How to List and Remove Docker Containers, Images and Volumes (prune)

Applies to: Docker Engine 29.8.1 (all commands and messages tested)

Old containers, unused images and forgotten volumes can fill a server’s disk. These commands show what exists and remove what you no longer need. Start with the list commands, and take care with anything that removes volumes: that is where your data lives.

See what is there

docker ps                  # running containers
docker ps -a               # all containers, also stopped ones
docker ps -aq              # only the IDs (useful in scripts)
docker images              # images
docker volume ls           # volumes
docker system df           # disk space used by each type

docker system df printed this in our test:

TYPE            TOTAL     ACTIVE    SIZE      RECLAIMABLE
Images          3         0         120.2MB   120.1MB (99%)
Containers      0         0         0B        0B
Local Volumes   1         0         0B        0B
Build Cache     0         0         0B        0B

Remove containers

docker stop web && docker rm web
docker rm -f web                                   # stop and remove in one step
docker container prune                             # all stopped containers
docker rm $(docker ps -aq -f status=exited)        # the same, another way

Removing a running container without -f fails with: cannot remove container "web": container is running: stop the container before removing or force remove.

Remove images

docker rmi nginx:alpine
docker image prune         # only "dangling" images (untagged leftovers of builds)
docker image prune -a      # every image not used by a container

An image used by a container can’t be removed: conflict: unable to delete nginx:alpine (must be forced) - container 00e0721c404c is using its referenced image. Remove the container first. In our test, docker image prune -a freed 120.2 MB. Removed images are simply downloaded again the next time you need them.

Remove volumes (careful)

docker volume rm my-volume
docker volume prune        # unused ANONYMOUS volumes only
docker volume prune -a     # also unused NAMED volumes

Our test confirmed that plain docker volume prune kept the named volume; -a would have removed it. Named volumes usually hold databases and uploads, so back them up first.

Clean everything unused at once

docker system prune              # stopped containers, unused networks, dangling images, build cache
docker system prune -a           # also all unused images
docker system prune --volumes    # also anonymous volumes

Docker asks for confirmation; add -f in scripts. To keep recent images, filter by age: docker image prune -a --filter "until=168h" (older than 7 days).

Docker Compose projects

docker compose down        # removes the project's containers and network, keeps volumes
docker compose down -v     # ALSO deletes the project's volumes and their data

Installing Docker: install Docker on Debian and Ubuntu. Compose files: Docker Compose basics.