---
name: "podman-container-cleanup"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "podman"
version: "6.1.4-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/podman-container-cleanup"
---

# podman-container-cleanup(1)

Clean up the container's network and mountpoints

## NAME

podman-container-cleanup - Clean up the container's network and mountpoints

## SYNOPSIS

**podman container cleanup** \[*options*\] *container* \[*container* ...\]

## DESCRIPTION

**podman container cleanup** cleans up exited *containers* by removing all mountpoints and network configurations from the host. The *container name* or *ID* can be used. The cleanup command does not remove the *containers*. Running *containers* are not cleaned up.\
 Sometimes container mount points and network stacks can remain if the podman command was killed or the *container* ran in daemon mode. This command is automatically executed when *containers* are run in daemon mode by the **conmon process** when the *container* exits.

## OPTIONS

### --all, -a

Clean up all *containers*.\
 The default is **false**.\
 *IMPORTANT: This OPTION does not need a container name or ID as input argument.*

### --exec=*session*

Clean up an exec session for a single *container*. It can only be specified if a single *container* is being cleaned up (conflicts with **--all** as such). If **--rm** is not specified, temporary files for the exec session are cleaned up; if it is, the exec session is removed from the *container*.\
 \*IMPORTANT: Conflicts with **--rmi** as the container is not being cleaned up so the image cannot be removed.\*

### --latest, -l

Instead of providing the *container ID* or *name*, use the last created *container*. The default is **false**. *IMPORTANT: This OPTION is not available with the remote Podman client, including Mac and Windows (excluding WSL2) machines. This OPTION does not need a container name or ID as input argument.*

### --rm

After cleanup, remove the *container* entirely.\
 The default is **false**.

### --rmi

After cleanup, remove the image entirely.\
 The default is **false**.

## EXAMPLES

Clean up the container "mywebserver".

```
$ podman container cleanup mywebserver
```

Clean up the containers with the names "mywebserver", "myflaskserver", "860a4b23".

```
$ podman container cleanup mywebserver myflaskserver 860a4b23
```

## SEE ALSO

**[podman(1)](/podman/1.md)**, **[podman-container(1)](/podman-container/1.md)**, **[conmon(8)](/conmon/8.md)**

## HISTORY

Jun 2018, Originally compiled by Dan Walsh dwalsh@redhat.com ⟨mailto:dwalsh@redhat.com⟩