macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install libsecretlocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install libsecretMacPorts ports tree · gnome/libsecret/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install libsecret with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper
Library for storing/retrieving passwords and other secrets. Version 0.21.7 via Homebrew; verified 2026-05-14.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add libsecretAlpine Linux edge package indexes · libsecret · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install gir1.2-secret-1Debian stable package indexes · gir1.2-secret-1 · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install libsecretFedora Rawhide package metadata · libsecret · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#libsecretnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/li/libsecret/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S libsecretArch Linux sync databases · libsecret · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install libsecret-1-0openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · libsecret-1-0 · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
Library for storing/retrieving passwords and other secrets
Project links
Commands and aliases
- secret-tool
history
Project history and usage
libsecret is GNOME's GObject-based client library for the freedesktop.org Secret Service D-Bus API. It is the package behind many Linux desktop applications that need to store passwords, tokens, and other secrets without binding directly to a particular keyring implementation.
Project history
The freedesktop.org Secret Service specification was authored by GNOME Keyring and KWallet developers and describes collections, items, sessions, prompts, and D-Bus interfaces for desktop secret storage. libsecret implements the client side of that model for GNOME-style C, GObject Introspection, JavaScript, Python, and Vala users.
The GNOME API documentation identifies libsecret as a Secret Service D-Bus client library authored by Stef Walter, Daiki Ueno, and Niels De Graef. GitLab tag history shows the project publishing 0.1 in March 2012 and reaching the 0.20 and 0.21 series in the 2020s.
Adoption history
libsecret's adoption is tied to the move from application-specific password files toward desktop keyring services reachable over D-Bus. It gives GNOME applications, command-line helpers such as secret-tool, and language bindings a shared library interface over the Secret Service API.
How it is used
Applications define schemas and attributes, then store, look up, and delete secrets through the Secret Service. The official usage documentation shows pkg-config integration for C, imports through GObject Introspection for JavaScript and Python, and Vala package usage.
Why package nerds care
libsecret is a small but sensitive dependency: it bridges package-managed applications to session keyrings without each package carrying its own password-storage backend. It is also a common build dependency for tools that only need secret storage on desktop Linux.
Timeline
- 2008-2011: The Secret Service API copyright period covers the specification authorship window.
- 2012: libsecret 0.1 was tagged in March.
- 2020: libsecret 0.20.0 was tagged in January.
- 2023: libsecret 0.21.0 was tagged in August.
- 2025: libsecret 0.21.7 was tagged in March.
Related projects
- Related projects include GNOME Keyring, KWallet, D-Bus, GObject Introspection, freedesktop.org Secret Service, and secret-tool.
Sources
security posture
Risk level: green
library-like package without higher-risk signals.
Risk classifier
green risk · low confidence · appliance
Why
- library-like package without higher-risk signals
Signals
- metadata:library-like
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 8 platform targets.
- Installs with 3 runtime dependencies.
- Build metadata lists 7 build dependencies.
Recommended review
Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
secret-tool | cli | global executable |
freshness
Version and freshness
These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.
page generated2026-07-08
manager version0.21.7
manager updated2026-05-14
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Libsecret
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Libsecretnone confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:libsecret |
|---|---|
| Version | 0.21.7 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/libsecret |
| Homepage | https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Libsecret |
| Repository | https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/libsecret |
| Upstream docs | https://gnome.pages.gitlab.gnome.org/libsecret |
| License | LGPL-2.1-or-later |
| Source archive | https://download.gnome.org/sources/libsecret/0.21/libsecret-0.21.7.tar.xz |
| Last updated | 2026-05-14T18:00:35-04:00 |
| Pulse | updated |
| Dependencies | gettext, glib, libgcrypt |
| Build dependencies | docbook-xsl, gettext, gobject-introspection, meson, ninja, pkgconf, vala |
| Uses from macOS | expat |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, sonoma, ventura, x86_64_linux) |
| Homebrew post-install | not defined |
| Service | none declared |
registry facts
Source database details
| Source Database | Homebrew formula API |
|---|---|
| Tap | homebrew/core |
| Full Name | libsecret |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Bottle Stable Root URL | https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
| Keg Only | no |
| URL Keys |
|
source database matches
Other package-manager records
Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.
Debian apt95%
gir1.2-secret-1 0.21.7-1
Secret store (GObject-Introspection)
https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Libsecret
sudo apt install gir1.2-secret-1- Section: introspection
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: libsecret
- 3 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libsecret
Debian apt95%
libsecret-1-0 0.21.7-1
Secret store
https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Libsecret
sudo apt install libsecret-1-0- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: libsecret
- 4 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libsecret
Debian apt95%
libsecret-1-dev 0.21.7-1
Secret store (development files)
https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Libsecret
sudo apt install libsecret-1-dev- Section: libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: libsecret
- 6 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libsecret
Debian apt95%
libsecret-common 0.21.7-1
Secret store (common files)
https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Libsecret
sudo apt install libsecret-common- Section: libs
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: libsecret
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libsecret
Debian apt95%
libsecret-tools 0.21.7-1
tool for storing and retrieving GObject passwords
https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Libsecret
sudo apt install libsecret-tools- Section: admin
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: libsecret
- 3 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libsecret
Nix95%
libsecret
nix profile install nixpkgs#libsecret- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libsecret
Ubuntu apt95%
gir1.2-secret-1 0.21.4-1build3
Secret store (GObject-Introspection)
https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Libsecret
sudo apt install gir1.2-secret-1- Section: introspection
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: libsecret
- 3 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libsecret
Ubuntu apt95%
libsecret-1-0 0.21.4-1build3
Secret store
https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Libsecret
sudo apt install libsecret-1-0- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: libsecret
- 4 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libsecret
Ubuntu apt95%
libsecret-1-dev 0.21.4-1build3
Secret store (development files)
https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Libsecret
sudo apt install libsecret-1-dev- Section: universe/libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: libsecret
- 4 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libsecret
Ubuntu apt95%
libsecret-common 0.21.4-1build3
Secret store (common files)
https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Libsecret
sudo apt install libsecret-common- Section: libs
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: libsecret
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libsecret
Ubuntu apt95%
libsecret-tools 0.21.4-1build3
tool for storing and retrieving GObject passwords
https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/Libsecret
sudo apt install libsecret-tools- Section: universe/admin
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: libsecret
- 3 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libsecret
apk95%
libsecret 0.21.7-r0
Library for storing and retrieving passwords and other secrets
https://gnome.pages.gitlab.gnome.org/libsecret
sudo apk add libsecret- License: LGPL-2.1-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: libsecret
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libsecret
apk95%
libsecret-dev 0.21.7-r0
Library for storing and retrieving passwords and other secrets (development files)
https://gnome.pages.gitlab.gnome.org/libsecret
sudo apk add libsecret-dev- License: LGPL-2.1-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: libsecret
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libsecret
apk95%
libsecret-doc 0.21.7-r0
Library for storing and retrieving passwords and other secrets (documentation)
https://gnome.pages.gitlab.gnome.org/libsecret
sudo apk add libsecret-doc- License: LGPL-2.1-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: libsecret
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libsecret
apk95%
libsecret-lang 0.21.7-r0
Languages for package libsecret
https://gnome.pages.gitlab.gnome.org/libsecret
sudo apk add libsecret-lang- License: LGPL-2.1-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: libsecret
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libsecret
apk95%
libsecret-static 0.21.7-r0
Library for storing and retrieving passwords and other secrets (static library)
https://gnome.pages.gitlab.gnome.org/libsecret
sudo apk add libsecret-static- License: LGPL-2.1-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: libsecret
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libsecret
source trail
Generated from repository data
This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.
Combined YAML source
View the package source record on GitHub.
Used sources
- Geiger risk classifier
- Nucleus package database
- av.db category and tag curation
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment