I'm having a really frustrating issue with Docker on my Ubuntu system. My disk usage shows that the Docker.raw file located at /home/my_user/.docker/desktop/vms/0/data/Docker.raw is taking up a whopping 171.96 GiB! I've tried every purge command I can think of, but it keeps happening, and Docker keeps filling up my disk space with who knows what. I genuinely have no idea why this is happening or what this file is. Can someone please help me figure this out?
4 Answers
You could just delete that Docker.raw file and restart your system. Since Docker runs in a VM, the disk isn't shrinking when you remove files inside it. Deleting that file means Docker will create a new one when you restart, but keep in mind it might grow again eventually.
If you haven't already, look into setting a maximum size for Docker.raw. This can help prevent it from ballooning out of control in the future. Just make sure to monitor your settings to keep your disk space in check.
It looks like you're using Docker Desktop on Linux, which isn't the best choice. That VM is taking up a lot of space! If you want to avoid this issue, you might consider using the native Docker CLI instead. It's simpler and won’t create that bulky Docker.raw file. Plus, be sure to check your Docker settings for volume bindings; they can create large files you might not even notice!
Thanks for the tip! I’m definitely going to switch to the native CLI when I have a chance.
Just to add, if you're curious about whether to use Docker Desktop at all—avoiding it can save you from a lot of those size issues on Linux. It's less efficient since it runs a VM. Native Docker might be a much better route for you!
I did try that, and it worked, thanks!