---
name: "doveadm-exec"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "dovecot"
version: "2.4.5-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/doveadm-exec"
---

# doveadm-exec(1)

Easily execute commands from Dovecot's libexec directory.

## NAME

**doveadm-exec** - Easily execute commands from Dovecot's libexec directory.

## SYNOPSIS

**doveadm** \[*GLOBAL OPTIONS*\] **exec** *binary* \[*binary arguments*\]

## DESCRIPTION

This command allows administrators and local users to simply execute commands from within */usr/libexec/dovecot*. So for example a logged in system user could start a pre-authenticated imap session, using the command: **doveadm exec imap**. An administrator would use the command **doveadm exec imap -u** *username*.

## GLOBAL OPTIONS

Global [doveadm(1)](/doveadm/1.md) *options*:

- **-D**

  Enables *verbosity* and debug messages.

- **-O**

  Do not read any config file, just use defaults. The **dovecot\_storage\_version** setting defaults to the latest version, but can be overridden with **-o**.

- **-k**

  Preserve entire environment for doveadm, not just **import\_environment** setting.

- **-v**

  Enables verbosity, including progress counter.

- **-i** *instance-name*

  If using multiple Dovecot instances, choose the config file based on this instance name.

  See **instance\_name** setting for more information.

- **-c** *config-file*

  Read configuration from the given *config-file*. By default it first reads config socket, and then falls back to */etc/dovecot/dovecot.conf*. You can also point this to config socket of some instance running compatible version.

- **-o** *setting***=***value*

  Overrides the configuration *setting* from */etc/dovecot/dovecot.conf* and from the userdb with the given *value*. In order to override multiple settings, the **-o** option may be specified multiple times.

## ARGUMENTS

*binary*

the name of an executable located in */usr/libexec/dovecot*.

*binary arguments*

options and arguments, which will be passed through to the *binary*.

## EXAMPLE

This example demonstrates how to deliver a message from a file to a user's mailbox.

```
doveadm exec dovecot-lda -d user@example.net -f admin@example.net < ~/stuff/welcome.msg
```

## REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs, including *doveconf -n* output, to the Dovecot Mailing List *⟨dovecot@dovecot.org⟩*. Information about reporting bugs is available at: *⟨https://dovecot.org/bugreport.html⟩*

SEE ALSO

[doveadm(1)](/doveadm/1.md)