Docker has become a popular tool for developers and system administrators to package and distribute applications. However, there may come a time when you need to uninstall Docker from your Ubuntu system. Whether it’s to upgrade to a newer version or simply because you no longer require it, this article will provide you with a comprehensive guide on how to uninstall Docker on Ubuntu.
Understanding Docker on Ubuntu
Before we dive into the uninstallation process, let’s briefly understand what Docker is and how it works on Ubuntu. Docker is an open-source platform that allows you to automate the deployment and management of applications using containerization. It enables developers to package their applications along with all the necessary dependencies into a standardized unit called a container.
On Ubuntu, Docker consists of two main components: Docker Engine, which is responsible for building and running containers, and Docker Compose, which simplifies the management of multi-container applications. Now, let’s move on to the uninstallation process.
Uninstalling Docker
Removing Docker Images
The first step in uninstalling Docker from your Ubuntu system is to remove any existing Docker images. Docker images are the building blocks of containers and may consume a significant amount of disk space. To remove Docker images, follow these steps:
- Open a terminal on your Ubuntu system.
- Run the following command to list all the Docker images:
docker images. - Identify the images you want to remove and note down their IMAGE IDs.
- Run the command
docker rmi <IMAGE_ID>for each image ID to remove them.
Removing Docker Containers
Once you have removed the Docker images, the next step is to remove any running or stopped Docker containers. Containers are instances created from Docker images. To remove Docker containers, follow these steps:
- Open a terminal on your Ubuntu system.
- Run the following command to list all the Docker containers:
docker ps -a. - Identify the containers you want to remove and note down their CONTAINER IDs.
- Run the command
docker rm <CONTAINER_ID>for each container ID to remove them.
Uninstalling Docker Engine
After removing the Docker images and containers, you can proceed with uninstalling the Docker Engine itself. To uninstall Docker Engine from Ubuntu, follow these steps:
- Open a terminal on your Ubuntu system.
- Run the following command to remove the Docker Engine package:
sudo apt-get purge docker-ce. - Confirm the uninstallation by entering ‘Y’ when prompted.
Removing Docker Compose
If you have Docker Compose installed on your Ubuntu system, you can remove it using the following steps:
- Open a terminal on your Ubuntu system.
- Run the following command to remove Docker Compose:
sudo apt-get purge docker-compose. - Confirm the uninstallation by entering ‘Y’ when prompted.
Conclusion
In this article, we have explored a step-by-step guide on how to uninstall Docker on Ubuntu. We started by understanding the basics of Docker and its components on Ubuntu. Then, we walked through the process of removing Docker images, containers, Docker Engine, and Docker Compose. By following these steps, you can ensure a clean uninstallation of Docker from your Ubuntu system.