Docker AutoHeal

Unhealthy Docker containers can be monitored and restarted by Docker AutoHeal.

github.com/willfarrell/docker-autoheal
Docker AutoHeal homepage screenshot

About Docker AutoHeal

Docker AutoHeal is an open source utility that monitors Docker containers for unhealthy status and automatically restarts them. It was created to address the lack of native Docker support for automatically exiting on unhealthy container status, serving as a stand-in until that functionality is added to the core Docker platform. The tool requires containers to have a pre-defined HEALTHCHECK directive to detect unhealthy states. It can be deployed as a standalone Docker container or integrated into custom container images, with configuration options for monitoring scope, restart timeouts, and optional webhook notifications for restart events.

Key features

  • Monitors Docker containers for unhealthy status
  • Automatically restarts identified unhealthy containers
  • Supports label-based selective container monitoring
  • Allows per-container custom stop timeout overrides
  • Sends optional webhook alerts for restart events
  • Works with Unix socket and TCP/TLS Docker API connections
Best for: Users running Docker container workloads who need automatic recovery for unhealthy containers without relying on native Docker platform support.
Good for
  • Open source under a permissive MIT license
  • Supports multiple secure Docker API connection methods
  • Provides flexible configuration for monitoring and restart rules
Watch out for
  • Requires pre-defined HEALTHCHECK directives in monitored container images
  • Needs access to the Docker daemon socket or TCP API to operate
  • Is a third-party workaround rather than native Docker functionality

Docker AutoHeal at a glance

Type
Open-source project
Pricing
Not confirmed. Check the site
Open source
Yes · Source code
Language
English
Last checked
Oct 6, 2026 · Online when checked
Listed
Oct 5, 2026

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Docker AutoHeal FAQ

Do containers need a HEALTHCHECK to be monitored by Docker AutoHeal?
Yes, containers must have a pre-defined HEALTHCHECK directive for Docker AutoHeal to detect unhealthy status.
How can I configure which containers Docker AutoHeal monitors?
Set the AUTOHEAL_CONTAINER_LABEL environment variable to 'all' to monitor all containers, or to an existing label name to watch only containers with that label set to true.
Can Docker AutoHeal send alerts when it restarts a container?
Yes, set the WEBHOOK_URL environment variable to have it post a message to a webhook when a container is restarted or a restart fails.
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