# info > DEB-WHY-REMOVED

---
type: CommandReference
command: deb-why-removed
mode: man
section: 1
source: man-pages
---

## Quick Reference
- `deb-why-removed <package>` — show the reason a package was removed from the archive
- `deb-why-removed -u <URL> <package>` — specify a custom archive removals URL
- `deb-why-removed --no-refresh <package>` — use cached removals file without refreshing

## Name
`deb-why-removed` — shows the reason a package was removed from the archive

## Synopsis
`deb-why-removed [option...] package...`

## Description
This program downloads the removals metadata from the archive, searches and prints the entries for a source or binary package name match.

## Options
- `-u, --url URL` — URL to the archive removals deb822-formatted file list. Can be a URL (`https://`, `http://`, `file://`), a pathname, or an origin name. Currently the only origin name known is `debian`.
- `--no-refresh` — do not refresh the cached removals file even if a newer version is available in the archive.
- `-h, -?, --help` — show a help message and exit.
- `--version` — show the program version.

## Files
- `cachedir/devscripts/deb-why-removed/` — directory containing cached removal files downloaded from the archive. `cachedir` is `$XDG_CACHE_HOME` or `$HOME/.cache/` if not defined.

## See Also
- [https://ftp-master.debian.org/#removed](https://ftp-master.debian.org/#removed)