Find Broken or Leftover dpkg States

A host has package trouble and you need to spot half-configured packages or removed packages with leftover config.

Command

dpkg-query -W -f='${db:Status-Abbrev}\t${Package}\n' | awk '$1 !~ /^ii$/'

Before you run this

System impact: Read-only. Low when scoped to the shown target.

When not to use it: Do not delete packages based only on this output; inspect each state and package purpose first.

Expected output

Rows such as iF app-agent or rc old-kernel-tools that need review.

System impact

Read-only. Nothing changes. The command filters dpkg status abbreviations to rows that are not clean ii installed packages.

Recovery / rollback: no state is changed.

When to use it

Use after interrupted installs, failed upgrades, or package repair sessions.

When not to use it

Do not delete packages based only on this output; inspect each state and package purpose first.

Watch this command run

Command transcript

This sanitized transcript shows the commands and output shape without exposing host details.

demo@lab:~$

$ dpkg-query -W -f='${db:Status-Abbrev}\t${Package}\n'

ii 	base-files
ii 	bash
ii 	curl
ii 	libc6
ii 	linux-image-6.8.0-60-generic
ii 	nginx
ii 	openssl
ii 	python3
ii 	zlib1g
iF 	app-agent
rc 	old-kernel-tools

$ dpkg-query -W -f='${db:Status-Abbrev}\t${Package}\n' | awk '$1 !~ /^ii$/'

iF 	app-agent
rc 	old-kernel-tools

View commands shown

These are the commands shown in the sanitized transcript.