Docker Desktop fills drive on first start: safe Docker cleanup checklist

A practical first-pass checklist for Docker Desktop fills disk while starting. The goal is to recover space without deleting the folder that proves expensive to rebuild.

Do not delete Docker.raw first

Docker.raw is a container for Docker Desktop state. A large file can include images, containers, build cache, and volumes, so deleting it directly can wipe useful local state.

First read-only checks

Run `docker system df` first, then separate reclaimable build cache and unused images from volumes that may contain databases or app state.

docker system df
~/Library/Containers/com.docker.docker/Data/vms/0/data/Docker.raw

Usually safer cleanup candidates

• Build cache after checking active builds
• Unused images after confirming they can be pulled again
• Stopped containers that are not holding needed state

Review before deleting

• Local volumes before owner approval
• Docker.raw itself unless a reset is intentional
• Any database or queue state used by local development