docker/build-push-action "failed to solve" - Buildx not set up
build-push-action drives a buildx builder. Without a prior docker/setup-buildx-action step there is no buildkit instance to solve the build graph, so the build fails.
What this error means
The build-push step fails with "failed to solve" or complains the buildx builder is missing.
github-actions
ERROR: failed to solve: failed to read dockerfile: buildx builder not initialized
##[error]buildx call failed with: ERROR: failed to solveCommon causes
Missing setup-buildx step
No docker/setup-buildx-action ran, so build-push has no builder to use.
Builder failed to initialize
setup-buildx ran but the driver could not start, leaving no usable builder.
How to fix it
Add setup-buildx before build-push
- Insert a docker/setup-buildx-action step before the build.
- Optionally add setup-qemu for multi-arch.
- Re-run; build-push uses the initialized builder.
.github/workflows/docker.yml
- uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@v3
- uses: docker/build-push-action@v6
with:
push: true
tags: ghcr.io/${{ github.repository }}:latestHow to prevent it
- Always run setup-buildx-action before build-push-action.
- Check the builder startup logs when the solve step fails immediately.
Frequently asked questions
What causes ""ERROR: failed to solve: buildkit not found""?
No docker/setup-buildx-action ran, so build-push has no builder to use.
How do I fix "ERROR: failed to solve: buildkit not found"?
Add setup-buildx before build-push
Related guides
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