Docker: Execute Commands inside a Running Container

To access the terminal of a running container, you can use the following command:

docker exec -it <container name> sh

Or:

docker exec -it <container ID> sh

You can also replace sh with bash.

Note: To exit the container without stopping or killing it, you can press Ctrl + P + Q

You can see the names and IDs of your running contains by performing the command below:

docker ps

Example:

Further reading:

• How to Check Docker Desktop and Docker Engine Versions
• Using Docker Compose 3 with Node.js and MongoDB
• Limit resources consumed by Docker Desktop
• Using Docker Compose to speed up WordPress development
• Docker build with custom Dockerfile name

You can also check out our Docker topic page for the latest tutorials, examples, tips, and tricks.