[2025-latest] Container crashes on macOS 26 (Tahoe)

[wiruzman]

macOS 26 (Tahoe) is stable live, but mssql 2025 docker image does fail to start with following log output:

SQL Server 2025 will run as non-root by default.
This container is running as user mssql.
To learn more visit https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2099216.
assertion failed [x86_avx_state_ptr->xsave_header.xfeatures == kSupportedXFeatureBits]: 
(ThreadContextSignals.cpp:414 rt_sigreturn)

The container started with following command: docker run -e 'ACCEPT_EULA=Y' -e 'SA_PASSWORD=Str0ng!Passw0rd' -p 1433:1433 --platform linux/amd64 mcr.microsoft.com/mssql/server:2025-latest

OS: macOS 26 Docker Desktop version: 4.44.3 with rosetta and Apple virtualization

Workaround: mssql 2022 still works.

[osbeorn]

I get the same error, which I reported here.

[wiruzman]

I get the same error, which I reported here.

@osbeorn I know, but the issue had a different symptom, so I thought a separate issue would be more visible.

[gregpakes]

Did anyone figure out any work arounds?

[ArnoZeelmaekers]

We're having the exact same issue. Also doesn't help that .NET Aspire 9.5 now defaults to 2025-latest causing all MacOS ARM development to break. Created a linked issue there #11736

[mattleibow]

Aspire rolled back: https://github.com/dotnet/aspire/issues/11736

But now I would like to use vectors which are 2025-only. So yeah, sad days.

[TaylorWatson]

You know what's hilarious. If you install Parallels you can get SQL Server 2025 running on a Windows Arm install.

So let's review the scoreboard.

• 4 trillion dollar company who creates their own Arm64 laptops custom built for their own Arm64 OS ❌
• 800 employee private german company developing for a competitor OS ✅

We're angry because we care. Please do not force our hands to move away from MSSQL.

[wesleyteixeira]

I’m migrating from a MacBook Pro M2 to a MacBook Pro M3, and I can confirm that the problem only happens on the new machine. • On the M2, running macOS Sequoia 15.6.1, the image mcr.microsoft.com/mssql/server:2025-latest works normally • On the M3, running macOS Tahoe 26.1, the same image fails to start with the exact error reported in this issue

[aadvandenhoogenband]

Initially had the same error on M4 Tahoe 26.1 and docker version 27.5.1. Issue seems resolved after I updated docker to 28.x.

[wesleyteixeira]

Here I'm using Docker Engine: 29.0.1

[jvalkeejarvi]

I get exactly the same error as described in the issue. Using Docker 28.x on M4 Macbook Pro and MacOS 26.1.

[TaylorWatson]

Initially had the same error on M4 Tahoe 26.1 and docker version 27.5.1. Issue seems resolved after I updated docker to 28.x.

I am very curious how you have gotten around this when none of us can, are you doing something unique?

[aadvandenhoogenband]

Not sure if I'm doing something unique. I just ran the following command locally: docker run -e "ACCEPT_EULA=Y" -e "MSSQL_SA_PASSWORD=<password>" -p 1433:1433 --name sqlpreview --hostname sqlpreview --platform=linux/amd64 -d mcr.microsoft.com/mssql/server:2025-latest.

Did have to specifically add the platform, because there is no ARM based image of course. Maybe check if rosetta is enabled. Besides that I really have no clue what im doing differently.

[ZeroThe2nd]

Currently running:

• macOS 26.1
• Rosetta 2 (installed)
• OrbStack v2.0.5
• Docker version 28.5.2, build ecc6942
• mssql/server:2025-latest with creation date: 25 Oct 2025 at 2:01

The image does seem to work (with the exact command specified by @aadvandenhoogenband ). Omitting the --platform flag simply causes an error that no image for the architecture is available. So it might have been fixed with a newer Docker engine version.

While I'm happy it seems to work now, we're still not sure if this is because of the docker engine, or something else. Can someone who may still have an older version installed (maybe, please?) confirm if Docker@<28.x doesn't work?

Also, this doesn't mean we wouldn't still love to see a compatible arm64 image. Even if only for (as pointed out earlier) the sake of supporting their own platform.

[wilbert-nl]

I am using docker 29 on Mac M4, macOS 26.1, and still got the same error mentioned on https://github.com/microsoft/mssql-docker/issues/942#issue-3441374412.

I even tried the command on https://github.com/microsoft/mssql-docker/issues/942#issuecomment-3574158864. but still got the error.

[wesleyteixeira]

I wanted to add one more data point.

After reading the steps described here: https://www.nocentino.com/posts/2025-11-26-sql-server-2025-docker-desktop-avx-issue/

I installed OrbStack (latest version) on my MacBook Pro M3 running macOS 26.1 and tested the exact same 2025-latest image — and surprisingly, it works there without the AVX/xsave assertion failure.

So in my case:

Docker Desktop (Engine 28.x or 29.x) → crash
OrbStack → works normally

[juniocezar]

I wanted to add one more data point.

After reading the steps described here: https://www.nocentino.com/posts/2025-11-26-sql-server-2025-docker-desktop-avx-issue/

I installed OrbStack (latest version) on my MacBook Pro M3 running macOS 26.1 and tested the exact same 2025-latest image — and surprisingly, it works there without the AVX/xsave assertion failure.

So in my case:

Docker Desktop (Engine 28.x or 29.x) → crash OrbStack → works normally

For now, I am going with OrbStack as well. I was able to run the sqlserver image now (previously breaking with Docker Desktop and Colima)

Environment:

• macOS Tahoe 26.1

docker image ls
REPOSITORY                       TAG           IMAGE ID       CREATED       SIZE
mcr.microsoft.com/mssql/server   2025-latest   55c3fe0f8428   6 weeks ago   1.79GB

docker context ls
NAME            DESCRIPTION                               DOCKER ENDPOINT                                     ERROR
default         Current DOCKER_HOST based configuration   unix:///var/run/docker.sock                         
desktop-linux   Docker Desktop                            unix:///Users/<user>/.docker/run/docker.sock     
orbstack *      OrbStack                                  unix:///Users/<user>/.orbstack/run/docker.sock   

docker logs -f sqlserver
SQL Server 2025 will run as non-root by default.
This container is running as user mssql.
To learn more visit https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2099216.
2025-12-08 14:13:44.14 Server      Setup step is copying system data file 'C:\templatedata\master.mdf' to '/var/opt/mssql/data/master.mdf'.
2025-12-08 14:13:44.17 Server      Did not find an existing master data file /var/opt/mssql/data/master.mdf, copying the missing default master and other system database files. If you have moved the database location, but not moved the database files, startup may fail. To repair: shutdown SQL Server, move the master database to configured location, and restart.
2025-12-08 14:13:44.17 Server      Setup step is copying system data file 'C:\templatedata\mastlog.ldf' to '/var/opt/mssql/data/mastlog.ldf'.
2025-12-08 14:13:44.17 Server      Setup step is copying system data file 'C:\templatedata\model.mdf' to '/var/opt/mssql/data/model.mdf'.
2025-12-08 14:13:44.17 Server      Setup step is copying system data file 'C:\templatedata\modellog.ldf' to '/var/opt/mssql/data/modellog.ldf'.
2025-12-08 14:13:44.18 Server      Setup step is copying system data file 'C:\templatedata\msdbdata.mdf' to '/var/opt/mssql/data/msdbdata.mdf'.
2025-12-08 14:13:44.19 Server      Setup step is copying system data file 'C:\templatedata\msdblog.ldf' to '/var/opt/mssql/data/msdblog.ldf'.
2025-12-08 14:13:44.19 Server      Setup step is FORCE copying system data file 'C:\templatedata\model_replicatedmaster.mdf' to '/var/opt/mssql/data/model_replicatedmaster.mdf'.
2025-12-08 14:13:44.20 Server      Setup step is FORCE copying system data file 'C:\templatedata\model_replicatedmaster.ldf' to '/var/opt/mssql/data/model_replicatedmaster.ldf'.
2025-12-08 14:13:44.20 Server      Setup step is FORCE copying system data file 'C:\templatedata\model_msdbdata.mdf' to '/var/opt/mssql/data/model_msdbdata.mdf'.
2025-12-08 14:13:44.21 Server      Setup step is FORCE copying system data file 'C:\templatedata\model_msdblog.ldf' to '/var/opt/mssql/data/model_msdblog.ldf'.
2025-12-08 14:13:44.23 Server      Microsoft SQL Server 2025 (RTM) - 17.0.1000.7 (X64) 
	Oct 21 2025 12:05:57 
	Copyright (C) 2025 Microsoft Corporation
	Enterprise Developer Edition (64-bit) on Linux (Ubuntu 22.04.5 LTS) <X64>
2025-12-08 14:13:44.23 Server      UTC adjustment: 0:00
...

[gregpakes]

Thanks for the Orbstack recommendation - I have switched and it works great.