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I would like to remove the Docker toolbox completely from my Mac. I tried to remove Docker from the /Applications folder, but it didn't work out.

nbro
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Amol Pol
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10 Answers10

116

Start Docker. Go to the Docker Preferences from its menu bar icon. Within there is a 'Power Button' icon labeled "Reset". Click on that and then click the "Uninstall" button.

Michael Innes
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Mike Ryan
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To uninstall Docker Toolbox from Mac, first simply download the following Docker Toolbox Uninstall Shell Script to your local machine.

Use the Terminal application on your Mac (i.e. Press CMD+Space to open Spotlight Search and enter keyword "Terminal") to change into the directory it was downloaded into (i.e. cd ~/Downloads), and then execute the file with sudo bash uninstall.sh.

J. Scott Elblein
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Luke Schoen
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  • Still application file is there. – The Java Guy Jul 09 '17 at 23:58
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    From the command line: `curl -L -O https://github.com/docker/toolbox/raw/master/osx/uninstall.sh; sudo bash uninstall.sh` – Matthew Leingang Apr 07 '18 at 15:13
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    This answer and @MatthewLeingang's script solved my "docker updating" being stuck problem on Catalina. – Gerben Rampaart Mar 03 '20 at 08:39
  • After running @MatthewLeingang command Docker was removed, but the very large Docker.raw file still persists in the Container/Docker/Data directory. Can I delete the Docker Directory from Containers and reclaim the space? – blueether Jun 08 '22 at 13:26
  • Form me, this did not remove docker-compose-v1, docker-credential-desktop, docker-credential-ecr-login, docker-credential-osxkeychain, and docker-index in /usr/local/bin/ that all simlink into /Applications/Docker.app/Contents/Resources/bin/ – Chad Skeeters Jan 25 '23 at 18:22
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Remove all Docker Machine VMs:

docker-machine rm -f $(docker-machine ls -q);

Remove the application:

rm -rf /Applications/Docker.app

Remove local config:

rm -rf ~/.docker

Remove docker binaries:

rm -f /usr/local/bin/docker
rm -f /usr/local/bin/docker-machine
rm -r /usr/local/bin/docker-machine-driver*
rm -f /usr/local/bin/docker-compose

Remove boot2docker.iso:

rm -rf /usr/local/share/boot2docker

Forget packages:

pkgutil --forget io.docker.pkg.docker
pkgutil --forget io.docker.pkg.dockercompose
pkgutil --forget io.docker.pkg.dockermachine
pkgutil --forget io.boot2dockeriso.pkg.boot2dockeriso
ruarl
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mrded
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    With the GUI stalled, this is the only thing that works! – Austin Wolff Jan 13 '23 at 00:26
  • I faced the same problem and this worked for me – Simeon Nortey Jan 26 '23 at 09:54
  • This still leaves behind a gigantic ~/Library/Containers/Docker folder for me. Is it totally safe just to remove that directory? – Bobby Jack Feb 22 '23 at 11:32
  • Worked for me, but I also had to remove a few other files before I could reinstall: `rm -rf /usr/local/bin/docker-credential-desktop` `rm -rf /usr/local/bin/docker-compose-v1` `rm -rf /usr/local/bin/docker-credential-ecr-login` `rm -rf /usr/local/bin/docker-credential-osxkeychain` `rm -rf /usr/local/bin/docker-index` `rm -rf /usr/local/bin/hub-tool` `rm -rf /usr/local/bin/kubectl.docker` `rm -rf /usr/local/bin/com.docker.cli` `rm -rf /usr/local/bin/vpnkit` – Adam May 26 '23 at 18:36
38

I realize this question is old enough that it refers to Docker Toolbox instead of Docker Desktop. My response is in regards to Docker Desktop, the latest as of this answer.

You have two ways: Command Line or GUI.

  1. Via command line you execute the following command:

    $ /Applications/Docker.app/Contents/MacOS/Docker --uninstall

The command line should bring up something like this:

Docker is running, exiting... Docker uninstalled successfully. You can move the Docker application to the trash.

  1. With the GUI, open the Troubleshooting option and then choose Uninstall.

GUI Uninstall

RobMac
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    When this didn't work, `sudo rm -rf /Applications/Docker.app` seemed to suffice for me, enough to reinstall so I could get the GUI back where I could then open the Troubleshooting tab and Purge data (not visible in the old screen shot here) and Reset to factory defaults. – tripleee Apr 20 '21 at 09:28
  • Not my downvote, but any answer on Stack Overflow which stays up this long is likely to accrue a few stray downvotes, almost certainly by visitors who will never return here and see your comment. – tripleee Mar 12 '22 at 09:44
  • Even though I couldn't get the GUI to work, somehow the CLI command you provided still launched the GUI and allowed me to uninstall. Thanks! – derpedy-doo Oct 18 '22 at 13:16
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On my Mac M1, I could start the Docker app, but it was hanging on starting. So, this is the only thing that worked for me after deleting the Docker app (with some restarts in there):

rm -rf ~/Library/Group\ Containers/group.com.docker
rm -rf ~/Library/Containers/com.docker.docker
rm -rf ~/.docker

Then, you should be able to reinstall the Docker dmg install file.

scottlittle
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13

To uninstall Docker

This article from 2014 lists all directories and binaries in detail that you need to remove to delete the installation completely:

https://therealmarv.com/how-to-fully-uninstall-the-offical-docker-os-x-installation/

Includes boot2docker.

Of course, you probably find a lot by just typing "docker" into the finder search box. The applications themselves can be removed by deleting the /Applications/Docker folder.

To uninstall VirtualBox

  1. download the *.dmg of VirtualBox for your version if you don't have it anymore
  2. click on the uninstall tool in that dmg

See: https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch02.html#idm871

Risadinha
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  • +1 for separating the references to Docker and Vbox; I use vbox still, and am thinking of moving to the beta xhyve-based docker version so this approach is merited. – volvox Jul 15 '16 at 22:16
  • +1 Thanks, worked perfect !!! I was able to uninstall the whole "Docker-Toolbox". Now I am able to install and run the new docker! – Thomas Suedbroecker Nov 25 '16 at 21:53
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There is an official uninstall script:

https://github.com/boot2docker/osx-installer/blob/master/uninstall.sh

I used it successfully by entering the commands one at a time in the command line.

rep
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6

It seems all the answers are dated. As of 2022, there's a section of the docs dedicated to this: https://docs.docker.com/desktop/mac/install/#uninstall-docker-desktop

Quoting:

To uninstall Docker Desktop from your Mac:

  • From the Docker menu, select Troubleshoot and then select Uninstall.
  • Click Uninstall to confirm your selection.
houcros
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0

only this guide helped in my case! Hope this helps. enter link description here

in brief:

  • remove docker from /application

  • remove 'com.docker.xxxxx from ~Library/application script , /cache , /container

       /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
MPV
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0

As of 2023 Aug, easiest solution for Macbook M1 /Applications/Docker.app/Contents/MacOS/uninstall

still this will show in apps, open finder navigate to Application and drag it to trash source https://docs.docker.com/desktop/uninstall/

Pranoy Sarkar
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