Docker image pull fails with archive/tar: invalid tar header error

Installation
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1

Hello, I run home assistant dockerized on my old Synology DS128, with all the available updates installed(both os/docker)

$ docker -v
Docker version 20.10.3, build 55f0773

Starting from 2026.3 image I get the following error when I try to pull the latest image

ERROR: for home-assistant  failed to register layer: ApplyLayer exit status 1 stdout:  stderr: archive/tar: invalid tar header
ERROR: failed to register layer: ApplyLayer exit status 1 stdout:  stderr: archive/tar: invalid tar header

From my understanding the issue arises from the combination of the old docker version of mine and something on the docker image itself(I can download other images without issue). Since the docker package is provided by Synology I can’t do much upgrading it, can I somehow overcome this issue on image level? Something must have changed on the current version of HA.

If nothing works, an alternative would be to run HA on a virtual machine but I would like to avoid that.

Thanks in advance!

2

Build docker image locally instead of using that from GitHub. You can make changes for your environment as needed

Stick with last version that worked. Is there a new feature in 2026.3 you plan to use or just updating because new version?

3

I have the same issue on BalenaEngine. What change in the image that could cause the incompatibility ?

4

I will try this but I am looking for a more radical solution, I would like to avoid building the image myself on every new version

Thanks but I prefer to run always the latest version, feature and security wise.

5

I have the same issue with HAOS trying to install studio code server. Very weird.

2026-03-07 13:26:33.911 ERROR (MainThread) [supervisor.docker.manager] failed to extract layer (application/vnd.docker.image.rootfs.diff.tar.gzip sha256:6c3f5b67df7ebb40e6f16f8acc1388f8a5b06aa3d0460ab7288c6da7c3e2d47b) to overlayfs as "extract-5833300-3rLD sha256:3b19facbad0d0a0052f26c0eb6bc610801fa6844f1f6cf76dd162da3c393ff4f": archive/tar: invalid tar header
2026-03-07 13:26:33.911 ERROR (MainThread) [supervisor.addons.addon] Could not pull image to update addon a0d7b954_vscode: failed to extract layer (application/vnd.docker.image.rootfs.diff.tar.gzip sha256:6c3f5b67df7ebb40e6f16f8acc1388f8a5b06aa3d0460ab7288c6da7c3e2d47b) to overlayfs as "extract-5833300-3rLD sha256:3b19facbad0d0a0052f26c0eb6bc610801fa6844f1f6cf76dd162da3c393ff4f": archive/tar: invalid tar header

HAOS is supposed to have the correct last docker.

➜  ~ docker -v
Docker version 29.1.3, build f52814d454173982e6692dd7e290a41b828d9cbc

ok, i now remember that i changed my docker as instructed here:

https://github.com/home-assistant/operating-system/releases/tag/17.0

ha docker migrate-storage-driver

~ ha docker info
enable_ipv6: null
logging: journald
mtu: null
registries: {}
storage: overlayfs
version: 29.1.3
6

The Docker image this month uses features from the latest release Docker code.
You may need to update your version iof Docker…

7

Same error here on synology docker, cannot upgrade to 2026.3 (stable)
If I roll back and explicitly set 2026.2 then it works
Linked to same issue here:

Maybe this can help, did not try it yet …

8

Update
Could not get telnetdoogie approach to update Docker working on my DS218+. Some prerequisites missing. So decided to manually update DSM 7.1 to 7.3. Please note that you will then lose video station (I did not use it).
Upgrade completed and then followed this approach to get my zigbee and zwave USB dongles working again.

All succesfull and now running Homeassistant 2026.3!

9

Plex or Jellyfin.

10

I am gonna try it as well. Can you give some more info on which dsm version did you install?

Thanks