How to List Installed Packages on Ubuntu?

Knowing how to check the software installed on your system is essential for package management, troubleshooting, and system auditing. This article provides a quick guide on how to list all installed packages on an Ubuntu system using various command-line tools. You will learn how to use the standard apt and dpkg package managers, filter the results to find specific software, and list packages installed via modern formats like Snap and Flatpak.

Using the APT Package Manager

The Advanced Package Tool (apt) is the default and most user-friendly way to manage software on Ubuntu. You can utilize it to view your installed applications quickly.

• List all installed packages: Run the following command in your terminal to see every package installed via apt:

apt list --installed

• Search for a specific package: If you are looking for a specific piece of software, you can pipe the output into grep:

apt list --installed | grep package_name

Using the DPKG Tool

For a lower-level approach, the Debian Package Manager (dpkg) interacts directly with .deb files and provides a clean, easily readable list.

• List all packages and status: The -l (or --list) option shows all packages, their installation status, and a brief description:

dpkg -l

• Filter for truly installed packages: The standard dpkg -l command can sometimes list residual configuration files of uninstalled software. To view only successfully installed packages, combine it with grep:

dpkg -l | grep '^ii'

Listing Snap and Flatpak Packages

Modern versions of Ubuntu often use alternative package formats like Snap and Flatpak alongside traditional Debian packages. These must be queried using their respective tools.

• List installed Snap packages: Snaps are isolated software packages managed by Canonical. To view them, use:

snap list

• List installed Flatpak packages: If you use Flatpak and the Flathub repository for desktop applications, view them by running:

flatpak list