How to Convert From RPM to DEB and DEB to RPM Package Using Alien??

Updated: 28 September 2026 · Applies to: Ubuntu 24.04, Debian 12, AlmaLinux 9 and Rocky Linux 9

alien converts between Linux package formats, for example .rpm to .deb. It is packaged for Ubuntu/Debian and in EPEL for AlmaLinux/Rocky.

Install

apt install alien                                   # Ubuntu / Debian
dnf install epel-release && dnf install alien      # AlmaLinux / Rocky

Convert

alien --to-deb package.rpm         # RPM to DEB (the default)
alien --to-rpm package.deb         # DEB to RPM
alien --to-deb --scripts package.rpm   # also convert install scripts

Install the result with apt install ./package.deb or dnf install ./package.rpm.

Note: Converted packages often break: dependency names differ between distributions, and install scripts are not converted unless you ask for it. First look for a native package, the vendor's own repository, a Flatpak/Snap, or build from source. Use alien only for simple packages and test the result.

Look inside a package before converting

rpm -qpl package.rpm        # files in an RPM
rpm -qpR package.rpm        # its dependencies
dpkg -c package.deb         # files in a DEB
dpkg -I package.deb         # its control information and dependencies

If the package only contains a few files (for example a binary in /usr/bin or /opt), copying those files may be simpler than converting.