| # context use |
| |
| <!---MARKER_GEN_START--> |
| Set the default docker context |
| |
| |
| <!---MARKER_GEN_END--> |
| |
| ## Description |
| |
| The `docker context use` command sets the default context for the Docker CLI. |
| |
| The `docker context use` command sets the Docker CLI’s default context by updating |
| your CLI config (`~/.docker/config.json`). This change is persistent, affecting |
| all shells and sessions that share that config, not just the current terminal. |
| |
| For one-off commands or per-shell usage, use `--context` or the `DOCKER_CONTEXT` |
| environment variable instead. |
| |
| ## Examples |
| |
| ### Set the default (sticky) context |
| |
| This updates the CLI configuration and applies to new terminal sessions: |
| |
| ```bash |
| $ docker context use my-context |
| my-context |
| |
| $ docker context show |
| my-context |
| ``` |
| |
| ### Use a context for a single command |
| |
| Use the global `--context` flag to avoid changing the default: |
| |
| ```bash |
| $ docker --context my-context ps |
| ``` |
| |
| ### Use a context for the current shell session |
| |
| Set `DOCKER_CONTEXT` to override the configured default in the current shell: |
| |
| ```bash |
| $ export DOCKER_CONTEXT=my-context |
| $ docker context show |
| my-context |
| ``` |
| |
| To stop overriding: |
| |
| ```bash |
| $ unset DOCKER_CONTEXT |
| ``` |
| |
| ### Switch back to the default context |
| |
| ```bash |
| $ docker context use default |
| default |
| ``` |
