---
name: "docker-compose-pull"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "docker-compose"
version: "2.26.1-4"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/docker-compose-pull"
---

# docker-compose-pull(1)

Pull service images

## NAME

docker-compose-pull - Pull service images

## SYNOPSIS

**docker compose pull \[OPTIONS\] \[SERVICE...\]**

## DESCRIPTION

Pulls an image associated with a service defined in a **compose.yaml** file, but does not start containers based on those images

## OPTIONS

**-h**, **--help**\[=false\]\
 	help for pull

**--ignore-buildable**\[=false\]\
 	Ignore images that can be built

**--ignore-pull-failures**\[=false\]\
 	Pull what it can and ignores images with pull failures

**--include-deps**\[=false\]\
 	Also pull services declared as dependencies

**--policy**=""\
 	Apply pull policy ("missing"\|"always")

**-q**, **--quiet**\[=false\]\
 	Pull without printing progress information

## OPTIONS INHERITED FROM PARENT COMMANDS

**--dry-run**\[=false\]\
 	Execute command in dry run mode

## EXAMPLE

````
Consider the following `compose.yaml`:
```yaml
services:
  db:
    image: postgres
  web:
    build: .
    command: bundle exec rails s -p 3000 -b '0.0.0.0'
    volumes:
      - .:/myapp
    ports:
      - "3000:3000"
    depends_on:
      - db
````

If you run **docker compose pull ServiceName** in the same directory as the **compose.yaml** file that defines the service, Docker pulls the associated image. For example, to call the postgres image configured as the db service in our example, you would run **docker compose pull db**.

```
$ docker compose pull db
[+] Running 1/15
 ⠸ db Pulling                                                             12.4s
   ⠿ 45b42c59be33 Already exists                                           0.0s
   ⠹ 40adec129f1a Downloading  3.374MB/4.178MB                             9.3s
   ⠹ b4c431d00c78 Download complete                                        9.3s
   ⠹ 2696974e2815 Download complete                                        9.3s
   ⠹ 564b77596399 Downloading  5.622MB/7.965MB                             9.3s
   ⠹ 5044045cf6f2 Downloading  216.7kB/391.1kB                             9.3s
   ⠹ d736e67e6ac3 Waiting                                                  9.3s
   ⠹ 390c1c9a5ae4 Waiting                                                  9.3s
   ⠹ c0e62f172284 Waiting                                                  9.3s
   ⠹ ebcdc659c5bf Waiting                                                  9.3s
   ⠹ 29be22cb3acc Waiting                                                  9.3s
   ⠹ f63c47038e66 Waiting                                                  9.3s
   ⠹ 77a0c198cde5 Waiting                                                  9.3s
   ⠹ c8752d5b785c Waiting                                                  9.3s
```

**docker compose pull** tries to pull image for services with a build section. If pull fails, it lets you know this service image must be built. You can skip this by setting **--ignore-buildable** flag. \`\`\`

## SEE ALSO

**[docker-compose(1)](/docker-compose/1.md)**