Watchtower preset 🔶
The Watchtower preset generates one focused project for eligible container updates on a Docker host. Plundarr uses the maintained nickfedor/watchtower image and supports either a persistent daemon or an explicit update pass that exits.
Run the persistent preset¶
Choose Watchtower in the interactive generator. Review the update policy in dist/watchtower/.env, then from the parent directory containing dist/:
docker compose --project-directory dist/watchtower config --quiet
docker compose --project-directory dist/watchtower up --detach --pull always
Run only one persistent Watchtower daemon per Docker host. Review its schedule, cleanup behavior, labels, and notification settings in dist/watchtower/.env before launch.
Run one update pass¶
Stop any persistent Watchtower daemon first. With the optional repository helpers, use the generated project for one host-wide pass:
The make watchtower-run-once target pulls the configured image, runs with --run-once, and removes its temporary container when the pass completes.
Caution
Automatic image replacement can introduce database migrations, changed configuration, or incompatible runtime behavior. Back up application state and keep tightly coordinated services excluded unless you have tested their upgrade path.
Containers labeled com.centurylinklabs.watchtower.enable=false remain excluded. Plundarrpedia and Calibre-Web Automated use that boundary so their updates stay operator-controlled.
Add Watchtower to another preset¶
Watchtower is a removable default in the Plundarr and Boudoirr presets. Select it in the picker for Duplex or another compatible project. The optional repository equivalent is:
Do not select Watchtower in several generated projects on the same host unless only one instance is allowed to run.