Fix Kubernetes 'ImagePullBackOff' and 'ErrImagePull' Registry Errors
Resolve container image registry authentication failures, wrong image tags, or private registry credentials.
Failed to pull image 'ghcr.io/org/private-app:v1': rpc error: code = Unknown desc = failed to pull and unpack image: failed to resolve reference: unexpected status: 401 Unauthorized
# Create registry secret in Kubernetes:
kubectl create secret docker-registry ghcr-auth \
--docker-server=ghcr.io \
--docker-username=YOUR_USER \
--docker-password=YOUR_TOKEN \
--docker-email=admin@example.com
# Then add to deployment manifest:
spec:
imagePullSecrets:
- name: ghcr-authRoot Cause & Mechanism Analysis
Why does this error occur?
Typo in image name or tag, non-existent repository, or missing `imagePullSecrets` required to authenticate with private registries (Docker Hub, GHCR, AWS ECR).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between ErrImagePull and ImagePullBackOff?
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