Minimum macOS Version Requirements for the Container Tool

The container command-line tool requires macOS 15 (Ventura) as the minimum supported version, while macOS 26 is recommended for full feature support and stability.

The container tool is Apple's open-source command-line interface for managing Linux containers on macOS. According to the apple/container repository, understanding the minimum macOS version requirements is essential before installation, as the tool leverages specific virtualization frameworks only available in recent releases.

Minimum and Recommended macOS Versions

macOS 15 (Ventura) as the Minimum Baseline

As documented in BUILDING.md, the explicit minimum supported version is macOS 15. The README.md clarifies that the tool "does not support older versions," making macOS 15 the hard floor for execution. Users on macOS 15 can perform basic container operations, though with specific limitations.

macOS 26 for Complete Feature Support

While macOS 15 provides baseline functionality, the documentation strongly recommends macOS 26 (the newest release) for full feature support and stability. The README.md specifically notes the tool is "supported on macOS 26," indicating this is the primary target platform for development and testing.

Functional Limitations on macOS 15

Running on the minimum macOS version restricts certain capabilities. According to docs/technical-overview.md, macOS 15 systems experience limitations in network commands and specific virtualization features that require newer kernel extensions or frameworks introduced after macOS 15.

The docs/command-reference.md file enumerates specific commands that may be unavailable or degraded when operating on macOS 15 versus macOS 26. Users should expect reduced networking functionality and potential compatibility issues with advanced container configurations.

Basic Commands on Minimum Supported Hardware

Despite these limitations, core container functionality works on macOS 15. The following commands execute successfully on the minimum supported version:

# Verify the container tool installation

container version

# List running containers (network features limited on macOS 15)

container ps

# Run a basic Linux container (requires only macOS 15 base features)

container run -it ubuntu /bin/bash

Summary

• macOS 15 (Ventura) is the hard minimum required to run the container tool, as specified in BUILDING.md.
• macOS 26 is recommended for full feature support, network commands, and advanced virtualization capabilities.
• Functional limitations on macOS 15 include missing network commands and reduced virtualization features according to docs/technical-overview.md.
• Basic container operations like container run and container ps function on macOS 15, though networking capabilities may be restricted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I run the container tool on macOS 14 or earlier?

No. The README.md explicitly states that the tool "does not support older versions" than macOS 15. Attempting to run on macOS 14 or earlier will fail due to missing virtualization frameworks and kernel dependencies required by the container runtime.

What features are missing when running on macOS 15?

According to docs/technical-overview.md, macOS 15 lacks support for network commands and certain virtualization features available in macOS 26. The docs/command-reference.md details specific commands that are unavailable or limited on the minimum version.

Is macOS 26 required for basic container operations?

No. Basic functionality including container run, container ps, and container version works on macOS 15. However, macOS 26 is required for complete feature parity, stability, and advanced networking capabilities.

Where are the version requirements documented in the source code?

The minimum version is defined in BUILDING.md ("macOS 15 minimum, macOS 26 recommended"), while support statements appear in README.md. Detailed limitations are documented in docs/technical-overview.md and docs/command-reference.md.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "instagit": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "instagit@latest"]
    }
  }
}