Inspect Package Receipts and File Lists with pkgutil

List what an installer actually put on your disk, long after the installer window closed.

macOSpkgutilcleanuppackagereceiptLow risk

Run `pkgutil --pkgs` to list installed package receipts and `pkgutil --files <bundle-id>` to see every file that package owns.

01Command

Command

$ pkgutil --pkgs && pkgutil --files com.example.somepackage

02What it does

Every .pkg installation leaves a receipt under /var/db/receipts that records exactly which files and symlinks it created. This is the only reliable way to audit or hand-clean a package that came without an uninstaller. `--pkg-info` adds the install time and location, and `--forget` removes just the receipt when the app was already dragged to the Trash.

03Risk

RiskLow risk

04Undo

Undo

$ sudo pkgutil --forget com.example.somepackage

05Sources

macOS pkgutil — query and manipulate packages
SS64 · technical · 2026-09-17
Evidence: Documents --pkgs, --files and --forget subcommands for package receipts.

Last verified: 2026-09-17 · Category: System & Settings

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