# docker compose down

**Description:** Stop and remove containers, networks

**Usage:** `docker compose down [OPTIONS] [SERVICES]`










## Description

Stops containers and removes containers, networks, volumes, and images created by `up`.

By default, the only things removed are:

- Containers for services defined in the Compose file.
- Networks defined in the networks section of the Compose file.
- The default network, if one is used.

Networks and volumes defined as external are never removed.

Anonymous volumes are not removed by default. However, as they don’t have a stable name, they are not automatically
mounted by a subsequent `up`. For data that needs to persist between updates, use explicit paths as bind mounts or
named volumes.

### Pre-start hook containers

When a `pre_start` lifecycle hook fails, Compose retains its container for post-mortem inspection instead of removing
it immediately. `compose down` automatically removes these retained hook containers as part of teardown, so they do
not accumulate over time.

To list retained hook containers before running `down`:

```console
$ docker ps -a --filter label=com.docker.compose.hook=pre_start
```


## Options

| Option | Default | Description |
|--------|---------|-------------|
| `--remove-orphans` |  |  Remove containers for services not defined in the Compose file |
| `--rmi` |  |  Remove images used by services. "local" remove only images that don't have a custom tag ("local"|"all")<br> |
| `-t`, `--timeout` |  |  Specify a shutdown timeout in seconds |
| `-v`, `--volumes` |  |  Remove named volumes declared in the "volumes" section of the Compose file and anonymous volumes attached to containers<br> |