninstall Docker Desktop.
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Uninstall Docker Desktop on your Mac with Terminal
If you're used to running command lines, you can uninstall Docker Desktop on your Mac with Terminal.
If you run version 4.36 or earlier of Docker Desktop, your Mac may remain com.docker.vmnetd and com.docker.socket files. Continue entering the command below to remove them.
/Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/com.docker.vmnetd
/Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/com.docker.socket
If you think it is complicated to uninstall Docker on your Mac with Terminal, you can use CleanMyApp to finish this task within seconds.
Note: If you see the following error message when running the command line to uninstall Docker, ignore it, as it doesn't block you from uninstalling Docker.
Error: unlinkat /Users/USER_HOME/Library/Containers/com.docker.docker/.com.apple.containermanagerd
.metadata.plist: > operation not permitted
If you want to resolve it, go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access and enable Full Disk Access to Terminal first, and then open Terminal and enter the following command to delete the .docker folder. Here, remember to replace with your user name.
rm /Users//Library/Containers/com.docker.docker/
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Can't uninstall Docker, what to do
Many users report that Docker Desktop's built-in Uninstall button doesn't completely remove it from a Mac. In fact, it only deletes containers, images, and related files, but the application itself remains.
To fully uninstall Docker on your Mac, you need an extra step - drag it from the Applications folder to the Trash. If you need, read more from: how to delete apps from a Mac that won't delete.
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FAQs about uninstalling Docker on Mac
A
You should use a professional app uninstaller like CleanMyApp. This app will automatically search for third-party applications and their associated files and then list them. You can choose Docker Desktop and click Uninstall to delete Docker from your Mac thoroughly.
A
It is /Applications/Docker.app/Contents/MacOS/uninstall. However, you also need to run the following to ensure that the possible residuals can also be removed.
rm -rf ~/Library/Group\ Containers/group.com.docker
rm -rf ~/.docker