---
name: "opensc-tool"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "opensc"
version: "0.27.1-2"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/opensc-tool"
---

# opensc-tool(1)

generic smart card utility

## NAME

opensc-tool - generic smart card utility

## SYNOPSIS

**opensc-tool** \[*OPTIONS*\]

## DESCRIPTION

The **opensc-tool** utility can be used from the command line to perform miscellaneous smart card operations such as getting the card ATR or sending arbitrary APDU commands to a card.

## OPTIONS

- **--version**

  Print the OpenSC package release version.

- **--atr**, **-a**

  Print the Answer To Reset (ATR) of the card. Output is in hex byte format

- **--card-driver** *driver*, **-c** *driver*

  Use the given card driver. The default is to auto-detect the correct card driver. The literal value ? lists all available card drivers.

**--list-algorithms**,

Lists algorithms supported by card

- **--info**, **-i**

  Print information about OpenSC, such as version and enabled components.

- **--list-drivers**, **-D**

  List all installed card drivers.

- **--list-files**, **-f**

  Recursively list all files stored on card.

- **--list-readers**, **-l**

  List all configured readers.

- **--name**, **-n**

  Print the name of the inserted card (driver).

- **--get-conf-entry** *conf*, **-G** *conf*

  Get configuration key, format: section:name:key

- **--set-conf-entry** *conf*, **-S** *conf*

  Set configuration key, format: section:name:key:value

- **--reader** *arg*, **-r** *arg*

  Number of the reader to use. By default, the first reader with a present card is used. If *arg* is an ATR, the reader with a matching card will be chosen.

- **--reset** \[*type*\],

  Resets the card in reader. The default reset type is cold, but warm reset is also possible.

- **--send-apdu** *apdu*, **-s** *apdu*

  Sends an arbitrary APDU to the card in the format AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF.... Use this option multiple times to send more than one APDU.

  The built-in card drivers may send additional APDUs for detection and initialization. To avoid this behavior, you may additionally specify **--card-driver** default.

- **--serial**

  Print the card serial number (normally the ICCSN). Output is in hex byte format

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

  Causes **opensc-tool** to be more verbose. Specify this flag several times to enable debug output in the opensc library.

- **--wait**, **-w**

  Wait for a card to be inserted.

## SEE ALSO

[**opensc-explorer**(1)](/opensc-explorer/1.md)

## AUTHORS

**opensc-tool** was written by Juha Yrjölä \<juha.yrjola@iki.fi\>.