Fixes docker-py rejected by the daemon for an outdated API version. Use when calls raise APIError 400 about client version. Not for daemon-down errors.
TL;DR: Your docker-py is so old the daemon refuses its API version. Upgrade with pip install -U docker, or pass version= explicitly to the client to negotiate a supported one.
docker.errors.APIError: 400 Client Error for http+docker://[docker-host]/v1.24/containers/json: Bad Request ("client version 1.24 is too old. Minimum supported API version is 1.24, please upgrade your client to a newer version")
Fix it
Check versions: pip show docker and docker version (server API version). Expected: client library far older than the daemon.
Upgrade: pip install -U docker. Expected: the 400 goes away.
If you cannot upgrade, pin the negotiated version: docker.APIClient(version='1.41') (use a version your daemon supports; docker version shows it). Expected: calls succeed.
Update requirements so the old pin does not come back.
When this applies
APIError 400 mentioning client version too old.
When it doesn't
The error is DockerException on connect: daemon unreachable, different fix.
The error is 404 on an endpoint: the resource, not the version.
Compatibility
docker-py >= 4 negotiates better; daemons set the minimum.
Why it happens
The daemon enforces a minimum API version and drops ancient ones. Old docker-py pins hardcode v1.24-era versions, which modern daemons reject.
Edge cases
version='auto' exists but can mask real incompatibilities; prefer upgrading the library.
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Published recentlyPublished Oct 3, 2026. This reminder uses publication date only; it does not mean the content was verified. Review again after Apr 1, 2027.
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Published recentlyPublished Oct 3, 2026. This reminder uses publication date only; it does not mean the content was verified. Review again after Apr 1, 2027.