---
name: "kextstat"
section: "8"
platform: "macos"
package: "kext_tools"
version: "779"
release: "macOS 26.5"
platforms: ["macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/kextstat"
---

# kextstat(8)

display status of loaded kernel extensions (kexts)

## NAME

**kextstat** – display status of loaded kernel extensions (kexts)

## SYNOPSIS

**kextstat** \[**-a**\] \[**-h**\] \[**-k**\] \[**-l**\] \[**-b** *identifier*\] ...

## DEPRECATED

The **kextstat** utility has been deprecated. Please use the kmutil(8) equivalent: kmutil showloaded.

## DESCRIPTION

The **kextstat** utility displays the status of any kexts currently loaded in the kernel. The following information is shown for each loaded kext:

- Index

  The load index of the kext (used to track linkage references). Gaps in the list indicate kexts that have been unloaded.

- Refs

  The number of references to this kext by others. If nonzero, the kext cannot be unloaded.

- Address

  The address in kernel space where the kext has been loaded.

- Size

  The number of bytes of kernel memory that the kext occupies. If this is zero, the kext is a built-in part of the kernel that has a record as a kext for resolving dependencies among kexts.

- Wired

  The number of wired bytes of kernel memory that the kext occupies.

- Architecture (if the -a option is used)

  The architecture of the kext.

- Name

  The CFBundleIdentifier of the kext.

- (Version)

  The CFBundleVersion of the kext.

- \<Linked Against\>

  The index numbers of all other kexts that this kext has a reference to.

## OPTIONS

These options are available:

- **-a**, **-arch**

  Print the architecture of the kext.

- **-b** *identifier*, **-bundle-id** *identifier*

  Display the status of only the kext with the given bundle identifier. This option trumps the **-no-kernel** option; if both are given and a kernel component is specified, its information is shown.

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

  Print a help message describing each option flag and exit with a success result, regardless of any other options on the command line.

- **-k**, **-no-kernel**

  Don't show information for built-in components of the kernel.

- **-l**, **-list-only**

  Print the list of loaded kexts only and omit the header (useful for running output through text-analysis tools).

- **-s**, **-sort**

  Sort the list by load address.

## DIAGNOSTICS

The **kextstat** utility exits with a status of 0 on success and with a nonzero status if an error occurs.

## SEE ALSO

kmutil(8), kernelmanagerd(8), [kextcache(8)](/kextcache/8.md), [kextd(8)](/kextd/8.md), [kextload(8)](/kextload/8.md), [kextunload(8)](/kextunload/8.md), [kextutil(8)](/kextutil/8.md)