The short answer
Usually, after a check. Might hold something you care about. Look inside before removing it.
What is it?
Colima runs Docker (or containerd) inside a Lima virtual machine on macOS. ~/.colima holds each Colima profile’s settings and virtual machine disk, with every image, container and volume you use through it. Typically several GB to tens of GB.
Disks of Colima profiles, with their containers and images. Prune images first; delete a profile only if you no longer use it.
What happens if you delete it?
Not as it was: deleting a profile’s data loses its containers, images and volumes. Colima creates a fresh, empty VM the next time you run colima start.
How to remove it properly
First prune from inside Docker with docker system prune while Colima is running. colima prune --force clears Colima’s cached downloads (such as VM images), permanently. To remove a whole profile you no longer use, run colima delete (add --profile <name> for others).
Use the tool’s official command: colima prune
Before you delete it
Do not move ~/.colima to the Trash while Colima is running, and keep the profiles your projects still use.
How MoreRoom helps
MoreRoom recognises this item and labels it “Review first”: it shows what’s inside, its size and last use, so you can decide. Nothing is removed without your say, and everything goes to the Trash first, with Undo.
When the tool is installed, MoreRoom runs its official command for you (colima prune) instead of deleting files — and tells you that this step can’t be undone.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to delete the ~/.colima folder?
Usually, after a check. Might hold something you care about. Look inside before removing it. Not as it was: deleting a profile’s data loses its containers, images and volumes. Colima creates a fresh, empty VM the next time you run colima start.
Will Colima virtual machines come back after I delete it?
No. Not as it was: deleting a profile’s data loses its containers, images and volumes. Colima creates a fresh, empty VM the next time you run colima start.
How do I remove Colima virtual machines properly?
First prune from inside Docker with docker system prune while Colima is running. colima prune --force clears Colima’s cached downloads (such as VM images), permanently. To remove a whole profile you no longer use, run colima delete (add --profile <name> for others).