---
name: "git-annex-findkeys"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "git-annex"
version: "10.20261026-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/git-annex-findkeys"
---

# git-annex-findkeys(1)

lists available keys

## NAME

git-annex-findkeys - lists available keys

## SYNOPSIS

git annex findkeys

## DESCRIPTION

Outputs a list of keys known to git-annex.

## OPTIONS

- matching options

  -

  The [git-annex-matching-options(1)](/git-annex-matching-options/1.md) can be used to specify which keys to list.

-

  By default, the findkeys command only lists keys whose content is currently present. Specifying any of the matching options will override this default behavior and match on all keys that git-annex knows about.

-

  To list all keys, present or not, specify **--anything**.

-

  To list keys whose content is not present, specify **--not --in=here**

-

  - **--print0**

  Output keys terminated with nulls, for use with **xargs -0**

-

  - **--format=value**

  Use custom output formatting.

-

  The value is a format string, in which '${var}' is expanded to the value of a variable. To right-justify a variable with whitespace, use '${var;width}' ; to left-justify a variable, use '${var;-width}'; to escape unusual characters (including control characters) in a variable, use '${escaped\_var}'

-

  These variables are available for use in formats: key, backend, bytesize, humansize, keyname, hashdirlower, hashdirmixed, mtime (for the mtime field of a WORM key).

-

  Also, '\\n' is a newline, '\\000' is a NULL, etc.

-

  The default output format is the same as **--format='${escapedkey}\\n'** except when outputting to a terminal, control characters will be escaped.

-

  - **--json**

  Output the list of keys in JSON format.

-

  This is intended to be parsed by programs that use git-annex. Each line of output is a JSON object.

-

  - **--json-error-messages**

  Messages that would normally be output to standard error are included in the JSON instead.

-

  - Also the [git-annex-common-options(1)](/git-annex-common-options/1.md) can be used.

  ## SEE ALSO

[git-annex(1)](/git-annex/1.md)

[git-annex-find(1)](/git-annex-find/1.md)

## AUTHOR

Joey Hess \<id@joeyh.name\>