pkgutil MacOS command

macOS pkgutil command enables users to manage installer packages on their system seamlessly. With this command-line utility, users can easily query package receipts, verify package files, install and forget packages. The pkgutil command is valuable for troubleshooting package installation issues and managing software installations on macOS systems. By leveraging pkgutil, users can efficiently manage packages, ensuring a smooth and streamlined software installation process. Whether you need to list installed packages, extract payload contents, or remove packages, macOS pkgutil command offers a comprehensive set of functionalities. familiarizing yourself with pkgutil empowers users to effectively manage software packages on their macOS device.

pkgutil Syntax:

pkgutil [command] [options] [parameters]

Options:

Option	Description
—expand-full	Expand all flat packages
—expand	Expand a flat package
—forget	Forget a receipt
—forget-all	Forget all receipts
—forget-from	Forget receipts by package-id
—get-info	Display information about a receipt
—help	Display usage information
—dump-plist	Display the contents of a flat package as a property list
—check-signature	Check the package’s digital signature

Parameters:

Parameter	Description
[command]	The action to perform (e.g., expand, forget, get-info)
[options]	Additional options for the command
[parameters]	Specific parameters required for the command

pkgutil bash Examples:

List all installed packages

pkgutil --pkgs

Display a list of all installed packages on the system.

Display package information

pkgutil --pkg-info com.example.package

Show detailed information about a specific package with the identifier “com.example.package”.

List files in a package

pkgutil --files com.example.package

List all files installed by the package identified as “com.example.package”.

Expand package contents

pkgutil --expand /path/to/package.pkg /destination/folder

Expand the contents of a package file located at /path/to/package.pkg to the destination folder.

Verify package receipt

pkgutil --check-receipt /path/to/package.pkg

Verify the receipt of a package file located at /path/to/package.pkg to ensure it is correctly installed.

Search for a package

pkgutil --pkg-info=com.example | grep -i version

Search for a specific package by filtering the output of pkgutil using grep to find version information.

How do I list all installed packages with pkgutil in MacOS?

To list all installed packages using pkgutil command in MacOS, run the following command:

pkgutil --pkgs

How do I display information about a specific package using pkgutil in MacOS?

To display information about a specific package with pkgutil in MacOS, use the following command:

pkgutil --pkg-info com.example.package

How do I extract files from a package using pkgutil in MacOS?

To extract files from a package using pkgutil in MacOS, execute the command below:

pkgutil --files com.example.package

How do I remove a package using pkgutil in MacOS?

To remove a package with pkgutil in MacOS, use the command:

sudo pkgutil --forget com.example.package

How can I analyze a package file before installing it using pkgutil in MacOS?

To analyze a package file before installation with pkgutil in MacOS, use the following command:

pkgutil --analyze /path/to/package.pkg

How do I search for packages containing a specific keyword with pkgutil in MacOS?

You can search for packages containing a specific keyword with pkgutil in MacOS using the command:

pkgutil --pkgs=com.keyword.

How do I query the volume where a package is installed using pkgutil in MacOS?

To query the volume where a package is installed with pkgutil in MacOS, run the command:

pkgutil --volume com.example.package

How can I check for optimal usage of the disk space with pkgutil in MacOS?

To check for optimal usage of disk space with pkgutil in MacOS, you can run the following command:

pkgutil --check-space package.pkg

Applications of the pkgutil command

List installed packages:
```
pkgutil --pkgs
```
List files installed by a package:
```
pkgutil --files packageID
```
Get information about a package:
```
pkgutil --pkg-info packageID
```
Verify package receipts:
```
pkgutil --check-receipt packageID
```

Expand package files:

pkgutil --expand package.pkg output_directory