Container CLI
container is a tool that you can use to create and run Linux containers as lightweight virtual machines on your Mac. It’s written in Swift, and optimized for Apple silicon.
The tool consumes and produces OCI-compatible container images, so you can pull and run images from any standard container registry. You can push images that you build to those registries as well, and run the images in any other OCI-compatible application.
Key features
OCI compatible
Pull and run images from any standard container registry. Push your built images to share with others.
Apple silicon optimized
Written in Swift and optimized specifically for Mac with Apple silicon processors.
Lightweight VMs
Run Linux containers as lightweight virtual machines with efficient resource usage.
Built-in DNS
Embedded DNS service simplifies access to your containerized applications.
How it works
container uses the Containerization Swift package for low level container, image, and process management. It leverages new features and enhancements to virtualization and networking in macOS 26 to provide a seamless container experience on Mac.
Get started
Installation
Download and install Container CLI on your Mac with Apple silicon
Quick start
Build and run your first container in minutes
Tutorial
Take a guided tour by building a simple web server image
Command reference
Browse the full CLI command reference
Requirements
You need a Mac with Apple silicon to run
container. The tool is supported on macOS 26, since it takes advantage of new features and enhancements to virtualization and networking in this release.container maintainers typically will not address issues that cannot be reproduced on macOS 26.