Backing up and transferring container images is an important aspect of using Docker. It may be useful if you are moving images between servers, making image backups, or if you want to share your images, builds, or applications within your team. Just remember, when we say “Docker save,” it simply means the command that saves the Docker images.
Docker save allows you to save or export Docker images into a TAR file. Since the images are TAR files, they are portable and can be easily moved across environments, especially when you don’t have access to a remote registry. Docker save can be used when the right flags or options are specified: to help streamline Docker workflows, create automated deployments, and avoid unnecessary pulls from Docker Hub.
In this article, you will learn exactly how to use the Docker save image command to save to TAR files, and how to use the -o option, along with how it fits into container workflows in 2025.
What is the command Docker Save?
The Docker save command allows you to export a Docker image as a tarball. This allows you to save, transfer, or back up container images on your local machine or to other servers.
Basic Syntax:
docker save [OPTIONS] IMAGE [IMAGE...]
IMAGE: Name or ID of the image you want to export.-o, --output: Writes the image to a file instead of STDOUT.
How to Use Docker Image Save to TAR
You can save a Docker image to a tar file with the -o flag:
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docker save -o myimage.tar myapp:latest
This command:
- Takes the
myapp:latestimage - Saves it as
myimage.tarin the current directory - Keeps layers and metadata intact
You can then move myimage.tar to another machine and load it there using:
docker load -i myimage.tar
Example: Docker Save -o Command for Backup
Imagine you have built an internal image on one machine and want to deploy it to a remote server without pushing to a registry. You can:
docker save -o backup.tar internal/app:prod
scp backup.tar user@server:/tmp
ssh user@server "docker load -i /tmp/backup.tar"
This is one of the most secure and efficient ways to share Docker images in environments where external registries are not allowed.
Difference Between Docker Save and Docker Export
| Feature | docker save | docker export |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Save entire image (layers + metadata) | Export container filesystem only |
| Use Case | Backup or transfer image | Create base filesystems or flatten containers |
| Includes History | Yes | No |
| Supports Multiple Images | Yes | No |
Role of CyberPanel
CyberPanel, a web hosting control panel, is designed to manage servers and websites, but can be used with Docker with hybrid setups. CyberPanel manages the storage and retrieval of an image’s .tar image backups created with docker save. This helps you to:
- Store image backups on the same server where you host apps, so you can reference them with versioning
- Easily transfer images between staging and production
- Quickly restore images without having to pull from registries
Final Thoughts!
The Docker save command is a quick and easy method for backing up an image and shipping it in a controlled manner, either locally or as an external service. You’ll gain a better understanding of your images if you’re using Docker to manage installations, and even if you want to create a one-time offline backup or deploy the image to your air-gapped systems with a local storage solution. Understanding docker save and its options, like -o can save you time and bandwidth.
Get started now using the Docker save command to keep your images portable, stored securely, and deployment-ready—even when they have been saved to a registry to retrieve them from.
People Also Ask
What does the Docker save command do?
It exports a Docker image as a tar file, preserving layers and metadata for transfer or backup.
How to use Docker save image to tar?
Run docker save -o filename.tar imagename:tag to save the image as a tarball.
How to restore a saved Docker image?
Use docker load -i filename.tar to import the image on another machine.
