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Why is Docker.raw so big on my Mac?

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

By Parsa Nasirimehr

Docker.raw is the one disk image that holds all your Docker images, containers, volumes and build cache. It's a sparse file: Finder shows its maximum size, while the space it really uses is usually much smaller. Shrink it from inside Docker, not by deleting the file.

How big it gets

On the Mac we measured, a working developer's Mac on macOS 27: Finder and ls: 64.0 GB. Space actually used on disk (du): 10.9 GB.

What it is

What writes itDocker Desktop's Linux virtual machine. Everything you pull, build or run is stored inside it.
Sparse fileIts size is the limit set in Docker Desktop, 64 GB here; only blocks actually written take space. Use du -h on it to see the real figure.
Why it growsOld images, stopped containers, dangling volumes and the build cache, which Docker never removes on its own.
Deleting the fileDeletes every image, container and volume. Docker Desktop creates an empty one on its next start.

How to clear it

  1. See what's inside: docker system df
  2. Remove stopped containers, unused images and build cache: docker system prune -a. Add --volumes only if you don't need their data.
  3. Lower the limit in Docker Desktop › Settings › Resources if you want a hard cap.

What you lose: Images pull again when needed. Volumes you prune lose their data for good.

With Scrubs: Scrubs measures Docker.raw by the space it really uses on disk, not its 64 GB maximum, so the map shows its true weight. Download Scrubs; scanning is free.

Related folders

Android emulators (.android/avd)How much space do Android emulators take on a Mac?~/Library/CachesCan I delete the caches in ~/Library/Caches on my Mac?.gradleWhy is the .gradle folder so big on my Mac?

Sizes measured with du on 1 November 2026. Paths and commands apply to macOS 15 and later. See also how to free up disk space on a Mac.

About the author: Parsa Nasirimehr is a mobile app developer who builds Scrubs, a disk map for the Mac. Spotted something wrong? Write to support@getscrubs.app.