Extract .deb Packages Online
Open a Debian or Ubuntu .deb package and browse the files it would put on a system, without installing it and without a Linux machine.
How to extract a DEB package without installing it
- Drop the
.debfile onto the box above, or click to choose it. - Browse the tree. It mirrors the target system:
usr/bin,usr/share,etcand so on. - Preview configuration files and docs in place, or download the files you want.
What you see when you open a .deb
A Debian package is a small wrapper around two tarballs: one with the files to install, and one with the control information and maintainer scripts. This tool opens the first one and shows you the payload directly, laid out as it would land on the root file system.
The control part is not shown. That means no control file with the dependency list and no preinst or postinst scripts. If you need those, dpkg-deb -e package.deb on a Debian-based system extracts them.
When this is useful
The common cases: you are on Windows or macOS and need one binary, font, icon or config template out of a package; you run a distribution that does not use .deb and want the files anyway; or you want to check what a third-party package would place on your system before you hand it to apt with root rights.
Text files such as systemd units, desktop entries, man pages and default configuration open in the preview with syntax highlighting, so a quick inspection often needs no download at all.
Limits
The package payload is a compressed tarball, so reaching a file near the end of a large package means decompressing what comes before it. Extraction also does not recreate a Linux install: Unix permissions and symbolic links are not carried over into a repacked download, and nothing is registered with the package manager. The package is read in your browser and never leaves your device.
Frequently asked questions
Can I open a .deb file on Windows or macOS?
Yes. The package is unpacked in the browser, so it works on any desktop operating system without dpkg or a Linux virtual machine.
Does it show the control file and install scripts?
No. Only the payload, meaning the files that would be installed, is shown. The control archive with the package metadata and maintainer scripts is not listed.
Can I install the package from here?
No. This is an extractor. It copies files out of the package; it does not install anything or resolve dependencies.
Are file permissions and symlinks preserved?
No. Unix permissions and symbolic links are not carried over when the files are repacked for download. Treat the result as a copy of the file contents.
Is the package uploaded?
No. The file is processed on your device with WebAssembly, and the page keeps working offline once it has loaded.