---
name: "deb-postrm"
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-postrm"
---

# deb-postrm(5)

package post-removal maintainer script

## NAME

deb-postrm - package post-removal maintainer script

## SYNOPSIS

**DEBIAN/postrm**

## DESCRIPTION

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

The script can be called in the following ways:

- *postrm* **remove**

  After the package was removed.

- *postrm* **purge**

  After the package was purged.

- *old-postrm* **upgrade** *new-version*

  After the package was upgraded.

- *new-postrm* **failed-upgrade** *old-version* *new-version*

  If the above **upgrade** call fails.

  Support for *new-version* since dpkg 1.18.5.

- *postrm* **disappear** *overwriter-package* *overwriter-version*

  After all of the packages files have been replaced.

- *new-postrm* **abort-install**

  If *preinst* fails during **install**.

- *new-postrm* **abort-install** *old-version* *new-version*

  If *preinst* fails during **install** for an upgrade of a removed package.

  Support for *new-version* since dpkg 1.18.5.

- *new-postrm* **abort-upgrade** *old-version* *new-version*

  If *preinst* fails during **upgrade**.

  Support for *new-version* since dpkg 1.18.5.

## SEE ALSO

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