---
name: "deb-preinst"
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-preinst"
---

# deb-preinst(5)

package pre-installation maintainer script

## NAME

deb-preinst - package pre-installation maintainer script

## SYNOPSIS

**DEBIAN/preinst**

## DESCRIPTION

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

The script can be called in the following ways:

- *new-preinst* **install**

  Before the package is installed.

- *new-preinst* **install** *old-version* *new-version*

  Before a removed package is upgraded.

  Support for *new-version* since dpkg 1.18.5.

- *new-preinst* **upgrade** *old-version* *new-version*

  Before the package is upgraded.

  Support for *new-version* since dpkg 1.18.5.

- *old-preinst* **abort-upgrade** *new-version*

  If *postrm* fails during upgrade or fails on failed upgrade.

## SEE ALSO

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