How to identify and remove orphaned config files of uninstalled Software?
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Programs often store config files in the home directory usually in a hidden directory, often but not limited to sub-directories of ~/.config, ~/.local or ~/.gnome
After uninstalling the programs, the config-files are still kept (which usually is preferred).
Currently I look through the hidden directories of home from time to time, try to guess where the directories belong to, and delete them, if I'm not using the program anymore. But this is time-consuming and difficult/error-prone, because sometimes it's hard to guess, which program a directory belongs to. I wonder if there is tool or method that could help me here. (Similar to Bleachbit or CCleaner on Win, but afaik they don't have this functionality).
**Is there an easy way to identify and remove orphaned config-directories of uninstalled software?**
**Edit:** I'm using Arch and Ubuntu, but solutions for other distros would be interesting, too. The solution doesn't need to be a user friendly GUI-application (would be nice, though), a CLI command or script would work for me, too.
Asked by dynobo
(121 rep)
Dec 17, 2017, 10:37 AM
Last activity: Jun 5, 2025, 07:07 PM
Last activity: Jun 5, 2025, 07:07 PM