diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d32875e..717c867 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ docker compose -f docker-compose.yml -f docker-compose.dev.yml up -d
 To start only mongo-express if core services are already running, run:
 
 ```bash
-docker compose -f docker-compose.dev.yml up -d mongo-express
+docker compose -f docker-compose.yml -f docker-compose.dev.yml up -d mongo-express
 ```
 
 ### Running Locally
diff --git a/docker-compose.dev.yml b/docker-compose.dev.yml
index fbc2afc..e43d068 100644
--- a/docker-compose.dev.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.dev.yml
@@ -16,5 +16,4 @@ services:
 
 networks:
   default:
-    external: true
     name: tf_kyc_network
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index e77eb38..7117d81 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -37,19 +37,6 @@ services:
       start_period: 10s
     restart: unless-stopped
 
-  mongo-express:
-    image: mongo-express:latest
-    container_name: mongo_express
-    environment:
-        - ME_CONFIG_MONGODB_SERVER=db
-        - ME_CONFIG_MONGODB_PORT=27017
-    depends_on:
-        - db
-    ports:
-      - "8888:8081"
-    env_file:
-      - .express.env
-
 volumes:
   mongodb_data: