% apt-suggest-auto(1)

# NAME

apt-suggest-auto - identify packages safe to mark as automatically installed

# SYNOPSIS

**apt-suggest-auto** \[*OPTIONS*\]

# DESCRIPTION

Over time, packages installed as dependencies of manually-installed packages remain marked as manual in the APT database, preventing their autoremoval when no longer needed. **apt-suggest-auto** identifies such packages by simulating the effect of marking each one as automatically installed and checking whether it would become eligible for autoremoval. Only packages that remain required by other installed packages are suggested for reclassification. It serves as a modern replacement for debfoster(8) and deborphan(1).

By default, the tool runs in simulation mode and makes no changes to the system.

# OPTIONS

**--apply**
:   Apply the suggested changes by marking the identified packages as automatically installed. Requires root privileges.

**-r**, **--raw**
:   Output only the list of safely markable package names, one per line. Suitable for use in scripts.

**-o** *KEY=VALUE*, **--apt-option** *KEY=VALUE*
:   Set an APT configuration option. Can be used multiple times. Must be specified before cache initialization takes effect.

**-h**, **--help**
:   Show help message and exit.

# EXAMPLES

Simulate and display packages that can be safely marked as automatic:

    apt-suggest-auto

Apply the changes, marking packages as automatically installed:

    sudo apt-suggest-auto --apply

Get a plain list of markable packages for scripting:

    apt-suggest-auto --raw

# SEE ALSO

**apt-mark**(8), **apt**(8), **apt-get**(8)