# phpman > man > dpkg-divert(1) *Source: tldr-pages* --- [dpkg-divert(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/dpkg-divert/1/markdown) dpkg suite [dpkg-divert(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/dpkg-divert/1/markdown) ## NAME dpkg-divert - override a package's version of a file ## SYNOPSIS **dpkg-divert** [_option_...] _command_ ## DESCRIPTION **dpkg-divert** is the utility used to set up and update the list of diversions. File _diversions_ are a way of forcing [**dpkg**(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/dpkg/1/markdown) not to install a file into its location, but to a _diverted_ location. Diversions can be used through the Debian package scripts to move a file away when it causes a conflict. System administrators can also use it to override some package's configuration file, or whenever some files (which aren't marked as “conffiles”) need to be preserved by **dpkg**, when installing a newer version of a package which contains those files. ## COMMANDS [**--add**] _file_ Add a diversion for _file_. The file is currently not renamed, see **--rename**. **--remove** _file_ Remove a diversion for _file_. The file is currently not renamed, see **--rename**. **--list** _glob-pattern_ List diversions matching _glob-pattern_. **--listpackage** _file_ Print the name of the package that diverts _file_ (since dpkg 1.15.0). Prints LOCAL if _file_ is locally diverted and nothing if _file_ is not diverted. **--truename** _file_ Print the real name for a diverted file. ## OPTIONS **--admindir** _directory_ Set the administrative directory to _directory_. Defaults to «_/var/lib/dpkg_». **--instdir** _directory_ Set the installation directory, which refers to the directory where packages get installed (since dpkg 1.19.2). Defaults to «_/_». **--root** _directory_ Set the root directory to **directory**, which sets the installation directory to «_directory_» and the administrative directory to «_directory_**/var/lib/dpkg**» (since dpkg 1.19.2). **--divert** _divert-to_ _divert-to_ is the location where the versions of _file_, as provided by other packages, will be diverted. ### --local Specifies that all packages' versions of this file are diverted. This means, that there are no exceptions, and whatever package is installed, the file is diverted. This can be used by an admin to install a locally modified version. **--package** _package_ _package_ is the name of a package whose copy of _file_ will not be diverted. i.e. _file_ will be diverted for all packages except _package_. ### --quiet Quiet mode, i.e. no verbose output. ### --rename Actually move the file aside (or back). **dpkg-divert** will abort operation in case the destination file already exists. This is the common behavior used for diversions of files from the non-**Essential** package set (see **--no-rename** for more details). ### --no-rename Specifies that the file should not be renamed while adding or removing the diversion into the database (since dpkg 1.19.1). This is intended for diversions of files from the **Essential** package set, where the temporary disappearance of the original file is not acceptable, as it can render the system non-functional. This is the default behavior, but that will change in the dpkg 1.20.x cycle. ### --test Test mode, i.e. don't actually perform any changes, just demonstrate. **-?**, **--help** Show the usage message and exit. ### --version Show the version and exit. ## EXIT STATUS **0** The requested action was successfully performed. **2** Fatal or unrecoverable error due to invalid command-line usage, or interactions with the system, such as accesses to the database, memory allocations, etc. ## ENVIRONMENT **DPKG**___**ROOT** If set and the **--instdir** or **--root** options have not been specified, it will be used as the filesystem root directory (since dpkg 1.19.2). **DPKG**___**ADMINDIR** If set and the **--admindir** or **--root** options have not been specified, it will be used as the **dpkg** data directory. **DPKG**___**MAINTSCRIPT**___**PACKAGE** If set and the **--local** and **--package** options have not been specified, **dpkg-divert** will use it as the package name. **DPKG**___**COLORS** Sets the color mode (since dpkg 1.18.5). The currently accepted values are: **auto** (default), **always** and **never**. ## FILES _/var/lib/dpkg/diversions_ File which contains the current list of diversions of the system. It is located in the **dpkg** administration directory, along with other files important to **dpkg**, such as _status_ or _available_. **Note:** **dpkg-divert** preserves the old copy of this file, with extension _-old_, before replacing it with the new one. ## NOTES When adding, default is **--local** and **--divert** _original_**.distrib**. When removing, **--package** or **--local** and **--divert** must match if specified. Directories can't be diverted with **dpkg-divert**. Care should be taken when diverting shared libraries, [**ldconfig**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/ldconfig/8/markdown) creates a symbolic link based on the DT_SONAME field embedded in the library. Because **ldconfig** doesn't honour diverts (only **dpkg** does), the symlink may end up pointing at the diverted library, if a diverted library has the same SONAME as the undiverted one. ## EXAMPLES To divert all copies of a _/usr/bin/example_ to _/usr/bin/example.foo_, i.e. directs all packages providing _/usr/bin/example_ to install it as _/usr/bin/example.foo_, performing the rename if required: dpkg-divert --divert /usr/bin/example.foo --rename /usr/bin/example To remove that diversion: dpkg-divert --rename --remove /usr/bin/example To divert any package trying to install _/usr/bin/example_ to _/usr/bin/example.foo_, except your own _wibble_ package: dpkg-divert --package wibble --divert /usr/bin/example.foo \ --rename /usr/bin/example To remove that diversion: dpkg-divert --package wibble --rename --remove /usr/bin/example ## SEE ALSO [**dpkg**(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/dpkg/1/markdown). 1.21.1 2025-09-09 [dpkg-divert(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/dpkg-divert/1/markdown)