---
name: "docker-container-exec"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "docker"
version: "1:29.9.2-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/docker-container-exec"
---

# docker-container-exec(1)

Execute a command in a running container

## NAME

docker-container-exec - Execute a command in a running container

## SYNOPSIS

**docker container exec \[OPTIONS\] CONTAINER COMMAND \[ARG...\]**

## DESCRIPTION

Run a process in a running container.

The command started using **docker exec** will only run while the container's primary process (**PID 1**) is running, and will not be restarted if the container is restarted.

If the container is paused, then the **docker exec** command will wait until the container is unpaused, and then run

## CAPABILITIES

**privileged** gives the process extended Linux capabilities ⟨https://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man7/capabilities.7.html⟩ when running in a container.

Without this flag, the process run by **docker exec** in a running container has the same capabilities as the container, which may be limited. Set **--privileged** to give all capabilities to the process.

## USER

**user** sets the username or UID used and optionally the groupname or GID for the specified command.

The following examples are all valid:\
    \--user \[user \| user:group \| uid \| uid:gid \| user:gid \| uid:group \]

Without this argument the command will be run as root in the container.

## Exit Status

The exit code from **docker exec** gives information about why the container failed to exec or why it exited.  When **docker exec** exits with a non-zero code, the exit codes follow the **chroot** standard, see below:

*126 if the contained command cannot be invoked*

```
$ docker exec busybox /etc; echo $?
# exec: "/etc": permission denied
  docker: Error response from daemon: Contained command could not be invoked
  126
```

*127 if the contained command cannot be found*

```
$ docker exec busybox foo; echo $?
# exec: "foo": executable file not found in $PATH
  docker: Error response from daemon: Contained command not found or does not exist
  127
```

*Exit code of contained command otherwise*

```
$ docker exec busybox /bin/sh -c 'exit 3'
# 3
```

## OPTIONS

**-d***,* **--detach***\[=false\]*\
 	*Detached mode: run command in the background*

**--detach-keys***=""*\
 	*Override the key sequence for detaching a container*

**-e***,* **--env***=*\
 	*Set environment variables*

**--env-file***=*\
 	*Read in a file of environment variables*

**-i***,* **--interactive***\[=false\]*\
 	*Keep STDIN open even if not attached*

**--privileged***\[=false\]*\
 	*Give extended privileges to the command*

**-t***,* **--tty***\[=false\]*\
 	*Allocate a pseudo-TTY*

**-u***,* **--user***=""*\
 	*Username or UID (format: "\[:\]")*

**-w***,* **--workdir***=""*\
 	*Working directory inside the container*

## SEE ALSO

**[docker-container(1)](/docker-container/1.md)**