Unsupported config option for services

Fix Unsupported config option for services (docker-compose)

TL;DR

Your compose file contains a key that your compose version does not understand, often a version mismatch or a typo. Run docker compose config to see the exact service and key named in the error, fix that key (or upgrade compose), and re-run. One bad key blocks every compose command.

The error, verbatim:

Unsupported config option for services

Steps

1. Reproduce the validation error to see the exact key value ``` docker compose config

   Success check: The output names the exact service and key, e.g. Unsupported config option for services.web: 'foo'.

2. Find the offending key in your compose file and check it against the compose spec:

   grep -n "web:" docker-compose.yml | head

   Success check: The key is spelled right and exists in the compose spec for your file version.

3. Fix the key (correct the typo, move it under the right parent, or upgrade compose) and re-validate:

   docker compose config

   Success check: docker compose config prints the parsed file with no errors.

When to use

You hit this exact error while using docker-compose. The trigger list below matches your situation.

When NOT to use

If the error text differs, or the failure is in a different tool (e.g. a Docker daemon error when you only need the compose fix), find the skill for that exact error instead.

Tool compatibility

docker-compose v1 (python) and Compose v2. Any compose file version.

Variant phrasings

Unsupported config option for services

ERROR: Unsupported config option for services.web

Root cause

The compose file uses a key your compose binary does not recognize. Classic causes: a v2-only key with version: '3' declared (or the reverse), a typo, or an old docker-compose that predates the option. Compose validates the whole file before doing anything, so one bad key blocks every command.

Edge cases

• Compose v2 ignores the top-level version key; unknown keys under services are still rejected.
• A typo like protss: instead of ports: triggers the same message naming your typo.
• If you copied the file from a newer compose example, upgrade compose instead of downgrading the file.

Where this came from

Resolved from the public discussion at https://stackoverflow.com/questions/36724948 (so:36724948).