% DOCKER(1) Docker User Manuals % Docker Community % JUNE 2014 # NAME docker-exec - Run a command in a running container # SYNOPSIS **docker exec** [**-d**|**--detach**] [**--detach-keys**[=*[]*]] [**-e**|**--env**[=*[]*]] [**--help**] [**-i**|**--interactive**] [**--privileged**] [**-t**|**--tty**] [**-u**|**--user**[=*USER*]] 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 # OPTIONS **-d**, **--detach**=*true*|*false* Detached mode: run command in the background. The default is *false*. **--detach-keys**="" Override the key sequence for detaching a container. Format is a single character `[a-Z]` or `ctrl-<value>` where `<value>` is one of: `a-z`, `@`, `^`, `[`, `,` or `_`. **-e**, **--env**=[] Set environment variables This option allows you to specify arbitrary environment variables that are available for the command to be executed. **--help** Print usage statement **-i**, **--interactive**=*true*|*false* Keep STDIN open even if not attached. The default is *false*. **--privileged**=*true*|*false* Give the process extended [Linux capabilities](http://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man7/capabilities.7.html) when running in a container. The default is *false*. 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. **-t**, **--tty**=*true*|*false* Allocate a pseudo-TTY. The default is *false*. **-u**, **--user**="" Sets the username or UID used and optionally the groupname or GID for the specified command. The followings 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. The **-t** option is incompatible with a redirection of the docker client standard input. # HISTORY November 2014, updated by Sven Dowideit <SvenDowideit@home.org.au>