{"id":16050,"date":"2019-03-18T12:42:05","date_gmt":"2019-03-18T12:42:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/?p=16050"},"modified":"2025-03-05T05:39:44","modified_gmt":"2025-03-05T05:39:44","slug":"how-to-remove-docker-images","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/uk\/tutorials\/how-to-remove-docker-images","title":{"rendered":"How to Remove All Docker Images, Containers, Volumes, and Networks in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

Docker images are the cornerstone of your Docker environment, serving as templates from which containers are created. However, these images can accumulate over time, consuming valuable disk space and cluttering your system.<\/p>

Removing Docker images and other redundant components is not just about freeing up space – it’s also a practice in maintaining a clean, efficient, and organized Docker environment.<\/p>

This article will explain the various methods to remove all Docker images and related components. Whether you’re looking to free up disk space or declutter your Docker environment, this article provides the essential knowledge and practical steps to achieve it.<\/p>

Download free docker cheat sheet<\/a><\/p>

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How to Remove All Unused Docker Images and Other Resources<\/h2>

Before clearing Docker images and resources, log in to your virtual private server<\/a> (VPS) with an SSH client like PuTTY<\/a>.<\/p>

Using the Docker Image Prune Command<\/strong><\/p>

Unused Docker images are those not associated with any running or stopped containers. Here’s the basic command for pruning Docker images:<\/p>

docker image prune<\/pre>
You’ll be prompted to confirm the removal. Once you approve, it will remove all dangling and unused Docker<\/a> images.<\/p>
Using the Docker System Prune Command<\/strong><\/p>
The docker system prune<\/strong> command removes unused images, containers, networks, and the build cache. Run the following Linux command<\/a> to delete these unused resources:<\/p>
docker system prune<\/pre>
For a more thorough cleanup that includes volumes, use:<\/p>
docker system prune -a --volumes<\/pre>
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\n        Warning!<\/b> Note that this command will purge Docker images, stopped containers, unused networks, and the build cache. Proceed with caution when using this command, as the action is irreversible.    <\/p>\n    \n\n\n\n<\/p>
How to Remove Docker Images<\/h2>
Before performing any Docker image cleanup, identify the image’s ID. To list all the Docker images in your system along with their IDs, execute:<\/p>
docker images<\/pre>
If you are using a more recent version of Docker on your local machine, employ the docker image ls<\/strong> command instead.<\/p>
How to Remove a Single Docker Image<\/h3>
Removing a single Docker image is simple, but make sure the correct image is being deleted.<\/p>
Using the Docker RMI Command<\/strong><\/p>
The primary command for removing a single Docker image is docker rmi<\/strong>, where RMI stands for remove image.<\/p>
For example, to remove an image with the ID a2a15febcdf3<\/strong>, use the following command:<\/p>
docker rmi a2a15febcdf3<\/pre>
If the specified image is in use by an existing container, the command will return an error, preventing accidental deletion.<\/p>
The docker rmi<\/strong> command can also work with the repository name and tag if you don’t have the image ID. For instance:<\/p>
docker rmi ubuntu:latest<\/pre>
This command removes the ubuntu<\/strong> image with the latest<\/strong> tag.<\/p>
Using the Docker Image RM Command<\/strong><\/p>
The docker image rm<\/strong> command works similarly and can be used interchangeably with docker rmi<\/strong>. For instance:<\/p>
docker image rm a2a15febcdf3<\/pre>
How to Remove Multiple Images<\/h3>
In specific scenarios, you might need to remove multiple Docker images simultaneously. Docker provides a simple way to handle this.<\/p>
Removing Multiple Docker Images<\/strong><\/p>
To remove multiple Docker images, use the docker rmi<\/strong> command followed by the image IDs you want to delete.<\/p>
For instance, to remove images created with the IDs a2a15febcdf3<\/strong> and 4bb46517cac3<\/strong>, use the following command:<\/p>
docker rmi a2a15febcdf3 4bb46517cac3<\/pre>
Removing All Docker Images<\/strong><\/p>
If you need to remove all the images on your system, use the following command:<\/p>
docker rmi $(docker images -q)<\/pre>
The docker images -q<\/strong> command lists your Docker image IDs. Using $()<\/strong> with docker rmi<\/strong> removes all your Docker images.<\/p>
If an image is in use by a container, the command will fail for that specific image but will continue removing the others.<\/p>
How to Remove Dangling Images<\/h3>
A dangling image occurs when a new build replaces an older image, making the previous one redundant.<\/p>
Although dangling images don’t pose a direct problem, they take up unnecessary disk space. Therefore, it’s good practice to remove these images periodically.<\/p>
To identify dangling images, use the docker images<\/strong> command with the dangling=true<\/strong> filter as shown below:<\/p>
docker images -f \"dangling=true\"<\/pre>
Then, you can remove these dangling images with the docker image prune<\/strong> command.<\/p>
How to Remove Images Based on a Pattern<\/h3>
You can remove an image in Docker based on a specific naming pattern or tag.<\/p>
Using Patterns to Identify Specific Images<\/strong><\/p>
To remove Docker images based on a pattern, combine the docker images<\/strong> command with the grep<\/strong> command to filter out the targeted images.<\/p>
For instance, to list all images belonging to myproject<\/strong>, use the following command:<\/p>
docker images | grep 'myproject'<\/pre>
Removing Images Based on the Filtered Pattern<\/strong><\/p>
Once you have identified the specific images, delete them by combining commands. Here’s an example of deleting Docker images with myproject<\/strong> in their name:<\/p>
docker rmi $(docker images | grep 'myproject' | awk '{print $3}')<\/pre>
The grep ‘myproject’<\/strong> command filters the images, while awk ‘{print $3}’<\/strong> extracts their image IDs. The resulting image ID list is then passed to docker rmi<\/strong> for removal.<\/p>
How to Remove Docker Containers<\/h2>
Containers are instances of Docker images running as processes. Before removing any Docker container<\/a>, list the containers in your system with the docker ps<\/strong> command.<\/p>
docker ps<\/pre>
Note that this command only shows running containers. To see all containers, including those that have stopped, add the -a<\/strong> flag:<\/p>
docker ps -a<\/pre>
How to Remove a Specific Container<\/h3>
You can delete unused containers after identifying the ones you wish to remove by their container IDs.<\/p>
Using the Docker RM Command<\/strong><\/p>
The docker rm<\/strong> command is the primary tool for removing a specific container. For example:<\/p>
docker rm 4e5021d210f6<\/pre>
Replace 4e5021d210f6 <\/strong>with your actual container ID.<\/p>
Forcefully Removing a Running Container<\/strong><\/p>
If you have Docker containers running in your system, use the following command to stop the container and then clear it:<\/p>
docker rm -f 4e5021d210f6<\/pre>
Alternatively, you can stop the container with the docker stop<\/strong> command and remove it using docker rm<\/strong>.<\/p>
How to Remove All Stopped Containers<\/h3>
Stopped containers are ones that have completed their tasks or have been terminated manually. To remove all stopped containers, use the docker container prune<\/strong> command as follows:<\/p>
docker container prune<\/pre>
This command cleans up and removes all the containers with a stopped<\/strong> status.<\/p>
Using the –filter<\/strong> flag, you can selectively remove stopped containers within a specific time frame. For example:<\/p>
docker container prune --filter \"until=24h\"<\/pre>
How to Remove Containers Upon Exiting<\/h3>
Setting containers to automatically remove themselves upon exiting is useful in environments with frequent container creation and destruction, such as for testing.<\/p>
To do so, include the –rm<\/strong> flag when running the container using the docker run<\/strong> command. For example:<\/p>
docker run --rm <your_image><\/pre>
In this command, replace <your_image><\/strong> with the intended image name.<\/p>
How to Remove Docker Volumes<\/h2>
Volumes store persistent data generated and used by Docker containers. Before removing any Docker volume, identify it first using the docker volume ls<\/strong> command:<\/p>
docker volume ls<\/pre>
How to Remove a Certain Volume<\/h3>
Once you have identified the volume you wish to remove, use the docker volume rm<\/strong> command followed by the volume’s name. Here’s an example:<\/p>
docker volume rm my_volume<\/pre>
How to Remove All Unused Volumes<\/h3>
To remove all unused Docker volumes and reclaim valuable disk space, execute the following command:<\/p>
docker volume prune<\/pre>
How to Remove Volumes With Attached Labels<\/h3>
Label-specific volumes are those assigned to one or more labels. These labels help target removal in a specific project, environment, or other categories.<\/p>
Finding and Removing Volumes by Labels<\/strong><\/p>
To list all volumes with a specific label, use the docker volume ls<\/strong> command with a filter based on the label. Here’s an example:<\/p>
docker volume ls -f \"label=project=myproject\"<\/pre>
Once you identify the volumes you wish to remove, delete them individually with the docker volume rm<\/strong> command since Docker prohibits removing multiple volumes with a single command.<\/p>
Automating Volume Removal Based on Labels<\/strong><\/p>
For a more automated approach, use command-line tools like xargs<\/strong>. The command below combines listing and removing volumes based on a label:<\/p>
docker volume ls -qf \"label=project=myproject\" | xargs docker volume rm<\/pre>
This command lists all volume names with the project=myproject<\/strong> label and then passes them to docker volume rm<\/strong> for removal.<\/p>
How to Remove Docker Networks<\/h2>
Docker networks enable communication between containers. To list all the Docker networks on your system along with their IDs, execute:<\/p>
docker network ls<\/pre>
How to Remove a Specific Network<\/h3>
To remove a specific Docker network, use the docker network rm<\/strong> command followed by the network’s ID or name. For example:<\/p>
docker network rm 3cf8fbf4f034<\/pre>
Alternatively, use the network’s name as shown below:<\/p>
docker network rm mynetwork<\/pre>
How to Remove All Unused Networks<\/h3>
To remove all unused Docker networks, execute this command:<\/p>
docker network prune<\/pre>
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\n        Warning!<\/b> Executing this command will permanently delete any active configurations or settings related to these networks.    <\/p>\n    \n\n\n\n<\/p>
How to Remove Networks With a Specific Timeframe<\/h3>
To remove Docker networks within a specific timeframe, use the docker network prune<\/strong> command with the –filter<\/strong> option. Here’s an example:<\/p>
docker network prune --filter \"until=24h\"<\/pre>
You can apply multiple filters simultaneously. For example, to remove networks that haven’t been used in the last 30 days (720 hours), run:<\/p>
docker network prune --filter \"unused=true\" --filter \"until=720h\"<\/pre>
Best Practices for Removing Images in Docker<\/h2>
Applying best practices for Docker image removal is essential to ensure your environment is clutter-free. It also helps safeguard against accidental data loss.<\/p>
Use Kodee<\/strong><\/p>
Efficiency and accuracy are vital when managing a Docker environment. Hostinger’s AI assistant, Kodee<\/strong>, offers a streamlined approach to optimize Docker image storage.<\/p>
Available with all Hostinger VPS hosting plans<\/a>, Kodee<\/strong> excels at Docker-related queries. It can provide step-by-step guides, commands, and scripts for efficient Docker image removal.<\/p>
To use the the Kodee AI assistant, follow these steps:<\/p>
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  1. Log in to your Hostinger account.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Locate the VPS<\/strong> dashboard and select your server.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Navigate to Kodee <\/strong>from the left panel.<\/li>\n<\/ol>
    Enter your query about Docker image management, such as “How do I remove unused Docker images?” Kodee will respond with a comprehensive answer, including any relevant commands or scripts.<\/p>
    \n
    \"Using<\/a><\/figure><\/div>
    Another example is asking Kodee to list all Docker images available on your server:<\/p>
    \n
    \"Kodee