---
name: "podman-export"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "podman"
version: "6.1.4-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/podman-export"
---

# podman-export(1)

Export a container's filesystem contents as a tar archive

## NAME

podman-export - Export a container's filesystem contents as a tar archive

## SYNOPSIS

**podman export** \[*options*\] *container*

**podman container export** \[*options*\] *container*

## DESCRIPTION

**podman export** exports the filesystem of a container and saves it as a tarball on the local machine. **podman export** writes to STDOUT by default and can be redirected to a file using the **--output** flag. The image of the container exported by **podman export** can be imported by **podman import**. To export image(s) with parent layers, use **podman save**. Note: **:** is a restricted character and cannot be part of the file name.

**podman export** operates on a *container's* filesystem: it flattens the filesystem into a single-layer tarball with no image layers, history or tags. This is different from **podman save**, which archives an *image* and preserves its layers, history and tags. To archive an image instead, see **[podman-save(1)](/podman-save/1.md)**.

**podman \[GLOBAL OPTIONS\]**

**podman export \[GLOBAL OPTIONS\]**

**podman export \[OPTIONS\] CONTAINER**

## OPTIONS

### --help, -h

Print usage statement

### --output, -o

Write to a file, default is STDOUT

## EXAMPLES

Export container into specified tar ball:

```
$ podman export -o redis-container.tar 883504668ec465463bc0fe7e63d53154ac3b696ea8d7b233748918664ea90e57
```

Export container to stdout:

```
$ podman export 883504668ec465463bc0fe7e63d53154ac3b696ea8d7b233748918664ea90e57 > redis-container.tar
```

## SEE ALSO

**[podman(1)](/podman/1.md)**, **[podman-import(1)](/podman-import/1.md)**

## HISTORY

August 2017, Originally compiled by Urvashi Mohnani umohnani@redhat.com ⟨mailto:umohnani@redhat.com⟩