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Docker Troubleshooting Tips: Common Issues Every DevOps Engineer Must Know

Docker has become an essential tool for DevOps engineers, enabling faster development, testing, and deployment.
But let’s be honest—working with Docker isn’t always smooth sailing. Whether it’s a container that won’t start, a broken network, or mysterious permission errors, every engineer faces issues at some point.
This guide covers common Docker troubleshooting tips every DevOps engineer should know, with practical fixes and commands you can use right away.

Why Troubleshooting Docker is Important :

  • Saves time in CI/CD pipelines by quickly resolving errors.
  • Prevents production downtime due to container issues.
  • Helps in debugging microservices effectively.
  • Builds confidence while managing large-scale containerized environments.
Common Docker Issues & How to Fix Them :

1. Container Won’t Start

Error Message :
docker run fails.
Logs show errors like exited with code 1.
Fix:
(a) .Check logs:
docker logs <container_id>
(b) .Run container in interactive mode:
docker run -it <image_name> /bin/bash
(c) .Ensure dependencies (like DB, API, or configs) are available.

2. Port Already in Use
Error Message:
Error: Bind for 0.0.0.0:80 failed: port is already allocated.
Fix:
(a) .Check what’s using the port:
sudo lsof -i :80

(b) .Stop the process or run the container on a different port:docker run -p 8080:80 <image_name>


3. Container Keeps Restarting
Error Message:
Container restarts again and again.
Fix:
(a) .Check restart policy:
docker inspect -f "{{ .HostConfig.RestartPolicy }}" <container_id>

(b) .Inspect logs for application crash

    validate ENTRYPOINT or CMD in Dockerfile.

4. Permission Denied Errors

Error Message:
Permission denied when accessing files or mounting volumes.
Fix:
(a) .Ensure correct user inside container:
docker run -u $(id -u):$(id -g) <image_name>

(b) .Use chmod on mounted directories:

sudo chmod -R 755 /your/volume/path


5. Networking Issues
Error Message:
Containers can’t communicate with each other.
Fix:
(a) .List Docker networks:
docker network ls

(b) .Connect container to correct network:

docker network connect <network_name> <container_id>

(c).Test DNS resolution:
docker exec -it <container_id> ping google.com

6. High Disk Usage
Error Message:
System runs out of space due to Docker images/volumes.
Fix:
(a) .Clean unused containers, images, volumes:
docker system prune -a

(b) .Remove dangling volumes:

docker volume prune

7. Debugging Docker Build Failures
Error Message:
docker build fails with unclear error messages.
Fix:
(a) .Build step by step using --progress=plain:
docker build --progress=plain .

(b) .Add echo statements in Dockerfile.

(c) .Verify COPY and ADD paths.

Essential Docker Troubleshooting Commands 

Here are must-know commands every DevOps engineer should keep handy:

  • docker ps -a  → List all containers (running + stopped).
  • docker logs <container_id> → View container logs.
  • docker exec -it <container_id> /bin/bash → get inside container.
  • docker inspect <container_id> → Get container details.
  • docker stats → Monitor resource usage.
  • docker events → See real-time events for debugging.
  • docker system prune -a → Clean unused images/containers.

    Conclusion 
    Docker is powerful, but it comes with its share of headaches. By  mastering these troubleshooting tips, you’ll save countless hours,  prevent downtime, and become a more effective DevOps  engineer.Fri Aug 22, 2025

About the Author

"DevOps is the union of people, processes, and products to enable continuous delivery of value to our end users."     - Donovan Brown

Ayushman Sen is a DevOps Engineer at CloudDevOpsHub with a passion for cloud technologies and automation. He enjoys writing blogs to share his DevOps knowledge and insights with the community. A true DevOps enthusiast, Ayushman is also passionate about traveling, listening to music, and playing musical instruments.

Ayushman Sen
DevOps Engineer at CloudDevOpsHub