[SOLVED] linux firmware - packages needed

MAYBL8 · 2026-09-15 13:01:53

I hope this question hasn't been asked yet. I did a search and didn't find an answer.
I was wondering is there a way to query the hardware on my system to find out which of the linux firmware packages I need and the ones I can uninstall. I would like to not have to update firmware packages I don't need.
This is the list I see updating. I'm sure I don't need all of these.

( 4/19) upgrading linux-firmware-whence                               [--------------------------------------] 100%
( 5/19) upgrading linux-firmware-amd                                  [--------------------------------------] 100%
( 6/19) upgrading linux-firmware-amdgpu                               [--------------------------------------] 100%
( 7/19) upgrading linux-firmware-atheros                              [--------------------------------------] 100%
( 8/19) upgrading linux-firmware-broadcom                             [--------------------------------------] 100%
( 9/19) upgrading linux-firmware-cirrus                               [--------------------------------------] 100%
(10/19) upgrading linux-firmware-intel                                [--------------------------------------] 100%
(11/19) upgrading linux-firmware-mediatek                             [--------------------------------------] 100%
(12/19) upgrading linux-firmware-nvidia                               [--------------------------------------] 100%
(13/19) upgrading linux-firmware-other                                [--------------------------------------] 100%
(14/19) upgrading linux-firmware-radeon                               [--------------------------------------] 100%
(15/19) upgrading linux-firmware-realtek                              [--------------------------------------] 100%
(16/19) upgrading linux-firmware-ti                                   [--------------------------------------] 100%
(17/19) upgrading linux-firmware                                      [--------------------------------------] 100%
(18/19) upgrading linux-firmware-marvell                              [--------------------------------------] 100%

Maybe someone has created this already.
Thanks
Dan

Last edited by MAYBL8 (2026-09-15 14:57:24)

cryptearth · 2026-09-15 13:13:36

inxi comes to my mind, lshw as well, or simple lspci and lsusb
but aside from: who's the vendor of my wifi chip? most should be easy: cpu, gpu, and some common
so:
amd vs intel for cpu
amd vs intel vs nvidia for gpu
atheros, broadcom, intel, realtek for wifi
i'd say cirrus, ti, radeon, marvel and other are pretty much safe to remove with the rest depend on your system

mithrial · 2026-09-15 13:27:24

There is this script that might detect currently loaded modules: https://codeberg.org/GerBra/detect_firmware

You could remove the others. If you don't know which ones you need, you could remove all of them and test if they are necessary. (amd and nvidia are the easiest)

Docbroke · 2026-09-15 13:58:24

This can detect loaded firmware.
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Linux_ … d_firmware

It needs adding a line in kernel parameter and after boot checking the journal.

MAYBL8 · 2026-09-15 14:56:43

Thanks these are the tools I was looking for.
I now have only the linux-firmware-xxx that I need.
From running the script I found I first needed to remove the linux-firmware package since it loads all the firmware packages. Then use the info provided in the script to load only the packages needed.
Thanks to everyone for the help.
I will make this solved.

GerBra · 2026-09-15 15:15:06

MAYBL8 wrote:

Then use the info provided in the script to load only the packages needed.

You should check your boot journal afterwards, grepping ex. for "firmware", to notice any potentially problems.
Also keep in mind: When sometimes using any hardware that needs firmware(packages) too this may be missed - cause you uninstalled some of them.

You could run my script again then, of course. Or think NOW if you have any hardware you use often on this device and check again with this hardware enabled. Ex. things like bluetooth/usb devices, cameras,...

Arch Linux

#1 2026-09-15 13:01:53

[SOLVED] linux firmware - packages needed

#2 2026-09-15 13:13:36

Re: [SOLVED] linux firmware - packages needed

#3 2026-09-15 13:27:24

Re: [SOLVED] linux firmware - packages needed

#4 2026-09-15 13:58:24

Re: [SOLVED] linux firmware - packages needed

#5 2026-09-15 14:56:43

Re: [SOLVED] linux firmware - packages needed

#6 2026-09-15 15:15:06

Re: [SOLVED] linux firmware - packages needed

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