docker load Command Reference
Load images from a tar archive.
docker load reads a tar archive created by docker save and restores the images and their tags into the local store. It is the import side of the save/load pair used to ferry images between CI jobs.
Common flags
-i, --input- read from a tar file instead of stdin-q, --quiet- suppress the load output
Example
shell
gunzip image.tar.gz
docker load -i image.tar
docker images myorg/appIn CI
Download the artifact written by docker save in an earlier job, then docker load -i it before running or pushing. Unlike docker import (which loses image history and config), load preserves the original tags and layer structure.
Key takeaways
- load restores saved images with their tags and full history intact.
- It is the counterpart to docker save for cross-job image transfer.
- Unlike import, load keeps layer structure and image metadata.
Frequently asked questions
docker load Command Reference?
docker load reads a tar archive created by docker save and restores the images and their tags into the local store. It is the import side of the save/load pair used to ferry images between CI jobs.
In CI?
Download the artifact written by docker save in an earlier job, then docker load -i it before running or pushing. Unlike docker import (which loses image history and config), load preserves the original tags and layer structure.
Related guides
docker save Command ReferenceReference for docker save in CI: export one or more images to a tar archive with -o, for passing images
docker images Command ReferenceReference for docker images in CI: list local images with --filter, --format, and -q to inspect or script
docker pull Command ReferenceReference for docker pull in CI: fetch an image or all tags from a registry, pin by digest, and pull for a