# How to Run an Interactive Ubuntu Container with Apple Container > Launch an interactive Ubuntu container on macOS with simple commands. Learn how to use container run -it ubuntu:latest /bin/bash after initializing with container system start. - Repository: [Apple/container](https://github.com/apple/container) - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-07-05 --- **Use `container run -it ubuntu:latest /bin/bash` after initializing the system with `container system start` to launch an interactive Ubuntu shell on macOS.** Apple Container is an open-source project that runs Linux containers on macOS by launching a lightweight virtual machine for each container. Because the CLI consumes standard OCI images, you can run an interactive Ubuntu container with Apple Container using any Ubuntu image published to a Docker registry. This guide covers the complete workflow from system initialization to accessing a bash prompt inside Ubuntu. ## Start the Container System Before running any containers, you must start the backend services. According to the [`README.md`](https://github.com/apple/container/blob/main/README.md) in the `apple/container` repository, the following command launches the `container-apiserver` and helper services that manage VMs, networking, and images: ```bash container system start ``` Run this once per session or ensure it is running before executing container commands. ## Pull the Ubuntu Image (Optional) While `container` automatically pulls images on first use, explicit pulling allows you to verify architecture compatibility and monitor download progress. As documented in [`docs/command-reference.md`](https://github.com/apple/container/blob/main/docs/command-reference.md), use the `--arch` flag to select the variant matching your host or desired target: ```bash # For Apple Silicon (arm64) container image pull ubuntu:latest --arch arm64 # For Intel-based containers (amd64) container image pull ubuntu:latest --arch amd64 ``` If omitted, the CLI defaults to the host architecture. ## Launch an Interactive Ubuntu Shell To run an interactive Ubuntu container with Apple Container, use the `run` command with the `-i` and `-t` flags. The `-i` (interactive) keeps stdin open, while `-t` allocates a pseudo-TTY for terminal interaction: ```bash container run -it ubuntu:latest /bin/bash ``` This command starts a bash shell inside the Ubuntu container, returning you to a Linux prompt where you can execute standard Ubuntu commands. ### Cross-Architecture Support If you are running on Apple Silicon but need an x86-64 Ubuntu environment, specify the architecture explicitly: ```bash container run -it --arch amd64 ubuntu:latest /bin/bash ``` The `--arch` flag selects the image variant, allowing you to run Intel-based containers on ARM hosts and vice versa. ## Configure Runtime Options The `container run` command supports several flags defined in [`docs/command-reference.md`](https://github.com/apple/container/blob/main/docs/command-reference.md) to customize the container environment. ### Resource Limits Prevent oversubscription by limiting CPU and memory: ```bash container run -it --cpus 2 --memory 4G ubuntu:latest /bin/bash ``` ### Networking Create a custom network and attach the container with a specific MAC address: ```bash container network create mynet container run -it --network mynet,mac=02:42:ac:11:00:02 ubuntu:latest /bin/bash ``` ### Init Process Run an init helper that forwards signals and reaps zombie processes: ```bash container run -it --init ubuntu:latest /bin/bash ``` This is recommended for long-running interactive sessions or when running services that spawn child processes. ## Stop the Container When you exit the shell using `exit` or `Ctrl-D`, the container stops automatically if you passed the `--rm` flag. Otherwise, stop it explicitly using its ID: ```bash container stop ``` ## Summary - Start the VM backend with `container system start` before running any containers, which launches the `container-apiserver` according to [`README.md`](https://github.com/apple/container/blob/main/README.md) - Use `container run -it ubuntu:latest /bin/bash` to get an interactive shell, as specified in [`docs/command-reference.md`](https://github.com/apple/container/blob/main/docs/command-reference.md) - Specify `--arch amd64` or `--arch arm64` to select the image architecture for cross-platform compatibility - Add `--cpus`, `--memory`, `--network`, or `--init` flags to configure container resources, networking, and process management - Exit the shell or use `container stop` to terminate the container ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Do I need to manually pull the Ubuntu image before running it? No, Apple Container automatically pulls the image on first use if it is not already present locally. However, running `container image pull ubuntu:latest` explicitly allows you to verify the architecture and see download progress before starting the container. ### Can I run x86-64 Ubuntu containers on Apple Silicon Macs? Yes, use the `--arch amd64` flag when running or pulling the image. For example: `container run -it --arch amd64 ubuntu:latest /bin/bash`. The system handles the architecture translation within the lightweight VM as described in [`docs/technical-overview.md`](https://github.com/apple/container/blob/main/docs/technical-overview.md). ### What does the `--init` flag do when running a container? The `--init` flag inserts an init process as PID 1 that forwards signals and reaps zombie processes, which is useful when running interactive shells or applications that require proper signal handling. Without it, your process runs directly as PID 1. ### How do I limit CPU and memory for an Ubuntu container? Pass the `--cpus` and `--memory` flags to the run command, such as `container run -it --cpus 2 --memory 4G ubuntu:latest /bin/bash`. These constraints prevent the container from oversubscribing host resources according to the limits defined in [`docs/command-reference.md`](https://github.com/apple/container/blob/main/docs/command-reference.md).