---
name: "podman-load"
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-load"
---

# podman-load(1)

Load image(s) from tar archives, directories, or URLs into container storage

## NAME

podman-load - Load image(s) from tar archives, directories, or URLs into container storage

## SYNOPSIS

**podman load** \[*options*\]

**podman image load** \[*options*\]

## DESCRIPTION

**podman load** loads a saved image(s) into local container storage from tar archives, directories, or URLs pointing to an tar archive. By default, **podman load** reads from stdin, to load from any of the other input sources use the **--input** option.

**podman load** operates on *images*: it restores an archive created by **podman save** as the same image, preserving its layers, history and tags. This is different from **podman import**, which builds a *new* image from a root-filesystem tarball (such as one produced by **podman export**) with no image history. To import a container's filesystem instead, see **[podman-import(1)](/podman-import/1.md)**.

The local client further supports loading an **oci-dir** or a **docker-dir** as created with **podman save** (1).

The **quiet** option suppresses the progress output when set.

Note: **:** is a restricted character and cannot be part of the file name.

## OPTIONS

### --help, -h

Print usage statement

### --input, -i=*input*

Load the specified input file or URL instead of reading from stdin. The input can be one of:

- •

  A local tar archive (uncompressed or compressed)

- •

  A local OCI or Docker directory layout

- •

  A URL to a tar archive (not available on macOS and Windows)

NOTE: Use the environment variable **TMPDIR** to change the temporary storage location of container images. Podman defaults to use **/var/tmp**.

### --quiet, -q

Suppress the progress output

## EXAMPLES

Create an image from a compressed tar file, without showing progress.

```
$ podman load --quiet -i fedora.tar.gz
```

Create an image from the archive.tar file pulled from a URL, without showing progress.

```
$ podman load -q -i https://server.com/archive.tar
```

Create an image from a directory created with either podman-save **--format oci-dir** or **--format docker-dir**

```
$ podman load -i fedora/
```

Create an image from stdin using bash redirection from a tar file.

```
$ podman load < fedora.tar
Getting image source signatures
Copying blob sha256:5bef08742407efd622d243692b79ba0055383bbce12900324f75e56f589aedb0
 0 B / 4.03 MB [---------------------------------------------------------------]
Copying config sha256:7328f6f8b41890597575cbaadc884e7386ae0acc53b747401ebce5cf0d624560
 0 B / 1.48 KB [---------------------------------------------------------------]
Writing manifest to image destination
Storing signatures
Loaded image:  registry.fedoraproject.org/fedora:latest
```

Create an image from stdin using a pipe.

```
$ cat fedora.tar | podman load
Getting image source signatures
Copying blob sha256:5bef08742407efd622d243692b79ba0055383bbce12900324f75e56f589aedb0
 0 B / 4.03 MB [---------------------------------------------------------------]
Copying config sha256:7328f6f8b41890597575cbaadc884e7386ae0acc53b747401ebce5cf0d624560
 0 B / 1.48 KB [---------------------------------------------------------------]
Writing manifest to image destination
Storing signatures
Loaded image:  registry.fedoraproject.org/fedora:latest
```

## SEE ALSO

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

## HISTORY

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