Docker "Multiple platforms feature is currently not supported for docker driver"

You asked buildx to build for several platforms, but the active builder uses the default docker driver, which cannot produce multi-platform images. You need the docker-container driver.

What this error means

A docker buildx build --platform linux/amd64,linux/arm64 fails instantly with Multiple platforms feature is currently not supported for docker driver. A single-platform build with the same builder works fine.

buildx output

ERROR: Multiple platforms feature is currently not supported for docker driver.
Please switch to a different driver (eg. "docker buildx create --use")

Common causes

The active builder uses the default docker driver

Out of the box buildx uses the docker driver, which writes into the local image store and supports only one platform per build. Multi-arch requires a builder backed by the docker-container driver.

No dedicated builder was created in CI

Without a docker buildx create --use step (or setup-buildx-action), buildx falls back to the default builder, which cannot satisfy a multi-platform request.

How to fix it

Create a container-driver builder

Switch to the docker-container driver, which supports multi-platform output.

Terminal

docker buildx create --name multi --driver docker-container --use
docker buildx build --platform linux/amd64,linux/arm64 --push -t myorg/api:1.4.2 .

Use setup-buildx-action in GitHub Actions

The action provisions a docker-container builder for you.

.github/workflows/build.yml

- uses: docker/setup-qemu-action@v3
- uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@v3
- uses: docker/build-push-action@v6
  with:
    platforms: linux/amd64,linux/arm64
    push: true

How to prevent it

Always create a docker-container builder before multi-arch builds.
Pair multi-platform builds with --push, since they can’t be --loaded locally.
Keep the buildx setup steps in any workflow that targets multiple platforms.