Docker on iPhone: Manage Mac Containers from Mobile (2026)
Inspect containers, tail service logs, and restart crashed services from anywhere.
Running Docker Desktop or OrbStack on your Mac is standard for modern development. When a background database crashes, a build container stalls, or you need to restart a staging service while away from your desk, Macky gives you a real terminal to run Docker CLI commands directly on your Mac from your iPhone.
Key Advantages
Native Docker CLI Speed
No need for slow web-based dashboards or unsecure third-party Docker API socket exposure. Run standard `docker` and `docker compose` commands directly.
Live Log Streaming (`tail -f`)
Watch container outputs in real time. ANSI color coding and log formatting render natively on your iPhone display.
Instant Container Health Checks
Quickly diagnose high memory or CPU usage with `docker stats` and restart offending containers with one tap.
Step-by-Step Implementation
Run Docker on Your Mac
Ensure Docker Desktop, Colima, or OrbStack is running on your Mac.
Connect via Macky on iPhone
Open Macky on iOS and tap to connect to your Mac's terminal session over secure WebRTC.
Check Container Status
View all running and exited containers across your local projects.
docker ps -a --format 'table {{.Names}} {{.Status}} {{.Ports}}'Inspect Logs and Restart Services
Follow logs in real time or trigger a clean compose restart.
docker compose restart api && docker compose logs -f --tail=50 apiQuick Command Cheatsheet
List active containers
Displays running containers with image names and status.
docker psTail container logs
Streams the last 100 log lines continuously.
docker logs -f --tail 100 <container_name>Live resource usage
Displays instantaneous CPU, memory, and network I/O usage.
docker stats --no-streamRestart entire stack
Recreates and restarts all services in detached mode.
docker compose down && docker compose up -dFrequently Asked Questions
Do I need to expose the Docker daemon port (2375) over the internet?
No. Never expose port 2375 over the internet. Macky connects directly to your Mac's native Unix shell session, which accesses the local Unix socket (`/var/run/docker.sock`) securely without network exposure.
Run Your Mac from Anywhere
Download Macky to access your full Mac terminal and desktop from your iPhone.