DNF Package Manager Quick Reference
Peter Boy (pboy), The Fedora Docs Team
Version F37 onwards
Last review: 2023-08-29
This sections lists the most useful commands provided by the dnf utility. For a complete list of commands, options, and their syntax, see the dnf(8) man page.
- dnf help command
-
Displays detailed information about a command.
$ dnf help upgrade upgrade [PACKAGE...] upgrade a package or packages on your system alias: update
- dnf upgrade
-
Upgrades all packages on the system to the latest version available.
# dnf upgrade Last metadata expiration check: 1:09:32 ago on Thu Dec 14 09:20:48 2017. Dependencies resolved. Nothing to do. Complete!
- dnf upgrade package_name
-
Upgrades a package to the latest version available.
# dnf upgrade dia Last metadata expiration check: 1:11:26 ago on Thu Dec 14 09:20:48 2017. Dependencies resolved. Nothing to do. Complete!
- dnf install package_name
-
Installs a package.
# dnf install dia Last metadata expiration check: 1:07:19 ago on Thu Dec 14 09:20:48 2017. Dependencies resolved. ============================================================================= Package Arch Version Repository Size ============================================================================= Installing: dia x86_64 1:0.97.3-5.fc24 fedora 4.2 M libart_lgpl x86_64 2.3.21-15.fc25 fedora 71 k Transaction Summary ============================================================================= Install 2 Packages Total download size: 4.2 M Installed size: 18 M Is this ok [y/N]: y [... output truncated ...] Installed: dia.x86_64 1:0.97.3-5.fc24 libart_lgpl.x86_64 2.3.21-15.fc25 Complete!
- dnf remove package_name
-
Uninstalls a package.
# dnf remove dia Dependencies resolved. ============================================================================= Package Arch Version Repository Size ============================================================================= Removing: dia x86_64 1:0.97.3-5.fc24 @fedora 18 M libart_lgpl x86_64 2.3.21-15.fc25 @fedora 126 k Transaction Summary ============================================================================= Remove 2 Packages Installed size: 18 M Is this ok [y/N]: y [... output truncated ...] Removed: dia.x86_64 1:0.97.3-5.fc24 libart_lgpl.x86_64 2.3.21-15.fc25 Complete!
- dnf check-update
-
Checks if any updates are available for all packages in the enabled repositories.
389-ds-base.x86_64 1.3.7.5-11.el7 @updates 389-ds-base-libs.x86_64 1.3.7.5-11.el7 @updates NetworkManager.x86_64 1:1.10.2-3.el7 @updates NetworkManager-config-server.noarch 1:1.10.2-3.el7 @updates [... output truncated ...]
- dnf search keyword
-
Search package metadata in the enabled repositories for the specified keyword. By default, the commands searches only in package names and summaries.
# dnf search freeipa Last metadata expiration check: 1:12:31 ago on Thu Dec 14 09:20:48 2017. ======================================================================== freeipa-client.x86_64 : IPA authentication for use on clients freeipa-common.noarch : Common files used by IPA freeipa-server.x86_64 : The IPA authentication server freeipa-server-dns.noarch : IPA integrated DNS server with support for automatic DNSSEC signing freeipa-client-common.noarch : Common files used by IPA client freeipa-python-compat.noarch : Compatiblity package for Python libraries used by IPA freeipa-server-common.noarch : Common files used by IPA server freeipa-server-trust-ad.x86_64 : Virtual package to install packages required for Active Directory trusts libsss_idmap.x86_64 : FreeIPA Idmap library [... output truncated ...]
- dnf info package_name
-
Shows details for a package.
[root@localhost ~]# dnf info freeipa-server Last metadata expiration check: 1:13:14 ago on Thu Dec 14 09:20:48 2017. Available Packages Name : freeipa-server Arch : x86_64 Epoch : 0 Version : 4.4.4 Release : 1.fc25 Size : 380 k Repo : updates Summary : The IPA authentication server URL : https://www.freeipa.org/ License : GPLv3+ Description : IPA is an integrated solution to provide centrally managed Identity (users, : hosts, services), Authentication (SSO, 2FA), and Authorization : (host access control, SELinux user roles, services). The solution provides : features for further integration with Linux based clients (SUDO, automount) : and integration with Active Directory based infrastructures (Trusts). : If you are installing an IPA server, you need to install this package. - dnf provides command_or_file
-
Shows which package provides the specified command or file.
To specify a command:
# dnf provides */ipa-server-install Last metadata expiration check: 1:14:12 ago on Thu Dec 14 09:20:48 2017. freeipa-server-4.4.1-1.fc25.x86_64 : The IPA authentication server Repo : fedora freeipa-server-4.4.4-1.fc25.x86_64 : The IPA authentication server Repo : updates
To specify a file:
# dnf provides /etc/sssd/sssd.conf Last metadata expiration check: 1:14:58 ago on Thu Dec 14 09:20:48 2017. sssd-common-1.16.0-4.fc25.x86_64 : Common files for the SSSD Repo : @System sssd-common-1.16.0-4.fc25.x86_64 : Common files for the SSSD Repo : updates sssd-common-1.14.2-1.fc25.i686 : Common files for the SSSD Repo : fedora sssd-common-1.14.2-1.fc25.x86_64 : Common files for the SSSD Repo : fedora
- dnf history
-
Displays a report of the past transactions.
# dnf history ID | Command line | Date and time | Action(s) | Altered ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9 | update -y | 2017-10-17 12:35 | I, U | 17 EE 8 | install midori | 2017-10-13 10:44 | Install | 3 > 7 | update -y | 2017-10-12 15:59 | Update | 7 6 | install keepass | 2017-10-11 13:40 | Install | 13 < 5 | install thunderbird | 2017-10-10 16:33 | Install | 1 > 4 | install sssd krb5-workst | 2017-10-10 15:30 | Install | 3 > 3 | install xchat | 2017-10-10 15:19 | Install | 4 2 | update | 2017-10-10 13:44 | I, O, U | 752 EE 1 | | 2017-10-10 13:34 | Install | 1373 EE - dnf list installed
-
Lists all packages installed on the system.
# dnf list installed Last metadata expiration check: 1:17:33 ago on Thu Dec 14 09:20:48 2017. Installed Packages GConf2.x86_64 3.2.6-16.fc24 @anaconda GeoIP.x86_64 1.6.11-1.fc25 @updates GeoIP-GeoLite-data.noarch 2017.10-1.fc25 @updates ImageMagick.x86_64 6.9.9.19-1.fc25 @updates ImageMagick-libs.x86_64 6.9.9.19-1.fc25 @updates LibRaw.x86_64 0.17.2-2.fc25 @updates ModemManager.x86_64 1.6.4-1.fc25 @updates ModemManager-glib.x86_64 1.6.4-1.fc25 @updates NetworkManager.x86_64 1:1.4.6-1.fc25 @updates [... output truncated ...]
Want to help? Learn how to contribute to Fedora Docs ›