The default location for the docker data directory, when using overlay2 storage driver is /var/lib/docker. Maybe you want to move it to another location, and it’s actually pretty easy.
- Stop the docker service:
sudo systemctl stop docker.service - Copy the docker folder to the new location:
sudo cp -rp /var/lib/docker /path/to/new/location
The p in -rp will preserve ownership, permissions and timestamps - Tell the docker daemon about the new location by editing the /etc/docker/daemon.json file with the following:
{
"data-root": "/path/to/new/location"
}
4. Start the docker service:
sudo systemctl start docker.service
Thats it, the docker directory has been moved.
The above guide is tested on Ubuntu 20.04, but will probably be very much alike on other flavours.