Updating packages with dpkg-reconfigure
Debian's Secret Recovery Tool

The powerful dpkg-reconfigure command can be used to reconfigure an entire installation. We show how to use it wisely.
Long before the Linux desktop had a complete set of system tools, Debian and its derivatives had debconf [1], an all-purpose toolkit that the root user used to reconfigure an entire installation through the dpkg-reconfigure
command. Today, many users have never heard of it, but dpkg-reconfigure remains a powerful tool in the hands of experts.
What makes dpkg-reconfigure so powerful is that it's not just a collection of settings to select. Instead, dpkg-reconfigure changes the settings of individual packages that are registered with debconf. These settings are determined by questions in a package's installation script [2]. Each question is given a priority, and when you choose an installer and its settings, you are choosing the priority of the questions you want to answer – anything from only the highest priority, in the case of the default Ubuntu installer, to the absolute lowest priority in an expert installation. The questions that you choose not to answer are given a default answer based on the information collected about your system and what should work on most systems.
After installation, dpkg-reconfigure gives you the chance to answer some or all of the questions again in the installation script. You can configure the package as precisely as you like, which makes dpkg-reconfigure ideal for troubleshooting or updating after installing hardware.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

News
-
Linux Kernel 6.17 is Available
Linus Torvalds has announced that the latest kernel has been released with plenty of core improvements and even more hardware support.
-
Kali Linux 2025.3 Released with New Hacking Tools
If you're a Kali Linux fan, you'll be glad to know that the third release of this famous pen-testing distribution is now available with updates for key components.
-
Zorin OS 18 Beta Available for Testing
The latest release from the team behind Zorin OS is ready for public testing, and it includes plenty of improvements to make it more powerful, user-friendly, and productive.
-
Fedora Linux 43 Beta Now Available for Testing
Fedora Linux 43 Beta ships with Gnome 49 and KDE Plasma 6.4 (and other goodies).
-
USB4 Maintainer Leaves Intel
Michael Jamet, one of the primary maintainers of USB4 and Thunderbolt drivers, has left Intel, leaving a gaping hole for the Linux community to deal with.
-
Budgie 10.9.3 Now Available
The latest version of this elegant and configurable Linux desktop aligns with changes in Gnome 49.
-
KDE Linux Alpha Available for Daring Users
It's official, KDE Linux has arrived, but it's not quite ready for prime time.
-
AMD Initiates Graphics Driver Updates for Linux Kernel 6.18
This new AMD update focuses on power management, display handling, and hardware support for Radeon GPUs.
-
AerynOS Alpha Release Available
With a choice of several desktop environments, AerynOS 2025.08 is almost ready to be your next operating system.
-
AUR Repository Still Under DDoS Attack
Arch User Repository continues to be under a DDoS attack that has been going on for more than two weeks.