# docker load Command Reference

> Reference for docker load in CI: import images from a tar archive produced by docker save, restoring them into the local store in a downstream job.

Source: https://latchkey.dev/learn/command-reference/docker-load-command-reference  
Updated: 2026-06-26

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/app
```

## 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.

## FAQ

### 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.

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