How to List All Installed Packages in Ubuntu Terminal

As you use your Ubuntu Linux system, you will inevitably install dozens of applications, libraries, and background utilities using the apt package manager. Over time, it becomes incredibly easy to lose track of exactly what software is actually installed on your machine. Whether you are preparing to migrate to a new server, troubleshooting a dependency conflict, or simply trying to audit your system and remove bloatware, you need a way to see a complete inventory of your software.

Fortunately, the Advanced Package Tool (APT) includes a built-in command designed specifically to dump a comprehensive list of every single package currently residing on your hard drive.

This guide explains how to list installed packages in the Ubuntu terminal.

The Basic List Command

The most modern and human-readable way to view your installed software is by using the standard apt command.

1. Open your terminal application.
2. Type the following command and press Enter:

   apt list --installed

The terminal will immediately begin printing a massive list of software. Each line represents a specific package and contains three pieces of information:

• The exact name of the package (e.g., curl)
• The specific version number currently installed (e.g., 7.81.0-1ubuntu1.14)
• The architecture it was built for (e.g., amd64)

Controlling the Output

Because a standard Ubuntu installation contains thousands of underlying system libraries, running apt list --installed will flood your screen, scrolling past the top much faster than you can read it.

To make the list actually readable, you should “pipe” the output into a pager tool like less. This allows you to scroll through the list one page at a time.

apt list --installed | less

You can now use your Up and Down arrow keys to scroll through the inventory at your own pace. When you are finished reviewing the list, simply press the Q key to quit the pager and return to your blank terminal prompt.

Searching for a Specific Package

If you do not want to read through thousands of lines of system libraries, and you just want to know if one specific piece of software is installed, you can combine the list command with the grep search tool.

For example, to quickly check if the nginx web server is currently installed on your system, you would run:

apt list --installed | grep nginx

If the software is installed, the terminal will print its name and version number. If the terminal simply returns a blank prompt with no output, it means the software is not currently installed on your system.