How to Delete All Exited Docker Containers

Docker containers are a great way to run and manage applications in a containerized environment, but over time, you may end up with many exited containers that are no longer in use. These containers can take up valuable disk space and clutter your system, making it important to regularly clean them up. In this article, we'll show you how to delete all exited Docker containers in just a few simple steps.

Check the List of Containers

Before you can delete any containers, you need to know which ones you have and which ones are no longer in use. To see a list of all containers, including those that are running and those that have exited, use the following command:

docker ps -a

This will display a list of all containers, including their container ID, image name, creation date, status, and port mapping. Containers that are no longer in use will have an Exited status.

Delete a Single Container

If you only want to delete a single container, you can use the following command, replacing <container_id> with the ID of the container you want to delete:

docker rm <container_id>

This will remove the container and all its associated resources, freeing up disk space.

Delete All Exited Containers

To delete all exited containers in one go, use the following command:

docker rm $(docker ps -a -q -f status=exited)

This will remove all containers that have an Exited status, freeing up disk space and decluttering your system.

Summary

Deleting exited Docker containers is a simple process that can help you keep your system clean and organized. Whether you need to delete a single container or multiple containers at once, the steps are straightforward and easy to follow. By regularly removing containers that are no longer in use, you can free up valuable disk space and ensure that your Docker environment is running smoothly.