DockerHow-ToBeginner · 3 min read

How to Use Docker Compose Restart Command

Use the docker compose restart [SERVICE] command to stop and then start one or more services defined in your docker-compose.yml file. If you omit SERVICE, all services will restart. This command helps apply changes or recover services without rebuilding containers.

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Syntax

The basic syntax of the docker compose restart command is:

docker compose restart [SERVICE...]: Restarts specified services.
If no SERVICE is provided, all services in the Compose file restart.

This command stops the container(s) and then starts them again immediately.

bash

docker compose restart [SERVICE...]

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Example

This example shows how to restart a specific service and all services using Docker Compose.

bash

version: '3.8'
services:
  web:
    image: nginx:alpine
    ports:
      - "8080:80"
  db:
    image: postgres:alpine
    environment:
      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: example

# Restart only the web service
$ docker compose restart web

# Restart all services
$ docker compose restart

Output

Restarting web ... done Restarting web ... done Restarting db ... done

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Common Pitfalls

Common mistakes when using docker compose restart include:

Trying to restart a service name that does not exist in the Compose file, which causes an error.
Expecting restart to rebuild images or apply configuration changes; it only restarts containers.
Using the old docker-compose command instead of the newer docker compose (note the space) which is the current recommended syntax.

bash

Wrong:
$ docker compose restart unknown_service
# Error: No such service: unknown_service

Right:
$ docker compose restart web
# Restarts the 'web' service container

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Quick Reference

Command	Description
docker compose restart	Restart all services defined in docker-compose.yml
docker compose restart web	Restart only the 'web' service
docker compose restart db web	Restart 'db' and 'web' services
docker compose restart unknown	Error if 'unknown' service does not exist

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Key Takeaways

Use docker compose restart [SERVICE] to stop and start containers quickly.

Omitting the service name restarts all services in the Compose file.

Restarting does not rebuild images or apply config changes; use docker compose up --build for that.

Always use the modern docker compose syntax, not the legacy docker-compose.

Check service names carefully to avoid errors when restarting.