---
name: "etc-update"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "etc-update"
version: "3.0.69.1-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/etc-update"
---

# etc-update(1)

handle configuration file updates

## NAME

etc-update - handle configuration file updates

## SYNOPSIS

**etc-update** \[*options*\] \[*--automode \<mode\>*\] \[*paths to scan*\]

## DESCRIPTION

*etc-update* is supposed to be run after merging a new package to see if there are updates to the configuration files.  If a new configuration file will override an old one, *etc-update* will prompt the user for a decision.

*etc-update* will check all directories specified on the command line.  If no paths are given, then the *CONFIG\_PROTECT* variable will be used.  All config files found in *CONFIG\_PROTECT\_MASK* will automatically be updated for you by *etc-update*. See [**make.conf**(5)](/make.conf/5.md) for more information.

*etc-update* respects the normal *PORTAGE\_CONFIGROOT* and *EROOT* variables for finding the aforementioned config protect variables.

## OPTIONS

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

  Run with shell tracing enabled.

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

  Surprisingly, show the help output.

- **-p**, **--preen**

  Automerge trivial changes only and quit.

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

  Show settings and important decision info while running.

- **--automode \<mode\>**

  Select one of the automatic merge modes.  Valid modes are: -3 -5 -7 -9. See the *--help* text for more details.

## REPORTING BUGS

Please report bugs via https://bugs.gentoo.org/

## AUTHORS

```
Jochem Kossen and Leo Lipelis
Karl Trygve Kalleberg <karltk@gentoo.org>
Mike Frysinger <vapier@gentoo.org>
```

## FILES

- **/etc/etc-update.conf**

  Configuration settings for *etc-update* are stored here.

## SEE ALSO

**dispatch-conf**(1), [**make.conf**(5)](/make.conf/5.md)