bind source path does not exist Docker Origin: Platform & cloud Last updated 12 Oct 2026

invalid mount config for type "bind": bind source path does not exist

A -v/--mount or Compose volume points at a host path that doesn’t exist (from the Docker daemon’s point of view).

Exact message you may see bind source path does not existinvalid mount config for type "bind"error while creating mount source path
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Seen on: Docker

Meaning

With --mount type=bind Docker refuses missing paths (-v silently creates an empty directory). On Docker Desktop and remote contexts, the path must exist on the machine/VM running the daemon, and Windows paths need the right format.

Common causes

  • Typo or relative path resolved from another directory
  • Path exists on your laptop but the daemon is remote/VM
  • Windows path format (C:\ vs /c/)
  • File not created yet (e.g. a config file)

⚡ Quick fix

  1. Use an absolute path: "$(pwd)/config"
  2. Create the file/folder first
  3. On Windows use C:/path or /c/path consistently

Detailed fix by platform

Docker

  1. bash
    mkdir -p "$(pwd)/data"
docker run --mount type=bind,source="$(pwd)/data",target=/data alpine ls /data

How to diagnose

  1. Path — ls -la the exact source path
  2. Daemon — Local or remote context?
  3. Format — Windows path style

🔧 Still not fixed?

Many errors look alike. If the steps above didn’t solve it, one of these is probably what you’re facing:

Where this error sits

Origin: Platform & cloud. Errors that are often confused with or caused by this one (click to open):

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