How to clean up Docker with prune (images, volumes, system) - Rocketeers

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How to clean up Docker with prune (images, volumes, system)
===========================================================

### [\#Development](https://rocketee.rs/index.php/development)

Docker hangs on to stopped containers, unused images and dangling volumes, which quietly eat disk space. The prune commands clean them up, but a couple of flags decide how aggressive that cleanup is.

 Published by [Mark van Eijk](https://rocketee.rs/index.php/author/mark-van-eijk) on June 23, 2026 · 1 minute read

1. [See what Docker is using](#content-see-what-docker-is-using)
2. [Prune everything unused at once](#content-prune-everything-unused-at-once)
3. [Prune one resource type](#content-prune-one-resource-type)
4. [Skip the confirmation prompt](#content-skip-the-confirmation-prompt)

[\#](#content-see-what-docker-is-using "Permalink")See what Docker is using
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Before deleting anything, check where the space has gone:

 ```
docker system df

```

This breaks down disk usage by images, containers, local volumes and build cache.

[\#](#content-prune-everything-unused-at-once "Permalink")Prune everything unused at once
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

`docker system prune` removes stopped containers, unused networks, dangling images and the build cache in one go:

 ```
docker system prune

```

It asks for confirmation and, by default, only removes **dangling** images (layers no longer referenced by any tag). To also remove every image not used by a running container, add `-a`:

 ```
docker system prune -a

```

Volumes are **not** touched unless you ask, because they usually hold data you care about. To include them:

 ```
docker system prune -a --volumes

```

Be careful with that last one: it deletes any volume not attached to a running container.

[\#](#content-prune-one-resource-type "Permalink")Prune one resource type
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

For finer control, prune a single category:

 ```
docker container prune   # remove all stopped containers
docker image prune       # remove dangling images
docker image prune -a    # remove all unused images
docker volume prune      # remove unused volumes
docker network prune     # remove unused networks
docker builder prune     # clear the build cache

```

[\#](#content-skip-the-confirmation-prompt "Permalink")Skip the confirmation prompt
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In scripts or cron jobs, add `-f` to skip the "Are you sure?" prompt:

 ```
docker system prune -af

```

If you reached for prune because a server filled up, the disk pressure may be coming from more than Docker, see [No space left on device on Ubuntu](/no-space-left-on-device-ubuntu).

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