---
name: "deb-prerm"
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-prerm"
---

# deb-prerm(5)

package pre-removal maintainer script

## NAME

deb-prerm - package pre-removal maintainer script

## SYNOPSIS

**DEBIAN/prerm**

## DESCRIPTION

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

The script can be called in the following ways:

- *prerm* **remove**

  Before the package is removed.

- *old-prerm* **upgrade** *new-version*

  Before an upgrade.

- *new-prerm* **failed-upgrade** *old-version* *new-version*

  If the above **upgrade** fails.

  Support for *new-version* since dpkg 1.18.5.

- *prerm* **deconfigure** **in-favour** *new-package* *new-version*

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

  Before package is deconfigured while dependency is replaced due to conflict.

- *prerm* **remove** **in-favour** *new-package* *new-version*

  Before the package is replaced due to conflict.

## SEE ALSO

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