---
name: "autoreconf"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "autoconf"
version: "2.73-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/autoreconf"
---

# autoreconf(1)

Update generated configuration files

## NAME

autoreconf - Update generated configuration files

## SYNOPSIS

**autoreconf** \[*OPTION*\]... \[*DIRECTORY*\]...

## DESCRIPTION

Run 'autoconf' and, when needed, 'aclocal', 'autoheader', 'automake', 'autopoint' (formerly 'gettextize'), 'libtoolize', 'intltoolize', and 'gtkdocize' to regenerate the GNU Build System files in specified DIRECTORIES and their subdirectories (defaulting to '.').

By default, it only remakes those files that are older than their sources.  If you install new versions of the GNU Build System, you can make 'autoreconf' remake all of the files by giving it the '--force' option.

### Operation modes:

- **-h**, **--help**

  print this help, then exit

- **-V**, **--version**

  print version number, then exit

- **-v**, **--verbose**

  verbosely report processing

- **-d**, **--debug**

  don't remove temporary files

- **-f**, **--force**

  consider all generated and standard files obsolete

- **-R**, **--replace-handwritten**

  replace files that \*could\* be generated but appear to have been written by hand (only config.h.in at present)

- **-i**, **--install**

  copy missing standard auxiliary files

- **--no-recursive**

  don't rebuild sub-packages

- **-s**, **--symlink**

  with **-i**, install symbolic links instead of copies

- **-x**, **--exclude**=*CMDS*

  don't run any of the commands in CMDS (comma-separated list)

- **-m**, **--make**

  when applicable, re-run ./configure && make

- **-W**, **--warnings**=*CATEGORY*

  report the warnings falling in CATEGORY (comma-separated list accepted)

### Warning categories are:

- cross

  cross compilation issues

- gnu

  GNU coding standards (default in gnu and gnits modes)

- obsolete

  obsolete features or constructions (default)

- override

  user redefinitions of Automake rules or variables

- portability

  portability issues (default in gnu and gnits modes)

- portability-recursive

  nested Make variables (default with **-Wportability**)

- extra-portability

  extra portability issues related to obscure tools

- syntax

  dubious syntactic constructs (default)

- unsupported

  unsupported or incomplete features (default)

### -W also understands:

- all

  turn on all the warnings

- none

  turn off all the warnings

- no-CATEGORY

  turn off warnings in CATEGORY

- error

  treat all enabled warnings as errors

### Library directories:

- **-B**, **--prepend-include**=*DIR*

  prepend directory DIR to search path

- **-I**, **--include**=*DIR*

  append directory DIR to search path

The environment variables AUTOCONF, ACLOCAL, AUTOHEADER, AUTOM4TE, AUTOMAKE, AUTOPOINT, GTKDOCIZE, INTLTOOLIZE, LIBTOOLIZE, M4, MAKE, and WARNINGS are honored.

## AUTHOR

Written by David J. MacKenzie and Akim Demaille.

## REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs to ⟨bug-autoconf@gnu.org⟩, or via Savannah: ⟨https://savannah.gnu.org/support/?group=autoconf⟩.

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2026 Free Software Foundation, Inc. License GPLv3+/Autoconf: GNU GPL version 3 or later \<https://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html\>, \<https://gnu.org/licenses/exceptions.html\>\
 This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.

## SEE ALSO

[**autoconf**(1)](/autoconf/1.md), [**automake**(1)](/automake/1.md), [**autoreconf**(1)](/autoreconf/1.md), [**autoupdate**(1)](/autoupdate/1.md), [**autoheader**(1)](/autoheader/1.md), [**autoscan**(1)](/autoscan/1.md), [**config.guess**(1)](/config.guess/1.md), [**config.sub**(1)](/config.sub/1.md), [**ifnames**(1)](/ifnames/1.md), [**libtool**(1)](/libtool/1.md).

The full documentation for Autoconf is maintained as a Texinfo manual. To read the manual locally, use the command

-

  **info autoconf**

You can also consult the Web version of the manual at ⟨https://gnu.org/software/autoconf/manual/⟩.