Can I purge configuration files after I've removed the package?

Question

I was doing a package removal with apt-get remove but then realized I should have done a --purge along with it to remove the configuration files.

Can I remove the packages configuration files easily or do I need to reinstall the package and then remove with a --purge?

score 77 · Answer 1 · edited Jun 13 '24 at 13:20

77

Here is a simple command that will meet your request:

dpkg --purge $(dpkg --get-selections | grep deinstall | cut -f1)

Explanation:

dpkg --purge: remove package if present and remove config files
dpkg --get-selections: Get list of package selections and write it to stdout
grep deinstall: limit to packages that have been removed but config kept
cut -f1: only show first column (package name)

You can simulate the command by adding the --dry-run flag before the purge action:

dpkg --dry-run --purge $(dpkg --get-selections | grep deinstall | cut -f1)

edited Jun 13 '24 at 13:20

GammaGames

402

answered Apr 09 '13 at 04:56

firo

1,938

13

You should explain what exactly that command does. Somehow it removed mysql from a server I ran it on. – Sumit May 24 '19 at 19:14
1

Better restrict the pattern to the end of the line to avoid matches with package names that contain (however unlikely) "deinstall": ... grep 'deinstall$' .... – Murphy Jul 16 '24 at 10:06

score 60 · Accepted Answer · edited Mar 11 '17 at 19:00

60

Yes you can.

From the command line:

sudo apt-get remove --purge packagename

This will remove all of the remaining files that the package installed.

You can also do this from a GUI:

Install Synaptic from the Software Center
Run Synaptic
Find packages listed under "Not Installed (residual config)"
Right click the package and click, mark for complete removal
Click the check button on the tool bar and click apply when the dialogue pops up.

edited Mar 11 '17 at 19:00

Community

1

answered Feb 14 '12 at 14:33

RolandiXor

51,957

7

Under apt 1.0.9.2ubuntu2 apt-get remove --purge hasn't removed configuration files or databases if issued after the package was removed, indicating that Package xxxx is not installed, so not removed. dpkg --purge was needed for correct cleanup. – h7r Feb 18 '15 at 19:09
My old php config files were not purged using this method. – Loenix May 14 '21 at 07:19
@Loenix any files you've added to the folder or, any files within ~/.config will NOT be removed. – RolandiXor May 15 '21 at 19:34
Similarly, in more recent Apt 2.6.1: sudo apt purge <pkg> did purge the residual config of a previously removed package. – SpinUp __ A Davis Feb 13 '24 at 16:32

Rolf · Answer 3 · 2019-02-07T23:56:51.880

14

You can purge all previously uninstalled packages with aptitude:

aptitude purge ?config-files

You can also purge individual packages but then you would also have to purge the dependencies one by one. It is not practical.

edited Feb 07 '19 at 23:56

answered Feb 07 '19 at 23:47

Rolf

2,241

My old php config files were not purged using this method. – Loenix May 14 '21 at 07:18

score 7 · Answer 4 · answered Oct 28 '22 at 17:47

7

Or on newer systems:

apt purge ?config-files

answered Oct 28 '22 at 17:47

lumag

131
1
2

score 1 · Answer 5 · answered Mar 13 '21 at 13:37

1

Purge do not remove configuration file atleast in my case it was not able to remove configuration file.

To remove configuration file:

Get list of all configuration directory.

    cd ~/.config
    ls

Remove the directories containing configuration for packagename

    rm -rf packagename

answered Mar 13 '21 at 13:37

R Kumar

181

Finally, this was the only solution working to remove my old php configuration files... – Loenix May 14 '21 at 07:19

Can I purge configuration files after I've removed the package?

5 Answers5