Docker / Engine, Containers & Runtime Diagnosis
Explain a Docker container repeatedly restarting after failure
A restart policy controls what Engine does after process exit but does not repair the application. Inspect it alongside state.
Environment and inputs: Docker Engine · Compose v2 and Buildx where specified; Linux containers unless noted. Verify daemon context, installed feature support and authorized host or Swarm manager access first.
Start with this check
Confirm the environment and replace sample objects, namespaces, images, paths and hosts with approved targets. Share only relevant, sanitized output. Follow the workload owner’s process for changes.
docker container inspect --format '{{json .HostConfig.RestartPolicy}} {{json .State}}' appRead the result
The output describes configured restart policy and current or last state. It may include sensitive health output and should be reviewed locally.
Resolve and verify
Correlate restart timing with the first application error, dependencies and deployment changes. Repair the cause and verify restart count stabilizes under the intended policy.
Before changing production
Do not turn retries into an endless fast loop or treat a restart policy as a replacement for application readiness.