DOCKER(1) Docker User Manuals DOCKER(1)

# [NAME](#NAME)

docker-exec - Execute a command in a running container

# [SYNOPSIS](#SYNOPSIS)

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

# [DESCRIPTION](#DESCRIPTION)

Alias for **docker container exec**.

# [OPTIONS](#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](#SEE_ALSO)

[**docker(1)**](/man/enterprise-packages/docker-cli-fips/docker.1)

Oct 2026 Docker Community

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Document: docker-exec(1) from docker-cli-fips 29.9.0-r0 (Chainguard OS)
Source: https://github.com/docker/cli