Where Does Podman Store Images and Containers?
Podman image and container storage: user rootless (~/.local/share/containers) versus system (/var/lib/containers).
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Podman splits storage by privilege: rootless containers live in ~/.local/share/containers, system containers in /var/lib/containers. Same tools, separate worlds.
The split explains most missing-image confusion. Check which user pulled before assuming data loss.
Where Podman stores this, by platform
~/.local/share/containers
Rootless storage: images, containers and volumes per user. System store sits in /var/lib/containers for rootful use. Manage with podman system prune, not deletions.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I see my Podman images as root?
Rootless data lives under your home; rootful under /var/lib. The two stores are invisible to each other, so images pulled as root do not appear for your user.
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