The safe Docker Compose update sequence is: back up your Home Assistant configuration and Compose file, read the backward-incompatible changes for every release between your current and target versions, pull the image, recreate the container, and inspect the logs. Use a pinned image tag when you need predictable upgrades; a floating tag such as stable changes whenever you pull it.
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What the update actually changes
A Home Assistant Container installation has two separate parts:
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- Your persistent data: the configuration directory mounted into the container, including automations, integrations, dashboards, secrets, and the recorder database.
docker compose pull homeassistant downloads a newer image for the service named homeassistant. docker compose up -d then recreates the container from that image while reusing the volumes or bind mounts defined in your Compose file. The container itself is replaceable; the mounted data is what must be protected.
Do not treat an image pull as a backup. If the new release changes configuration behavior or a migration causes trouble, your recovery options depend on having a usable copy of the configuration and knowing which image you were running.
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Before you update: a preflight checklist
Confirm the project directory and service name
Run the commands from the directory containing your Compose file, or specify that file explicitly with -f. The examples below assume the service is named homeassistant, matching the official procedure. If your file uses another service name, substitute it in the pull, logs, and inspection commands.
docker compose config
docker compose psdocker compose config renders the effective configuration and can expose a typo, an unresolved variable, or an invalid mount before you replace anything. docker compose ps shows whether the existing container is running and confirms the service name.
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Copy the entire directory mounted as Home Assistant’s /config, not just a single YAML file. Include hidden files such as .storage, your secrets file, custom components, and the recorder database if you want a complete recovery point. Also save the Compose file and any environment file it references.
For a bind mount, identify the host path on the left side of the /config mapping. A Compose fragment might look like this:
volumes:
- /srv/homeassistant:/configIn that example, /srv/homeassistant is the directory to copy. Do not assume the example path is yours; inspect your own file first.
A simple local archive can be created with:
tar -czf homeassistant-config-$(date +%F-%H%M).tar.gz /srv/homeassistant
cp compose.yaml compose.yaml.before-update
cp .env .env.before-updateReplace /srv/homeassistant with your actual host path. Store at least one copy outside the Docker host. A backup on the same disk does not protect you from disk failure, accidental deletion, or a permissions mistake. Record the date, the Home Assistant version, and the image identifier alongside the archive so you know what state it represents.
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Check available disk space and access
Image downloads need free space in Docker’s storage area, and the process must be able to read the Compose project and write to the mounted configuration directory. Check the host before starting:
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docker system df
df -hDo not run a broad cleanup command as part of an update unless you understand exactly what it removes. Pruning unused images can make a later rollback harder by deleting the previous image.
Read every release note between the two versions
Home Assistant updates can include configuration, integration, database, or behavior changes. Read the release notes for every version you will pass over, not only the newest one. This matters when your current image is several releases behind and you are effectively applying multiple changes at once.
The Home Assistant Container documentation specifically advises: “Be sure to check all release notes between the version you are running and the one you are upgrading to. Use the search function in your browser (CTRL + f / CMD + f) and search for Backward-incompatible changes.” Follow that instruction literally. Search each note for Backward-incompatible changes, then read the surrounding section rather than relying on the heading alone.
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- Write down integrations, options, or YAML keys that are removed or renamed.
- Check whether an integration requires reauthentication or a new setup flow.
- Note database or recorder changes that could affect startup time or disk usage.
- Look for Python, operating-system, architecture, or dependency requirements that apply to your host.
- Plan a maintenance window if automations, dashboards, or remote access will be unavailable during the restart.
If the notes call for a configuration edit, make and test that edit before pulling the new image. Keep the pre-update backup untouched so you can compare the old and new files.
Choose a version tag before pulling
The tag in your Compose file determines which image Docker requests. A floating tag is convenient but offers less change control; a version tag makes the intended upgrade explicit.
| Tag strategy | What happens on the next pull | Best use | Risk or trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
stable (floating) |
The tag may point to a newer stable image whenever the project moves it. | Administrators who intentionally track the current stable channel. | A repeat of the same pull command can change the application without a Compose-file edit. |
An explicit release such as 2026.10.1 |
Docker requests that specific release until you edit the tag. | Planned upgrades, change review, and predictable rollback preparation. | You must update the tag manually to receive later fixes. |
beta |
Uses the Home Assistant beta image, such as ghcr.io/home-assistant/home-assistant:beta. |
Testing upcoming changes before they reach the stable channel. | Pre-release software can contain regressions and should not be treated as a routine production update. |
An explicit tag does not eliminate the need to read release notes. It only makes the selected image reproducible. Keep the previous tag in your notes before changing it.
Safe update procedure
1. Record the current state
Save the current tag from the Compose file and capture the running container information:
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docker compose ps
docker inspect homeassistant --format '{{.Image}}'If your container has a generated name rather than homeassistant, use the name shown by docker compose ps. The image value gives you a reference to the image that is currently attached to the container. Keep it with the backup record; do not delete the old image yet.
2. Make the backup and verify it
Create the configuration archive and copy the Compose and environment files as described above. Check that the archive can be listed and that its size is plausible:
tar -tzf homeassistant-config-2026-10-14-1030.tar.gz | headA command that completes is not proof that every desired file was included. Confirm the archive contains your configuration.yaml, .storage, secrets, custom directories, and database file when those items are part of your installation.
3. Pull only the Home Assistant service
With the desired tag saved in the Compose file, run:
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4. Recreate the container
docker compose up -dCompose compares the service definition and image, stops the old container when necessary, and creates a replacement from the newly pulled image. The -d option returns control to your shell while the container runs in the background. A recreated container is expected; it is not, by itself, evidence that data was lost.
Watch the command output for mount, port, permission, or environment errors. If Compose reports a problem, leave the backup and previous image in place while you investigate rather than repeatedly recreating the service.
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5. Follow the startup logs
docker compose logs -f homeassistantThis community-used command follows the service log. Stop following with Ctrl + C; that detaches from the log stream and does not stop Home Assistant. Look for a clean startup, successful configuration loading, and the line indicating that the web interface is ready. Warnings about a deprecated option may require action even if the container remains running.
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docker compose psConfirm the service is running or healthy according to the health checks in your file. Then open the Home Assistant interface and exercise the functions most important to you: a representative dashboard, a key integration, an automation, and remote access if you use it.
What to expect after upgrading Docker Compose itself
Upgrading the Docker Compose program is separate from upgrading the Home Assistant image. Compose release notes explain that existing containers may be recreated the first time compose up runs after a Compose upgrade because image digests are reevaluated under the newer logic. Therefore, an unexpected recreation on that first run can be normal even when the Home Assistant tag did not change.
Still review the output and logs. The distinction is important: recreation caused by Compose does not mean Home Assistant received a new application version, while a changed image digest can result in a replacement container with the same tag.
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The image pull cannot reach the registry
- Confirm the host has working DNS and outbound HTTPS access.
- Check that the image name and tag in the Compose file are spelled correctly.
- Retry after a transient registry or network outage, but do not run
upuntil the pull completes. - If your registry requires authentication, log in with the account permitted to read the image.
Compose says the configuration is invalid
Run docker compose config and correct YAML indentation, variable expansion, unknown keys, or an invalid mount path. If the error appeared after changing the tag, compare the edited file with compose.yaml.before-update. Keep the old file intact until the new configuration validates.
The container exits immediately
Read the complete startup output rather than repeatedly restarting:
docker compose logs --tail=200 homeassistantCommon clues include an invalid configuration option, an unavailable host path, a permission denial, a port already in use, or an integration that now requires a migration. Address the specific error identified by the log and consult the release notes for the version that introduced it.
The web interface is unavailable but the container is running
Check the published port and network settings in the Compose file, then inspect the logs for startup completion. A running container can still have a failed application initialization. Verify that the host firewall, reverse proxy, and DNS entry still point to the expected host and port.
Files appear to have disappeared
Stop and preserve the current state before making more changes. Verify that the same host directory is still mounted to /config; a changed relative path or an unset environment variable can make Home Assistant start with a new, empty directory. Compare the mount shown by docker inspect with the pre-update Compose file. Do not delete the apparent empty directory until you have identified the original data path.
Rollback and restore: what can and cannot be assumed
A container-image rollback and a data restore are different operations. If the problem is limited to the application image, changing the Compose tag back to the previous explicit release and running the same pull-and-up sequence is the usual container technique:
# edit compose.yaml to the previously recorded tag
docker compose pull homeassistant
docker compose up -dThis approach is not a guarantee that an older application can safely read data already changed by a newer release. Configuration or database migrations may be one-way, and an older image can fail to start against newer data. That is why the untouched pre-update backup matters.
If you must restore, first stop the service and preserve the post-update directory as a separate copy. Then use the backup method you selected and follow the current Home Assistant restoration instructions for your installation. The exact restore sequence depends on whether you use a bind mount or a named volume, the backup format, and the state of the recorder database. Do not overwrite your only copy while experimenting.
Because rollback behavior varies with the release and storage layout, test your backup and recovery process before an upgrade becomes urgent. A documented tag, a dated archive stored off-host, and a written mount path are more useful than an assumption that any older image will automatically undo a migration.
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Manual updates versus automatic updaters
The documented procedure is deliberately manual: review changes, pull the selected image, recreate the service, and inspect the result. That sequence gives you a pause between downloading and restarting, which is useful for backups and maintenance scheduling. Automated image updaters can remove that pause; if you use one, configure it only after deciding how it will preserve your backups, version records, and notification path. No automatic tool can replace a tested restore plan.
A repeatable maintenance checklist
- Confirm the Compose project directory, service name, mounted configuration path, and current tag.
- Save the Compose file, environment file, current image reference, and a complete configuration backup.
- Store a copy of the backup away from the Docker host and verify that important files are present.
- Read every release note between the running and target versions, searching for “Backward-incompatible changes.”
- Choose an explicit release tag for controlled production changes; reserve the beta tag for deliberate testing.
- Run
docker compose pull homeassistant. - Run
docker compose up -dand expect the container to be recreated. - Follow
docker compose logs -f homeassistant, then confirm the service state and critical integrations. - Keep the previous tag and image until the new version has been operating normally and your recovery point is retained.
How often should you repeat the process?
Repeat this procedure for each planned Home Assistant image change, including a move from one explicit version tag to another and a deliberate switch to the beta channel. Do not infer a release schedule from old third-party posts; the safe trigger is the release you have chosen after reviewing its notes and checking that your backup and maintenance window are ready.
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