# Disable the pager for apt search

DevFeed: [Disable the pager for apt search](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/disable-the-pager-for-apt-search-27741.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://gagor.pro/2026/01/disable-the-pager-for-apt-search/>)

Author: Tom

Published: 2026-01-19T00:00:00Z

Content type: tutorial

Language: en

Sources: [Tomasz Gągor](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/tomasz-gagor.md>)

Topics: [apt](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/apt.md>), [Debian](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/debian.md>), [configuration](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/configuration.md>), [systems](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/systems.md>)

Tags: [apt](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/apt.md>), [apt-cache](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/apt-cache.md>), [bash](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/bash.md>), [command-line](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/command-line.md>), [configuration](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/configuration.md>), [debian](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/debian.md>), [how-to](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/how-to.md>), [less](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/less.md>), [linux](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/linux.md>), [pager](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/pager.md>), [terminal](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/terminal.md>), [ubuntu](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ubuntu.md>)

## AI overview

This tutorial explains how to disable the pager used for apt search results on Debian-based systems. It compares older search commands and an environment-variable setting, then recommends a permanent configuration-file change that keeps colorized output.

## Source excerpt

Learn how to disable the annoying pager for apt search results on Debian-based systems, and find the best permanent solution.