# Install mtools with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper Tools for manipulating MSDOS files. Version 4.0.49 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:mtools ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install mtools ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install mtools ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: sysutils/mtools/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add mtools ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: mtools from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install floppyd ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: floppyd from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install mtools ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: mtools from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#mtools ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/mt/mtools/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S mtools ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: mtools from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install mtools ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: mtools from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:mtools - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 4.0.49 - **Source summary:** Tools for manipulating MSDOS files - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** GPL-3.0-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T18:08:21+00:00 ## Executables - amuFormat.sh (cli) - lz (cli) - mattrib (cli) - mbadblocks (cli) - mcd (cli) - mcheck (cli) - mcomp (cli) - mcopy (cli) - mdel (cli) - mdeltree (cli) - mdir (cli) - mdoctorfat (cli) - mdu (cli) - mformat (cli) - minfo (cli) - mkmanifest (cli) - mlabel (cli) - mmd (cli) - mmount (cli) - mmove (cli) - mpartition (cli) - mrd (cli) - mren (cli) - mshortname (cli) - mshowfat (cli) - mtools (cli) - mtoolstest (cli) - mtype (cli) - mxtar (cli) - mzip (cli) - tgz (cli) - uz (cli) - amuFormat.sh (alias) - lz (alias) - mattrib (alias) - mbadblocks (alias) - mcd (alias) - mcheck (alias) - mcomp (alias) - mcopy (alias) - mdel (alias) - mdeltree (alias) - mdir (alias) - mdoctorfat (alias) - mdu (alias) - mformat (alias) - minfo (alias) - mkmanifest (alias) - mlabel (alias) - mmd (alias) - mmount (alias) - mmove (alias) - mpartition (alias) - mrd (alias) - mren (alias) - mshortname (alias) - mshowfat (alias) - mtools (alias) - mtoolstest (alias) - mtype (alias) - mxtar (alias) - mzip (alias) - tgz (alias) - uz (alias) ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, sonoma, ventura, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 4.0.49 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://www.gnu.org/software/mtools/ - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage mtools is the long-running GNU collection for accessing MS-DOS/FAT media from Unix-like systems without mounting the filesystem. The README history credits Emmet P. Gray with the original code through roughly version 2.0.7, notes Viktor Dukhovni's major input into version 2.0, and identifies Alain Knaff and David Niemi as primary maintainers after 2.0.7. The same README records March 3, 2009 as the date mtools became an official GNU package, with Gray supporting that transition. ### Project history The toolset is organized around DOS-like commands with Unix command-line ergonomics: mcopy, mdir, mdel, mformat, mlabel, mattrib, mmd, mren, and many related utilities. GNU release notes describe its scope as access to MS-DOS disks from GNU and Unix without mounting, changing FAT-specific attributes, formatting FAT media, supporting Windows-style long filenames, FAT32, OS/2 XDF disks, 2m disks, and disk image files through the -i flag. Debian describes the package similarly and lists related filesystem tools, which matches its role as a practical bridge for floppy disks, removable FAT media, and disk images. ### How it is used Its package-manager niche is durability rather than novelty. mtools persists in Homebrew, Debian, Fedora, Arch, Nix, MacPorts, and other ecosystems because scripts, retro-computing workflows, embedded build systems, virtual-machine image preparation, and recovery tasks still need direct manipulation of FAT filesystems without a kernel mount step or elevated mount policy. ### Sources - - - - - ## Security Notes narrow executable package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - narrow executable package without higher-risk signals ## Configuration and credential file locations These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval. ## Configuration files - Unix: SYSCONFDIR/mtools.conf, ~/.mtoolsrc ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** mtools - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Conflicts With:** mcat, multimarkdown - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Debian apt - floppyd - 4.0.48-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: floppyd from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Daemon for remote access to floppy drives | https://www.gnu.org/software/mtools/ - Debian apt - mtools - 4.0.48-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: mtools from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Tools for manipulating MSDOS files | https://www.gnu.org/software/mtools/ - Nix - mtools: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/mt/mtools/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - floppyd - 4.0.43-1build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: floppyd from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Daemon for remote access to floppy drives | https://www.gnu.org/software/mtools/ - Ubuntu apt - mtools - 4.0.43-1build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: mtools from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Tools for manipulating MSDOS files | https://www.gnu.org/software/mtools/ - apk - mtools - 4.0.49-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: mtools from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | collection of utilities to access MS-DOS disks from Unix without mounting them | https://www.gnu.org/software/mtools/ - apk - mtools-dbg - 4.0.49-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: mtools-dbg from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | collection of utilities to access MS-DOS disks from Unix without mounting them (debug symbols) | https://www.gnu.org/software/mtools/ - apk - mtools-doc - 4.0.49-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: mtools-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/main/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | collection of utilities to access MS-DOS disks from Unix without mounting them (documentation) | https://www.gnu.org/software/mtools/ - dnf - mtools - 4.0.49-3.fc44: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: mtools from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Programs for accessing MS-DOS disks without mounting the disks | https://www.gnu.org/software/mtools/ - pacman - mtools - 1:4.0.49-1: normalized package name match | Arch Linux sync databases: mtools from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz | A collection of utilities to access MS-DOS disks | https://www.gnu.org/software/mtools/ - zypper - mtools - 4.0.49-1.3: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: mtools from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Tools to access MS-DOS filesystems without kernel drivers | https://www.gnu.org/software/mtools/ - zypper - mtools-doc - 4.0.49-1.3: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: mtools-doc from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Documentation for mtools, a toolset for MS-DOS filesystem access | https://www.gnu.org/software/mtools/ - MacPorts - mtools: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: sysutils/mtools/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Related links - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [Homebrew utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew-utility-packages/) - Matched Homebrew package provider. - [Secret-risk packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/secret-risk-packages/) - Matched curated package taxonomy and local package facts. - [mender-artifact](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/mender-artifact/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [dosfstools](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dosfstools/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, fat, filesystem, filesystems, system. - [btfs](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/btfs/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, filesystem, filesystems, system. - [btrfs-progs](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/btrfs-progs/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, filesystem, filesystems, system. - [dwarfs](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dwarfs/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, filesystem, filesystems, system. - [dysk](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dysk/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, filesystem, filesystems, system. - [e2fsprogs](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/e2fsprogs/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, filesystem, filesystems, system. - [e2tools](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/e2tools/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, filesystem, filesystems, system. - [erdtree](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/erdtree/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, filesystem, filesystems, system. - [ddrescue](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ddrescue/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, system. - [findutils](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/findutils/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, file, file-management, filesystem, management. - [stow](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/stow/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, file, file-management, filesystem, management. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/mtools.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/mtools.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated configuration and credential file locations - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph