Why can't I add a namespace in Container Registry?

Setting up a namespace fails in IBM Cloud® Container Registry.

When you run ibmcloud cr namespace-add, you are unable to set your entered value as the namespace.

The following alternatives are possible causes:

• Scenario A. You used invalid characters in the namespace value.
• Scenario B. You entered a namespace value that is already being used by another IBM Cloud organization.
• Scenario C. A namespace was recently deleted and you're reusing its name. If the namespace that was deleted contained many resources, the deletion might not yet be fully processed by Container Registry.
• Scenario D. You might not have the correct permissions for creating a namespace.

You can fix these problems in the following ways:

Follow any instructions that are in the returned error message. If that is not successful, or no instructions are provided, try the following options:

• Scenario A. Check that you entered a valid namespace:
  • Your namespace must be unique across all IBM Cloud accounts in the same region.
  • Your namespace must be 4 - 30 characters long.
  • Your namespace must start and end with a letter or number.
  • Your namespace must contain lowercase letters, numbers, hyphens (-), and underscores (_) only.
• Scenario B. Choose a different value for your namespace.
• Scenario C. If you're re-creating a namespace that was deleted, and it contained many images, try again later.
• Scenario D. - Ensure that you have the Manager role in the Container Registry service at the account level for adding, assigning, and removing namespaces. See Why aren't I authorized to access a specified resource in Container Registry? for assistance.

For more information about namespaces, see Planning namespaces.