---
name: "deb-postinst"
section: "5"
platform: "linux"
package: "dpkg"
version: "1.23.11-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/deb-postinst"
---

# deb-postinst(5)

package post-installation maintainer script

## NAME

deb-postinst - package post-installation maintainer script

## SYNOPSIS

**DEBIAN/postinst**

## DESCRIPTION

A package can perform several post-installation actions via maintainer scripts, by including an executable *postinst* file in its control archive (i.e. *DEBIAN/postinst* during package creation).

The script can be called in the following ways:

- *postinst* **configure** *old-version*

  After the package was installed.

- *postinst* **triggered** "*trigger-name...*"

  After the package was triggered. The list of space-separated *trigger-name*s is passed as the second argument.

- *old-postinst* **abort-upgrade** *new-version*

  If *prerm* fails during **upgrade** or fails on **failed-upgrade**.

- *old-postinst* **abort-remove**

  If *prerm* fails during **remove**.

- *postinst* **abort-deconfigure** **in-favour** *new-package* *new-version*

  - \[ **removing** *old-package* *old-version* \]

  If *prerm* fails during **deconfigure in-favour** of a package.

- *postinst* **abort-remove** **in-favour** *new-package* *new-version*

  If *prerm* fails during **remove in-favour** for replacement due to conflict.

## SEE ALSO

[**dpkg**(1)](/dpkg/1.md).