diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 35117f1..4b9477c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ commands:
   trust PKG...      add PKG and its installed dependency closure to the statefile
   untrust PKG...    remove rows for PKG (and rows whose reason is dep:PKG)
   refresh           recompute dependency closures for every 'user' root
-  info PKG          one-line description + installed reverse dependencies (as N?)
+  info PKG          description, install reason and installed dependents (as N?)
   show PKG          full native package information (as N??)
 
 options:
@@ -80,7 +80,8 @@ Refreshing package lists... done.
 <enter> upgrade | N? what is it | N?? full info | N- exclude this run | Nx purge now | N+ trust forever
 > 2?
 su-dummy-b: dummy package su-dummy-b for skeptical-updater tests
-  required by (installed): su-dummy-a
+reason: installed as a dependency
+required by: su-dummy-a
 > 1+
 trusted su-dummy-a (+1 dependency: su-dummy-b)
 > 3-
@@ -126,7 +127,7 @@ listed prints an error, runs nothing, and the prompt comes back.
 | token | action |
 |-------|--------|
 | empty line | proceed: run the native upgrade with the current exclusions |
-| `N?` | one-line description and the installed packages that depend on it |
+| `N?` | what is it: the one-line description, `reason:` how it got installed (`explicitly installed`, `installed as a dependency`, `unknown` when the package manager cannot tell, `not installed` for a new dependency) and `required by:` the packages that depend on it, or `nothing`. That list covers installed packages only |
 | `N??` | full native info (`apt-cache show`, `pacman -Qi` + `-Si`, `dnf info`, `zypper info --requires`) |
 | `N-` | exclude from this run (toggle; `N-` again re-includes); shown with a `-` marker |
 | `Nx` | purge now, with its now-unneeded dependencies: the purge is simulated first and the prompt lists everything it removes (`Purge su-dummy-a now? This also removes: su-dummy-b [y/N]`); the answer is read from the same stdin; the rows of every removed package leave the list. `x` refuses when other installed packages depend on the target, like `pacman -Rns`; purge the dependents first (`not purged: su-dummy-b is required by: su-dummy-a - purge the dependents first`). Rows with old version `-` (new dependencies, not installed) cannot be purged |
@@ -220,7 +221,11 @@ upgrade` (Inst lines + the "kept back" block), `pacman -Qu` joined with `pacman
 `zypper --xmlout list-updates`, or on Tumbleweed (as root) the real plan
 `zypper --xmlout --no-refresh dist-upgrade --dry-run`. Reverse dependencies and dependency closures use
 `apt-cache rdepends` / the dpkg database, `pacman -Qi`, and plain `rpm` queries on
-dnf and zypper systems (see the discovery reports for why).
+dnf and zypper systems (see the discovery reports for why). The install reason `N?` shows comes
+from `apt-mark showauto` / `showmanual`, the `Install Reason` of `pacman -Qi`,
+`dnf repoquery --installed --queryformat '%{reason}'` (packages installed with plain `rpm` are
+`unknown` to dnf4, user-installed to dnf5) and the `Installed` line of `zypper info`
+(`Yes (automatically)`; libzypp's `/var/lib/zypp/AutoInstalled` when zypper is locked).
 
 ## Testing
 
@@ -250,7 +255,8 @@ in front of symlinks to the few system tools it needs. The fakes replay the real
 outputs recorded in `discovery/*.md` (data in `tests/unit/data/`), keep their state
 (holds, purged packages) under the test's temp dir and log every invocation, so the
 tests assert the exact commands issued. Covered: CLI parsing and exit codes, backend
-detection and override, root handling and the sudo re-exec, every parser, the
+detection and override, root handling and the sudo re-exec, every parser (install reasons
+included: explicitly installed, dependency, unknown and not installed on each backend), the
 statefile, the whole interactive grammar, the per-backend exclusion mechanics (apt
 hold journal incl. crash recovery and SIGTERM, pacman `--ignore`, dnf `--exclude`,
 zypper private lock file contents incl. drop-ins), the purge plans, the metadata freeze flags,
@@ -273,9 +279,12 @@ plus `su-dummy-orphan`, an unrelated automatically-installed package nothing dep
 with the distro's own repositories disabled (apt `SU_FIXTURE_OFFLINE=1`, pacman
 `FIXTURE_ISOLATE=1`, rpm `SU_FIXTURE_ISOLATE=1` after the build tools are installed),
 so the review list is exactly the three dummies and the result does not depend on
-mirror state. Then `tests/e2e/*.bats` exercise the real package manager: banner,
-list, `N?`, `N??`, `N+` and the statefile, `trust`/`untrust`/`refresh`, excluding
-`su-dummy-b` (with and without a pre-existing hold/lock/IgnorePkg/exclude on
+mirror state. `su-dummy-b` is recorded as installed as a dependency on every backend (pacman
+`--asdeps`, `apt-mark auto`, `dnf mark remove`, zypper's `AutoInstalled`) and `su-dummy-a` as
+explicitly installed (dnf needs `dnf mark install`: it records plain `rpm` installs as
+`unknown`). Then `tests/e2e/*.bats` exercise the real package manager: banner, list, `N?` (the
+reason and `required by:` of both), `N??`, `N+` and the statefile, `trust`/`untrust`/`refresh`,
+excluding `su-dummy-b` (with and without a pre-existing hold/lock/IgnorePkg/exclude on
 `su-dummy-c`, which must survive byte for byte), trusting re-including an excluded
 dependency, full upgrade, `Nx` (refused for su-dummy-b, which su-dummy-a needs; su-dummy-a
 taking its dependency su-dummy-b along, shown in the prompt, and the unrelated orphan surviving),
diff --git a/discovery/apt.md b/discovery/apt.md
index b96f83b..5af45f3 100644
--- a/discovery/apt.md
+++ b/discovery/apt.md
@@ -605,3 +605,20 @@ Container start overhead is ~0.2-0.3 s; `docker pull` of the five images took 3-
 Everything else compared with `diff` over a 385-line transcript of ~60 commands (update, list, simulate, hold, show/policy/dpkg -s, depends/rdepends, real upgrade, dist-upgrade, purge, autoremove, error paths): identical wording and exit codes across the five images apart from the rows above and checksums/sizes. Specifically identical: `apt list` stderr warning, `Inst`/`Conf`/`Remv`/`Purg` formats, `kept back` block, `apt-mark` messages, `apt-cache depends/rdepends` formats, `E:`/`W:` texts and exit codes (0 / 100), lock message, conffile failure, Essential protection message.
 
 Pre-existing docker images were not touched (`images-before.tsv` compared: nothing missing or changed); only `debian:12`, `debian:13`, `ubuntu:22.04`, `ubuntu:24.04`, `ubuntu:latest` were pulled and only `docker run --rm` containers were used (one hung throwaway container of mine, caused by a test that re-ran the fixture over a locally modified conffile, was `docker kill`ed).
+
+## 13. Item 13 - install reason (`N?` / `info`): `apt-mark showauto` / `showmanual`
+
+Verified 2026-10-10 on debian:12 (apt 2.6.1), debian:13 (3.0.3), ubuntu:22.04 (2.4.14), ubuntu:24.04 (2.8.3) and ubuntu:latest (26.04.1, apt 3.2.0), fixture `SU_FIXTURE_OFFLINE=1 SU_FIXTURE_ORPHAN=1 SU_FIXTURE_B_AUTO=1`, `LC_ALL=C`. Identical on all five:
+
+```
+$ apt-mark showmanual su-dummy-a   -> su-dummy-a        (rc 0)   $ apt-mark showauto su-dummy-a   -> (empty, rc 0)
+$ apt-mark showmanual su-dummy-b   -> (empty, rc 0)              $ apt-mark showauto su-dummy-b   -> su-dummy-b   (rc 0)
+$ apt-mark showauto su-dummy-orphan -> su-dummy-orphan            $ apt-mark showmanual no-such-pkg -> (empty, rc 0)
+$ apt-mark showmanual su-dummy-a su-dummy-b su-dummy-c -> su-dummy-a     (only the named packages)
+```
+
+* Chosen: `apt-mark showauto PKG` -> dependency; else `apt-mark showmanual PKG` -> explicitly installed; in neither list -> `dpkg-query -W -f '${db:Status-Abbrev}' PKG`: installed (2nd character neither `n` nor `c`) counts as manual, else not installed. No image had an installed package in neither list (installed = manual + auto exactly: debian:12 92 = 2 + 90, ubuntu:24.04 96 = 93 + 3, ...), so that branch is a safety net.
+* Read-only: both work as `nobody` (`setpriv --reuid=65534`) and while another process holds dpkg's `lock-frontend` and `lock` (fcntl, like dpkg; checked with `apt-mark hold`, which fails then with `dpkg frontend lock was locked by another process with pid N`, exit 100): 0 s wait, same answers.
+* A removed package with its configuration files kept (`rc`) is in neither list: not installed. A package installed with `dpkg -i` is manual (also `su-dummy-c` reinstalled with `dpkg -i` after `dpkg -r`).
+* apt-mark prints a native package without its architecture qualifier (`apt-mark showauto libc6:amd64` -> `libc6`) and nothing for an arch that is not installed (`libc6:i386` -> empty); a name that is not a package is treated as a pattern (`apt-mark showmanual 'su-dummy-?'` and `'su-dummy-.'` -> `su-dummy-a`), exact names win (`libapt-pkg6.0`, `libbz2-1.0`, `libdb5.3` answered for themselves). Hence the tool matches the output line by line against `PKG` (or `PKG` without `:arch`).
+* Fixture: `su-dummy-a`/`-c` are manual (`dpkg -i`), `su-dummy-b` is auto with `SU_FIXTURE_B_AUTO=1` (`apt-mark auto su-dummy-b`); no change needed.
diff --git a/discovery/pacman.md b/discovery/pacman.md
index fd11d53..df6592a 100644
--- a/discovery/pacman.md
+++ b/discovery/pacman.md
@@ -568,3 +568,20 @@ pman bugs (verified; relevant if the tool reuses `/etc/pacman.d/ignorepkg`):
   `pacman.conf` actually includes the file in `[options]` (silently ineffective, section 6).
 * The tool should read the effective list with `pacman-conf IgnorePkg` and write with anchored matches
   (`grep -qxF "IgnorePkg = $pkg"`, `sed -i "/^IgnorePkg = ${pkg}\$/d"` after escaping).
+
+## 13. Install reason (`N?` / `info`): `Install Reason` of `pacman -Qi`
+
+Verified 2026-10-10 on archlinux:latest (pacman 7.1.0), fixture `FIXTURE_ISOLATE=1 FIXTURE_ORPHAN=1 FIXTURE_SYNC=1`, `COLUMNS=0 LC_ALL=C pacman -Qi -- PKG`:
+
+```
+su-dummy-a       Install Reason  : Explicitly installed                              rc 0
+su-dummy-b       Install Reason  : Installed as a dependency for another package     rc 0   (-D --asdeps)
+su-dummy-c       Install Reason  : Explicitly installed                              rc 0
+su-dummy-orphan  Install Reason  : Installed as a dependency for another package     rc 0   (-U --asdeps)
+no-such-pkg      error: package 'no-such-pkg' was not found                          rc 1   (also for a package only in a sync db)
+```
+
+* `pacman -D --asexplicit su-dummy-b` / `--asdeps` flip the line at once. Works as `nobody` and with `db.lck` present (-Qi takes no lock). One line, no wrapping with `COLUMNS=0`.
+* `pacman -Qi sh` answers for the provider (`bash`), like the description and `Required By` already do.
+* Mapping: `Explicitly installed` -> explicit, `Installed as a dependency for another package` -> dependency, -Qi failing -> not installed, anything else (or no such line) -> unknown.
+* Fixture: `su-dummy-b` is installed `--asdeps`, `a`/`c` explicitly; `e2e_reset` re-applies both after its `pacman -U`. No change needed.
diff --git a/discovery/rpm.md b/discovery/rpm.md
index a5091c9..2a441b2 100644
--- a/discovery/rpm.md
+++ b/discovery/rpm.md
@@ -704,3 +704,42 @@ Inside `proof.sh` (warm containers): forced refresh (`su_refresh`) 0.5-2.6 s (up
 * zypper exit codes 100-103, 106, 107 were not reproduced (see 7.2). `opensuse-slowroll`, MicroOS/Aeon (transactional), SLES were not tested.
 * Multi-arch (x86_64 + i686) and installonly kernels were not exercised; the parser keys on `name.arch` and keeps the highest installed `evr` per key for the "old" column.
 * Docker images pulled during this work (all kept, none removed or re-tagged): `almalinux:9`, `almalinux:10`, `rockylinux:9`, `rockylinux/rockylinux:9`, `rockylinux/rockylinux:10`, `quay.io/rockylinux/rockylinux:9`, `quay.io/rockylinux/rockylinux:10`, `opensuse/tumbleweed:latest`, `opensuse/leap:latest`, `fedora:latest`.
+
+## 14. Install reason (`N?` / `info`)
+
+Verified 2026-10-10, fixture `SU_FIXTURE_ISOLATE=1 SU_FIXTURE_ORPHAN=1`, `LC_ALL=C`.
+
+### 14.1 DNF: `dnf -q repoquery --installed --queryformat '%{reason}\n' PKG`
+
+Same answers on almalinux:9 and rockylinux/rockylinux:9 (dnf 4.14.0), almalinux:10 and rockylinux/rockylinux:10 (dnf 4.20.0); fedora:latest (Fedora 44, dnf5 5.4.3.0) uses other words:
+
+| state | dnf4 | dnf5 |
+|---|---|---|
+| installed with plain `rpm -Uvh` (fixture's a, b, c) | `unknown` | `External User` |
+| `su-dummy-orphan` (pulled in by `dnf install su-dummy-orphan-parent`) | `dependency` | `Dependency` |
+| `dnf install su-dummy-a` pulling in `su-dummy-b` | a `user`, b `dependency` | a `User`, b `Dependency` |
+| not installed (in a repo or unknown) | no output, rc 0 | no output, rc 0 |
+
+* `%{reason}` exists on every target, `--qf` and `--queryformat` both work. dnf4 ends the value with a newline, dnf5 does not (several installed versions would run together), so the format carries its own `\n` and the first non-empty line is used. Other values in the code: `weak-dependency`/`Weak Dependency` (dependency), `group`/`Group` (explicit: asked for with its group); dnf5 `External User` counts as user-installed (`repoquery --userinstalled` lists those packages) -> explicit; dnf4 `unknown` -> unknown.
+* Fallback `dnf history userinstalled` not needed and not used: dnf5 has no such command (`Unknown argument "userinstalled"`, rc 2), and on dnf4 it lists the fixture's rpm-installed a, b, c (reason `unknown`) as "Packages installed by user", i.e. it would call b explicit.
+* Marks: dnf4 `dnf mark remove PKG` -> `dependency`, `dnf mark install PKG` -> `user` (`mark user`/`mark dependency`: invalid choice, rc 2); dnf5 `dnf -y mark dependency|user PKG` (without `-y`: "Operation aborted", rc 1; `mark remove|install`: unknown argument, rc 2). A mark survives a later `dnf upgrade` and an `rpm -Uvh --oldpackage --replacepkgs` back to 1.0 (the e2e reset).
+* Works as `nobody` (setpriv / python3 on almalinux:10), with or without `-C`, in 110-150 ms (dnf4) / 45 ms (dnf5), and does not touch the repositories even with the distro repos re-enabled and their metadata expired.
+* Fixture consequence: on dnf the rpm-installed a and c would print `reason: unknown`; `SU_FIXTURE_B_AUTO=1` now also runs `dnf mark install su-dummy-a su-dummy-c` (dnf5: `-y mark user`), and `e2e_reset` re-marks a/c user and b dependency.
+
+### 14.2 ZYPPER: `Installed` line of `zypper --non-interactive --no-refresh --quiet info PKG`
+
+opensuse/tumbleweed (zypper 1.14.101, libzypp 17.38.16) and opensuse/leap 16.0 (same versions), identical, fixture with `SU_FIXTURE_B_AUTO=1`:
+
+```
+su-dummy-a              Installed      : Yes                    rc 0
+su-dummy-b              Installed      : Yes (automatically)    rc 0   (listed in /var/lib/zypp/AutoInstalled)
+su-dummy-orphan         Installed      : Yes (automatically)    rc 0   (pulled in by zypper install su-dummy-orphan-parent)
+su-dummy-orphan-parent  Installed      : No                     rc 0   (Status : not installed)
+bash                    Installed      : Yes                    rc 0   (Repository : @System, repos isolated)
+no-such-pkg             package 'no-such-pkg' not found.        rc 104
+```
+
+* The block also has `Installed Size : 15 B`: match `^Installed *:` only.
+* Cross-check: the flag is exactly membership in `/var/lib/zypp/AutoInstalled` (bare package names, plus `pattern:...` lines and `#` comments; 0644 root, world-readable). Deleting `su-dummy-b` from it turns the line into `Yes` immediately; an `rpm -Uvh --replacepkgs` reinstall keeps it; `zypper install su-dummy-a` (rpm -e'd first) installs b with `Yes (automatically)` and adds it to the file; naming b on the command line (`zypper update su-dummy-a su-dummy-b`) drops the flag (b becomes user-installed).
+* Works as `nobody`. As root, while another process owns the zypp lock (`/run/zypp.pid` with a live pid), `zypper info` exits 7 ("System management is locked by the application with pid N (sleep)") - as `nobody` it still answers. Fallback in that case (and for exit 104): `rpm -q PKG` fails -> not installed; else membership in AutoInstalled -> dependency / explicit; unreadable -> unknown.
+* Fixture: a/c (plain rpm, not in AutoInstalled) are `Yes`, b is `Yes (automatically)` with `SU_FIXTURE_B_AUTO=1`; `e2e_reset` re-adds b to AutoInstalled. No change needed.
diff --git a/docs/DESIGN.md b/docs/DESIGN.md
index fb017b9..17592a9 100644
--- a/docs/DESIGN.md
+++ b/docs/DESIGN.md
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ Command grammar (one line, whitespace-separated tokens, each `N` is the number i
 | token  | action                                                                    |
 |--------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
 | empty line | proceed: run the native upgrade with the current exclusions           |
-| `N?`   | print the one-line description and the list of installed packages that depend on it |
+| `N?`   | print three lines, none indented: `PKG: <one-line description>`, `reason: <r>` with `<r>` = `explicitly installed`, `installed as a dependency`, `unknown` (the backend cannot tell) or `not installed` (also, without asking the backend, for a row whose old version is `-`), and `required by: <a, b, ...>` - the reverse dependencies, installed packages only - or `required by: nothing` |
 | `N??`  | print the full native info dump (`apt-cache show` / `pacman -Qi` / `dnf info` / `zypper info --requires`) |
 | `N-`   | exclude from this run (toggle; `N-` again re-includes); shown with `-` marker |
 | `Nx`   | purge it now, following pacman's `-Rns` principle on every backend: if any installed package still depends on it, refuse and print who (the reverse dependencies `N?` shows) - never cascade; otherwise simulate the native purge of it together with its now-unneeded dependencies, show that removal set ("This also removes: ...") and ask `y/N`. As a safety check, a simulated set containing anything that is neither the target nor in its installed dependency closure is refused too. Only a purge that ran removes rows (of every package it removed). A row whose old version is `-` (a new dependency, not installed) cannot be purged |
@@ -202,6 +202,7 @@ Every backend is a set of bash functions with a common prefix. All output is
 <be>_describe PKG                 # stdout: one-line summary
 <be>_full_info PKG                # stdout: native full dump (candidate version if available)
 <be>_rdepends PKG                 # stdout: installed packages requiring PKG, one per line
+<be>_reason PKG                   # stdout: explicit | dependency | unknown | not-installed (how PKG got installed)
 <be>_closure PKG                  # stdout: installed recursive dependency closure of PKG (excluding PKG), one per line
 <be>_purge_plan PKG               # stdout: every package a purge of PKG and its now-unneeded dependencies removes
                                   #   (simulation, no cascade); non-zero = refused
@@ -213,6 +214,15 @@ Every backend is a set of bash functions with a common prefix. All output is
 Mutating calls go through `run_cmd` which honours `--dry-run` (prints `+ cmd` to
 stdout instead of executing).
 
+`<be>_reason` sources (read-only, unprivileged, verified in `discovery/*.md`): apt
+`apt-mark showauto PKG` (dependency) / `apt-mark showmanual PKG` (explicit), a package in neither
+list is explicit when dpkg has it installed; pacman the `Install Reason` of `pacman -Qi`; dnf
+`repoquery --installed --queryformat '%{reason}'` (`user`/`group`/dnf5 `External User` = explicit,
+`dependency`/`weak-dependency` = dependency, dnf4 `unknown` - plain `rpm -i` - stays unknown, no
+output = not installed); zypper the `Installed` line of `zypper --no-refresh info`
+(`Yes (automatically)` / `Yes` / `No`), and when zypper gives no answer (its lock is busy) `rpm -q`
+plus libzypp's `/var/lib/zypp/AutoInstalled`.
+
 ## Layout
 
 ```
diff --git a/skeptical-updater b/skeptical-updater
index 59b39d8..df62932 100755
--- a/skeptical-updater
+++ b/skeptical-updater
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ commands:
   trust PKG...      add PKG and its installed dependency closure to the statefile
   untrust PKG...    remove rows for PKG (and rows whose reason is dep:PKG)
   refresh           recompute dependency closures for every 'user' root
-  info PKG          one-line description + installed reverse dependencies (as N?)
+  info PKG          description, install reason and installed dependents (as N?)
   show PKG          full native package information (as N??)
 
 options:
@@ -102,7 +102,9 @@ options:
 
 interactive commands (one line, whitespace-separated tokens, N = number in brackets):
   <empty line>  proceed: run the native upgrade with the current exclusions
-  N?            one-line description and installed packages that depend on it
+  N?            what is it: the description, 'reason:' (explicitly installed, installed as
+                a dependency, unknown or not installed) and 'required by:', the packages
+                that depend on it - installed packages only
   N??           full native info dump
   N-            exclude from this run (toggle); shown with a '-' marker
   Nx            purge it now with its now-unneeded dependencies (shown, asks y/N); refused
@@ -122,7 +124,7 @@ EOF
 session_help() {
 	cat <<'EOF'
   <enter>   upgrade now, skipping the rows marked '-'
-  N?        what is it: one-line description + installed packages that need it
+  N?        what is it: description, install reason + installed packages that need it
   N??       full native info
   N-        exclude N from this run (toggle)
   Nx        purge N now: lists every package the purge removes, then asks y/N.
@@ -883,6 +885,41 @@ apt_rdepends() {
 	apt-cache rdepends --installed --no-recommends --no-suggests --no-conflicts --no-breaks --no-replaces --no-enhances "$1" </dev/null 2>/dev/null |
 		awk '/^Reverse Depends:/{p=1;next} p{sub(/^[ |]+/,""); print}' | sort -u
 }
+# apt_reason PKG: apt's auto flag (discovery/apt.md item 13): listed by `apt-mark showauto` =
+# dependency, by `showmanual` = explicit; in neither list but installed (dpkg) = explicit, else not
+# installed. Both are read-only: no root, no dpkg lock (verified). apt-mark prints native packages
+# without their architecture qualifier and treats a name that is no package as a pattern, hence
+# the exact-line match.
+apt_reason() {
+	local out st
+	out=$(apt-mark showauto "$1" </dev/null 2>/dev/null) || {
+		printf 'unknown\n'
+		return 0
+	}
+	if apt_mark_lists "$1" "$out"; then
+		printf 'dependency\n'
+		return 0
+	fi
+	out=$(apt-mark showmanual "$1" </dev/null 2>/dev/null) || {
+		printf 'unknown\n'
+		return 0
+	}
+	if apt_mark_lists "$1" "$out"; then
+		printf 'explicit\n'
+		return 0
+	fi
+	# ${db:Status-Abbrev}: 2nd character = state; n(ot-installed) and c(onfig-files) = not installed
+	st=$(dpkg-query -W -f '${db:Status-Abbrev}' "$1" </dev/null 2>/dev/null) || st=
+	case ${st:1:1} in
+	'' | n | c) printf 'not-installed\n' ;;
+	*) printf 'explicit\n' ;;
+	esac
+}
+apt_mark_lists() { # apt_mark_lists PKG OUTPUT: does OUTPUT (apt-mark show*) name PKG (name:arch too)?
+	local o=$'\n'$2$'\n'
+	[[ $o == *$'\n'"$1"$'\n'* ]] && return 0
+	[[ $1 == *:* && $o == *$'\n'"${1%:*}"$'\n'* ]]
+}
 apt_closure() {
 	dpkg-query -W -f '${db:Status-Abbrev}\t${Package}\t${Pre-Depends}\t${Depends}\t${Provides}\n' </dev/null 2>/dev/null |
 		awk -F'\t' -v roots="$1" "$AWK_APT_CLOSURE" | awk -v r="$1" '$0 != r' | sort -u
@@ -1197,6 +1234,22 @@ pacman_rdepends() {
 	read -r -a words <<<"$out" || true
 	for w in ${words[@]+"${words[@]}"}; do [[ $w == None ]] || printf '%s\n' "$w"; done | sort -u
 }
+# pacman_reason PKG: the "Install Reason" of `pacman -Qi` (discovery/pacman.md section 13); -Qi
+# fails (exit 1, "package 'x' was not found") for a package that is not installed
+pacman_reason() {
+	local out rc=0
+	out=$(pm_field -Qi 'Install Reason' "$1") || rc=$?
+	out=${out%%$'\n'*}
+	if ((rc)) && [[ -z $out ]]; then
+		printf 'not-installed\n'
+		return 0
+	fi
+	case ${out#*$'\t'} in
+	'Explicitly installed') printf 'explicit\n' ;;
+	'Installed as a dependency for another package') printf 'dependency\n' ;;
+	*) printf 'unknown\n' ;;
+	esac
+}
 
 # discovery/pacman/lib.sh pm_closure (forward mode): one pacman -Qi dump + awk BFS, roots excluded
 pacman_closure() {
@@ -1565,6 +1618,25 @@ dnf_describe() {
 dnf_full_info() { "$DNF" -q info "$1" </dev/null; }
 dnf_rdepends() { rpm_rdeps "$1"; }
 dnf_closure() { rpm_closure "$1"; }
+# dnf_reason PKG: dnf's own record, `repoquery --installed --queryformat %{reason}` (discovery/rpm.md
+# section 14): dnf4 user/dependency/weak-dependency/group/unknown (unknown = installed with plain rpm),
+# dnf5 User/Dependency/Weak Dependency/Group/External User (= installed with plain rpm, which dnf5
+# counts as user-installed). A group member was asked for with its group: explicit. No output = not
+# installed. Works unprivileged and never touches the repositories (verified).
+dnf_reason() {
+	local out l=
+	out=$("$DNF" -q repoquery --installed --queryformat $'%{reason}\n' "$1" </dev/null 2>/dev/null) || {
+		printf 'unknown\n'
+		return 0
+	}
+	while IFS= read -r l; do [[ -z $l ]] || break; done <<<"$out"
+	case $l in
+	user | User | group | Group | 'External User') printf 'explicit\n' ;;
+	dependency | Dependency | weak-dependency | 'Weak Dependency') printf 'dependency\n' ;;
+	'') printf 'not-installed\n' ;;
+	*) printf 'unknown\n' ;;
+	esac
+}
 # dnf_purge_plan PKG: the "Removing..." sections of `dnf --assumeno remove PKG` (dnf4 and dnf5
 # tables; --assumeno always exits 1, so success = a "Transaction Summary" or "Nothing to do")
 dnf_purge_plan() {
@@ -1723,6 +1795,35 @@ zypper_describe() {
 zypper_full_info() { zypper --non-interactive --quiet info --requires "$1" </dev/null; }
 zypper_rdepends() { rpm_rdeps "$1"; }
 zypper_closure() { rpm_closure "$1"; }
+# zypper_reason PKG: the "Installed" line of `zypper info` - "Yes (automatically)", "Yes" or "No"
+# (discovery/rpm.md section 14). Without an answer from zypper (exit 7: another zypper holds the
+# lock, root only; exit 104: unknown name) rpm and libzypp's own AutoInstalled list decide.
+# SKEPTICAL_UPDATER_ZYPP_ROOT is a path prefix for the test-suite.
+zypper_reason() {
+	local out rc=0 l auto=${SKEPTICAL_UPDATER_ZYPP_ROOT:-}/var/lib/zypp/AutoInstalled
+	out=$(zypper --non-interactive --no-refresh --quiet info "$1" </dev/null 2>/dev/null) || rc=$?
+	if ((rc == 0)); then
+		while IFS= read -r l; do
+			[[ $l =~ ^Installed[[:space:]]*:[[:space:]]*(.*)$ ]] || continue # not "Installed Size :"
+			case ${BASH_REMATCH[1]} in
+			'Yes (automatically)') printf 'dependency\n' ;;
+			Yes) printf 'explicit\n' ;;
+			No) printf 'not-installed\n' ;;
+			*) printf 'unknown\n' ;;
+			esac
+			return 0
+		done <<<"$out"
+	fi
+	if ! rpm -q "$1" </dev/null >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+		printf 'not-installed\n'
+	elif [[ ! -r $auto ]]; then
+		printf 'unknown\n'
+	elif grep -qxF -e "$1" -- "$auto"; then
+		printf 'dependency\n'
+	else
+		printf 'explicit\n'
+	fi
+}
 zypper_purge_plan() {
 	local xml rc=0 sec name rest
 	xml=$(zypper --non-interactive --no-refresh --xmlout remove --dry-run --clean-deps "$1" </dev/null 2>&1) || rc=$?
@@ -1945,22 +2046,32 @@ print_list() {
 	fi
 }
 
-print_info() { # print_info PKG: description + installed reverse dependencies (N? / info)
-	local desc rd rc=0
+# print_info PKG [OLD]: description, install reason and the installed packages that depend on PKG
+# (N? / info). OLD "-" (a row of a new dependency) is not installed: the backend is not asked.
+print_info() {
+	local desc rd reason rc=0
 	desc=$(be describe "$1") || rc=$?
 	if ((rc)); then
 		say "$1: (no description available: unknown package?)"
 	else
 		say "$C_BOLD$1$C_RESET: $desc"
 	fi
+	if [[ ${2:-} == - ]]; then
+		reason=not-installed
+	else
+		reason=$(be reason "$1" 2>/dev/null) || reason=unknown
+	fi
+	case $reason in
+	explicit) say 'reason: explicitly installed' ;;
+	dependency) say 'reason: installed as a dependency' ;;
+	not-installed) say 'reason: not installed' ;;
+	*) say 'reason: unknown' ;;
+	esac
 	rd=$(be rdepends "$1") || rd=''
 	rd=$(printf '%s\n' "$rd" | sed '/^$/d' | tr '\n' ' ')
 	rd=${rd% }
-	if [[ -n $rd ]]; then
-		say "  required by (installed): ${rd// /, }"
-	else
-		say '  required by (installed): nothing'
-	fi
+	rd=${rd// /, }
+	say "required by: ${rd:-nothing}"
 	return "$rc"
 }
 
@@ -2248,7 +2359,7 @@ session_line() {
 			fi
 			i=$REPLY
 			case $op in
-			'?') print_info "${R_NAME[i]}" || true ;;
+			'?') print_info "${R_NAME[i]}" "${R_OLD[i]}" || true ;;
 			'??') print_full_info "${R_NAME[i]}" || true ;;
 			-)
 				if ((R_EXCL[i])); then
diff --git a/tests/e2e/fixtures/rpm.sh b/tests/e2e/fixtures/rpm.sh
index bd79875..1c68433 100755
--- a/tests/e2e/fixtures/rpm.sh
+++ b/tests/e2e/fixtures/rpm.sh
@@ -31,7 +31,10 @@
 #   so it is a pre-existing unneeded package (dnf repoquery --unneeded / zypper packages --unneeded).
 #
 # Optional (SU_FIXTURE_B_AUTO=1): su-dummy-b counts as installed as a dependency (dnf: `dnf mark
-#   remove`, zypper: /var/lib/zypp/AutoInstalled), like the pacman fixture's --asdeps.
+#   remove`, zypper: /var/lib/zypp/AutoInstalled), like the pacman fixture's --asdeps; on dnf
+#   su-dummy-a and su-dummy-c also count as installed by the user (`dnf mark install`): dnf4 reports
+#   packages installed with plain rpm as reason "unknown" (dnf5: "External User"). zypper needs
+#   nothing for them: a package that is not in AutoInstalled is user-installed.
 #
 # Re-runnable: re-running resets everything to the "1.0 installed, 2.0 available" state.
 #
@@ -198,7 +201,11 @@ fi
 if [ "${SU_FIXTURE_B_AUTO:-0}" = 1 ]; then
   case $BACKEND in
     zypper) grep -qx su-dummy-b /var/lib/zypp/AutoInstalled 2>/dev/null || echo su-dummy-b >>/var/lib/zypp/AutoInstalled ;;
-    dnf|yum) "$BACKEND" -q mark remove su-dummy-b >/dev/null ;;
+    dnf|yum)
+      # dnf4 spelling first, then dnf5's (which asks for confirmation)
+      "$BACKEND" -q mark remove su-dummy-b >/dev/null 2>&1 || "$BACKEND" -q -y mark dependency su-dummy-b >/dev/null
+      "$BACKEND" -q mark install su-dummy-a su-dummy-c >/dev/null 2>&1 || "$BACKEND" -q -y mark user su-dummy-a su-dummy-c >/dev/null
+      ;;
   esac
   log "su-dummy-b marked as installed as a dependency"
 fi
diff --git a/tests/e2e/helpers.bash b/tests/e2e/helpers.bash
index 4e10377..65ab7ff 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/helpers.bash
+++ b/tests/e2e/helpers.bash
@@ -132,10 +132,14 @@ e2e_reset() {
 		rpm -Uvh --oldpackage --replacepkgs /var/tmp/su-fixture/RPMS/*/su-dummy-[abc]-1.0-1.*.rpm >/dev/null 2>&1
 		;;
 	esac
-	# su-dummy-b is a dependency of su-dummy-a (installed as such), on every backend
+	# su-dummy-b is a dependency of su-dummy-a (installed as such), on every backend; su-dummy-a and
+	# su-dummy-c were installed by the user (dnf records plain rpm installs as reason unknown)
 	case $BE in
 	apt) apt-mark auto su-dummy-orphan su-dummy-b >/dev/null ;;
-	dnf) dnf -q mark remove su-dummy-b >/dev/null 2>&1 ;;
+	dnf)
+		dnf -q mark remove su-dummy-b >/dev/null 2>&1 || dnf -q -y mark dependency su-dummy-b >/dev/null 2>&1
+		dnf -q mark install su-dummy-a su-dummy-c >/dev/null 2>&1 || dnf -q -y mark user su-dummy-a su-dummy-c >/dev/null 2>&1
+		;;
 	zypper) grep -qx su-dummy-b /var/lib/zypp/AutoInstalled 2>/dev/null || echo su-dummy-b >>/var/lib/zypp/AutoInstalled ;;
 	esac
 	[[ $(versions) == "a=1.0 b=1.0 c=1.0" && $(pkg_ver su-dummy-orphan) == 1.0 ]] || {
diff --git a/tests/e2e/skeptical-updater.bats b/tests/e2e/skeptical-updater.bats
index e87ee4b..d19c79f 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/skeptical-updater.bats
+++ b/tests/e2e/skeptical-updater.bats
@@ -32,14 +32,27 @@ zypper_verb() { case $(. /etc/os-release && printf '%s' "$ID") in opensuse-tumbl
 	refute_line --regexp '^.\[4\]'
 }
 
-@test "N? prints the description; su-dummy-b is required by su-dummy-a" {
+@test "N? prints the description, the install reason and who requires it" {
+	local -a lines_=()
+	local i a=-1 b=-1
 	run skeptical-updater --no-refresh <<<$'1?\n2?\nq'
 	assert_success
 	assert_line --regexp '^su-dummy-a: .*([Dd]ummy|skeptical-updater).*$'
 	assert_line --regexp '^su-dummy-b: .*([Dd]ummy|skeptical-updater).*$'
-	# [1] su-dummy-a has no installed reverse dependency, [2] su-dummy-b is needed by su-dummy-a
-	assert_line '  required by (installed): nothing'
-	assert_line '  required by (installed): su-dummy-a'
+	# [1] su-dummy-a was installed explicitly and nothing needs it; [2] su-dummy-b was installed as
+	# a dependency of su-dummy-a - the two lines right under each description, no indentation
+	mapfile -t lines_ <<<"$output"
+	for i in "${!lines_[@]}"; do
+		case ${lines_[i]} in
+		'su-dummy-a: '*) a=$i ;;
+		'su-dummy-b: '*) b=$i ;;
+		esac
+	done
+	[[ ${lines_[a + 1]} == 'reason: explicitly installed' && ${lines_[a + 2]} == 'required by: nothing' ]] ||
+		fail "1? (su-dummy-a): got '${lines_[a + 1]}' / '${lines_[a + 2]}'"
+	[[ ${lines_[b + 1]} == 'reason: installed as a dependency' && ${lines_[b + 2]} == 'required by: su-dummy-a' ]] ||
+		fail "2? (su-dummy-b): got '${lines_[b + 1]}' / '${lines_[b + 2]}'"
+	refute_output --partial 'required by (installed)'
 	assert_line 'Quit: nothing was upgraded.'
 }
 
@@ -250,7 +263,11 @@ zypper_verb() { case $(. /etc/os-release && printf '%s' "$ID") in opensuse-tumbl
 	assert_line --partial "$BE"$'\t'"su-dummy-c"$'\t'"user"
 	run asuser skeptical-updater info su-dummy-b
 	assert_success
-	assert_line '  required by (installed): su-dummy-a'
+	assert_line 'reason: installed as a dependency'
+	assert_line 'required by: su-dummy-a'
+	run asuser skeptical-updater info su-dummy-a
+	assert_success
+	assert_line 'reason: explicitly installed'
 	run asuser skeptical-updater --dry-run --no-refresh <<<''
 	assert_success
 	assert_line --regexp "$(native_upgrade_regex)"
diff --git a/tests/unit/data/apt/auto.txt b/tests/unit/data/apt/auto.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b9c84c1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/data/apt/auto.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+gcc-12-base
+libc6
+libgcc-s1
+mawk
+su-dummy-b
+su-dummy-orphan
diff --git a/tests/unit/data/rpm/db.bash b/tests/unit/data/rpm/db.bash
index cbf52bf..5a37adf 100644
--- a/tests/unit/data/rpm/db.bash
+++ b/tests/unit/data/rpm/db.bash
@@ -51,6 +51,13 @@ declare -A PROVIDES=(
 	[ncurses-libs]=$'ncurses-libs\nlibtinfo.so.6()(64bit)'
 	[redhat-rpm-config]=redhat-rpm-config [rpm]=rpm
 )
+# what dnf4 records as the install reason (`repoquery --installed --qf %{reason}`; the fake dnf
+# speaks dnf5's words with FAKE_DNF_MAJOR=5): plain `rpm -i` leaves "unknown"
+declare -A REASON=(
+	[su-dummy-a]=user [su-dummy-b]=dependency [su-dummy-c]=unknown [su-dummy-d]=user
+	[bash]=user [glibc]=dependency [glibc-common]=dependency [glibc-gconv-extra]=weak-dependency
+	[basesystem]=group [setup]=dependency [filesystem]=dependency
+)
 # FAKE_RPM_NO_D=1: su-dummy-d (which requires every dummy) is not installed
 declare -A FILES=(
 	[su-dummy-a]=/usr/share/su-dummy/su-dummy-a [su-dummy-b]=/usr/share/su-dummy/su-dummy-b
diff --git a/tests/unit/data/zypper/info-su-dummy-b.txt b/tests/unit/data/zypper/info-su-dummy-b.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..79c65ab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/data/zypper/info-su-dummy-b.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+
+
+Information for package su-dummy-b:
+-----------------------------------
+Repository     : su-dummy
+Name           : su-dummy-b
+Version        : 2.0-1
+Arch           : noarch
+Vendor         :
+Installed Size : 15 B
+Installed      : Yes (automatically)
+Status         : out-of-date (version 1.0-1 installed)
+Source package : su-dummy-b-2.0-1.src
+Summary        : skeptical-updater dummy su-dummy-b (v2.0)
+Description    :
+    Dummy package su-dummy-b version 2.0 for skeptical-updater tests.
+
+    Second paragraph of su-dummy-b 2.0 (blank line above on purpose).
+
diff --git a/tests/unit/data/zypper/info-su-dummy-orphan-parent.txt b/tests/unit/data/zypper/info-su-dummy-orphan-parent.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..804c435
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/data/zypper/info-su-dummy-orphan-parent.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+
+
+Information for package su-dummy-orphan-parent:
+-----------------------------------------------
+Repository     : su-dummy
+Name           : su-dummy-orphan-parent
+Version        : 1.0-1
+Arch           : noarch
+Vendor         :
+Installed Size : 27 B
+Installed      : No
+Status         : not installed
+Source package : su-dummy-orphan-parent-1.0-1.src
+Summary        : skeptical-updater dummy su-dummy-orphan-parent (v1.0)
+Description    :
+    Dummy package su-dummy-orphan-parent version 1.0 for skeptical-updater tests.
+
+    Second paragraph of su-dummy-orphan-parent 1.0 (blank line above on purpose).
+
diff --git a/tests/unit/fakes/apt/apt-mark b/tests/unit/fakes/apt/apt-mark
index 60923b2..02ba40c 100755
--- a/tests/unit/fakes/apt/apt-mark
+++ b/tests/unit/fakes/apt/apt-mark
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@
 # FAKE_APT_MARK_UNHOLD_SIGNAL=SIG: send SIG to the applet before an unhold (a second Ctrl-C).
 # FAKE_APT_MARK_UNHOLD_RC=N: unhold fails (nothing released). FAKE_APT_MARK_FAIL_MSG: the message a
 # failing hold prints. Every unhold logs whether $STATE_DIR/holds.lock is held by someone.
+# showauto/showmanual: installed = the "?i" rows of data/apt/dpkg-status.tsv (not purged), auto = those
+# listed in data/apt/auto.txt, manual = the others; FAKE_APT_MARK_NEITHER="pkg ..." are in neither
+# list, FAKE_APT_MARK_SHOW_RC=N makes both fail. Like the real ones they print only the named
+# packages (all of them without a name), native packages without their ":arch" qualifier.
 # shellcheck source=../fakelib.bash
 . "${BASH_SOURCE[0]%/*}/../fakelib.bash"
 fake_log "$@"
@@ -27,8 +31,30 @@ case $verb in hold | unhold)
 	fi
 	;;
 esac
+# show_marked auto|manual NAME...
+show_marked() {
+	local want=$1 n st name mark
+	shift
+	local -A pick=()
+	for n in "$@"; do pick[${n%:all}]=1; done
+	if [[ -n ${FAKE_APT_MARK_SHOW_RC:-} ]]; then
+		echo "E: Unable to determine the package states" >&2
+		exit "$FAKE_APT_MARK_SHOW_RC"
+	fi
+	while IFS=$'\t' read -r st name _; do
+		[[ $st == ?i* ]] || continue
+		fake_purged "$name" && continue
+		[[ " ${FAKE_APT_MARK_NEITHER:-} " == *" $name "* ]] && continue
+		if grep -qxF -- "$name" "$FAKE_DATA/apt/auto.txt"; then mark=auto; else mark=manual; fi
+		[[ $mark == "$want" ]] || continue
+		if (($# == 0)) || [[ -n ${pick[$name]:-} || -n ${pick[$name:amd64]:-} ]]; then printf '%s\n' "$name"; fi
+	done <"$FAKE_DATA/apt/dpkg-status.tsv" | sort
+}
+
 case $verb in
 showhold) sort "$h" ;;
+showauto) show_marked auto "$@" ;;
+showmanual) show_marked manual "$@" ;;
 hold)
 	for p in "$@"; do
 		if grep -qxF -- "$p" "$h"; then echo "$p was already set on hold."; else
diff --git a/tests/unit/fakes/apt/dpkg-query b/tests/unit/fakes/apt/dpkg-query
index 3045ade..5bccbb5 100755
--- a/tests/unit/fakes/apt/dpkg-query
+++ b/tests/unit/fakes/apt/dpkg-query
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-later
 # Copyright (C) 2026 Bryan Joshua Pedini
 
-# fake dpkg-query (unit tests): the dpkg database dump used for dependency closures
+# fake dpkg-query (unit tests): the dpkg database dump used for dependency closures, and
+# `-W -f '${db:Status-Abbrev}' NAME` (the status of one package; purged = unknown to dpkg)
 # shellcheck source=../fakelib.bash
 . "${BASH_SOURCE[0]%/*}/../fakelib.bash"
 fake_log "$@"
@@ -10,7 +11,30 @@ fake_log "$@"
 st=${SKEPTICAL_UPDATER_STATE_DIR:-}/trusted.tsv
 if [[ -n ${FAKE_STATE_APPEND:-} ]]; then printf '%s\n' "$FAKE_STATE_APPEND" >>"$st"; fi
 if [[ -n ${FAKE_STATE_SED:-} ]]; then sed -i "$FAKE_STATE_SED" "$st"; fi
-case " $* " in
+args=" $* "
+names=()
+while (($#)); do
+	case $1 in
+	-f) shift ;;
+	-*) ;;
+	*) names+=("$1") ;;
+	esac
+	shift
+done
+if ((${#names[@]})); then
+	rc=0
+	for n in "${names[@]}"; do
+		st=$(awk -F'\t' -v n="${n%:amd64}" '$2 == n { print $1; exit }' "$FAKE_DATA/apt/dpkg-status.tsv")
+		if [[ -z $st ]] || fake_purged "${n%:amd64}"; then
+			echo "dpkg-query: no packages found matching $n" >&2
+			rc=1
+			continue
+		fi
+		printf '%s' "$st"
+	done
+	exit "$rc"
+fi
+case $args in
 *' -W '*) cat "$FAKE_DATA/apt/dpkg-status.tsv" ;;
 *)
 	echo "fake dpkg-query: unhandled: $*" >&2
diff --git a/tests/unit/fakes/dnf/dnf b/tests/unit/fakes/dnf/dnf
index 61a4074..453ebc4 100755
--- a/tests/unit/fakes/dnf/dnf
+++ b/tests/unit/fakes/dnf/dnf
@@ -5,7 +5,9 @@
 # fake dnf (unit tests). FAKE_DNF_MAJOR=4|5 picks the output dialect; FAKE_DNF_CHECK_RC=0|1 simulates
 # "no updates" / an error; FAKE_DNF_CHECK=obsoletes replays a check-update with only an
 # "Obsoleting Packages" section; FAKE_DNF_REMOVE_REFUSE=1 makes `--assumeno remove` fail;
-# removal tables: see the --assumeno remove branch.
+# removal tables: see the --assumeno remove branch. `repoquery --installed --qf %{reason}`: REASON of
+# data/rpm/db.bash (dnf5's words with FAKE_DNF_MAJOR=5), FAKE_DNF_REASON="pkg=raw value" overrides
+# it, FAKE_DNF_REPOQUERY_RC=N makes repoquery fail.
 # shellcheck source=../fakelib.bash
 . "${BASH_SOURCE[0]%/*}/../fakelib.bash"
 # shellcheck source=../../data/rpm/db.bash
@@ -41,7 +43,28 @@ case " $* " in
 	;;
 *' repoquery '*)
 	p=${pos[-1]}
+	rc=$(fake_rc FAKE_DNF_REPOQUERY_RC 0)
+	if ((rc)); then
+		echo "Error: rpmdb open failed" >&2
+		exit "$rc"
+	fi
 	case " $* " in
+	*' --installed '*'%{reason}'*)
+		installed "$p" || exit 0
+		r=${REASON[$p]:-unknown}
+		if ((major == 5)); then
+			case $r in
+			user) r=User ;;
+			dependency) r=Dependency ;;
+			weak-dependency) r='Weak Dependency' ;;
+			group) r=Group ;;
+			unknown) r='External User' ;;
+			esac
+		fi
+		[[ ${FAKE_DNF_REASON:-} != "$p="* ]] || r=${FAKE_DNF_REASON#*=}
+		printf '%s\n' "$r"
+		((major == 5)) || echo
+		;;
 	*' --upgrades '*) case $p in su-dummy-[abc]) printf 'skeptical-updater dummy %s (v2.0)\n' "$p"; ((major == 5)) || echo ;; esac ;;
 	*) case $p in su-dummy-new) printf 'skeptical-updater dummy su-dummy-new (v1.0)\n' ;; esac ;;
 	esac
diff --git a/tests/unit/fakes/pacman/pacman b/tests/unit/fakes/pacman/pacman
index 3563d72..407fe9a 100755
--- a/tests/unit/fakes/pacman/pacman
+++ b/tests/unit/fakes/pacman/pacman
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 # FAKE_PACMAN_STDERR=TEXT: -Sl and -Qu also print TEXT on stderr (an unreadable database).
 # -Rs --print: FAKE_PACMAN_RS_REFUSE=1 makes pacman refuse ("breaks dependency");
 # FAKE_PACMAN_RS_EXTRA="pkg:other" adds other to the plan of pkg.
+# FAKE_PACMAN_REASON="pkg=text" replaces the "Install Reason" of pkg in -Qi (empty text: no such line).
 # FAKE_PACMAN_QU=fixture|real|none selects the -Qu sample,
 # FAKE_PACMAN_SL=empty makes -Sl print nothing, FAKE_PACMAN_SUP_EXTRA="a b" adds packages that
 # only -Sup (the real transaction) shows. Every -Q*/-S[il] call records its COLUMNS value, every
@@ -107,7 +108,19 @@ case $op in
 	[[ -z ${FAKE_PACMAN_STDERR:-} ]] || echo "$FAKE_PACMAN_STDERR" >&2
 	[[ ${FAKE_PACMAN_SL:-} == empty ]] || cat "$D/Sl.txt"
 	;;
--Qi) blocks "$D/Qi.txt" "${targets[@]}" ;;
+-Qi)
+	if [[ -z ${FAKE_PACMAN_REASON:-} ]]; then
+		blocks "$D/Qi.txt" "${targets[@]}"
+		exit
+	fi
+	rc=0
+	out=$(blocks "$D/Qi.txt" "${targets[@]}") || rc=$?
+	awk -v n="${FAKE_PACMAN_REASON%%=*}" -v r="${FAKE_PACMAN_REASON#*=}" '
+		/^Name +: / { cur = $0; sub(/^Name +: /, "", cur) }
+		/^Install Reason +: / && cur == n { if (r != "") print "Install Reason  : " r; next }
+		{ print }' <<<"$out"
+	exit "$rc"
+	;;
 -Si)
 	t=()
 	for a in "${targets[@]}"; do t+=("${a#*/}"); done
diff --git a/tests/unit/fakes/zypper/zypper b/tests/unit/fakes/zypper/zypper
index 2c68a58..43d6f09 100755
--- a/tests/unit/fakes/zypper/zypper
+++ b/tests/unit/fakes/zypper/zypper
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@
 # FAKE_ZYPPER_DUP=fixture|empty|removes the `dist-upgrade --dry-run` plan (data/zypper/dup-*.xml).
 # addlock writes real zypp lock entries into the locksfile.path of $ZYPP_CONF (default
 # /etc/zypp/locks is never touched: the fake refuses); update/dist-upgrade log that file.
+# info replays data/zypper/info-NAME.txt (exit 104 without one); FAKE_ZYPPER_INFO_RC=7 makes it fail
+# like a zypp lock held by another process.
 # shellcheck source=../fakelib.bash
 . "${BASH_SOURCE[0]%/*}/../fakelib.bash"
 fake_log "${ZYPP_CONF:+ZYPP_CONF=$ZYPP_CONF }$*"
@@ -43,6 +45,11 @@ refresh)
 list-updates) cat "$D/lu-${FAKE_ZYPPER_LU:-fixture}.xml" ;;
 info)
 	p=${args[-1]}
+	if [[ -n ${FAKE_ZYPPER_INFO_RC:-} ]]; then
+		echo "System management is locked by the application with pid 4242 (zypper)."
+		echo "Close this application before trying again."
+		exit "$FAKE_ZYPPER_INFO_RC"
+	fi
 	if [[ -f $D/info-$p.txt ]]; then cat "$D/info-$p.txt"; else
 		echo "package '$p' not found."
 		exit 104
diff --git a/tests/unit/interactive.bats b/tests/unit/interactive.bats
index 94c40ea..e3d7b33 100644
--- a/tests/unit/interactive.bats
+++ b/tests/unit/interactive.bats
@@ -64,11 +64,30 @@ UPGRADE='apt-get -y -o Dpkg::Options::=--force-confdef -o Dpkg::Options::=--forc
 	assert_line 'excluded from this run: su-dummy-b'
 }
 
-@test "N? prints the description and the installed packages that depend on it" {
-	run skup --no-refresh <<<$'2?\nq'
+@test "N? prints the description, the install reason and the installed packages that depend on it" {
+	run skup --no-refresh <<<$'1?\n2?\nq'
 	assert_success
-	assert_line 'su-dummy-b: dummy package su-dummy-b for skeptical-updater tests'
-	assert_line '  required by (installed): su-dummy-a'
+	assert_output --partial "$(printf '%s\n' '> 1?' \
+		'su-dummy-a: dummy package su-dummy-a for skeptical-updater tests' \
+		'reason: explicitly installed' \
+		'required by: nothing' \
+		'> 2?' \
+		'su-dummy-b: dummy package su-dummy-b for skeptical-updater tests' \
+		'reason: installed as a dependency' \
+		'required by: su-dummy-a')"
+	refute_output --partial 'required by (installed)'
+}
+
+@test "N? on a new dependency (old version -) says 'not installed' without asking the package manager" {
+	FAKE_APT_SIM=real run skup --no-refresh <<<$'9?\nq'
+	assert_success
+	assert_line --regexp '^  \[9\] su-dummy-newdep +- +-> +1\.0 +su-fixture:su-repo$'
+	assert_output --partial "$(printf '%s\n' '> 9?' \
+		'su-dummy-newdep: (no description available: unknown package?)' \
+		'reason: not installed' \
+		'required by: nothing')"
+	log_lacks '^apt-mark show'
+	log_lacks '^dpkg-query -W -f \$\{db:Status-Abbrev\} '
 }
 
 @test "N?? prints the native full info" {
diff --git a/tests/unit/parsers.bats b/tests/unit/parsers.bats
index 08aaa97..620213c 100644
--- a/tests/unit/parsers.bats
+++ b/tests/unit/parsers.bats
@@ -50,13 +50,43 @@ setup() { common_setup; }
 @test "apt: description = candidate Description; reverse deps deduplicated, '|' stripped" {
 	run skup info su-dummy-b
 	assert_success
-	assert_output "$(printf '%s\n' 'su-dummy-b: dummy package su-dummy-b for skeptical-updater tests' '  required by (installed): su-dummy-a')"
+	assert_output "$(printf '%s\n' 'su-dummy-b: dummy package su-dummy-b for skeptical-updater tests' 'reason: installed as a dependency' 'required by: su-dummy-a')"
 	log_has 'apt-cache show --no-all-versions su-dummy-b'
 	log_has 'apt-cache rdepends --installed --no-recommends --no-suggests --no-conflicts --no-breaks --no-replaces --no-enhances su-dummy-b'
 	run skup info gpgv
 	assert_success
 	assert_line 'gpgv: GNU privacy guard - signature verification tool'
-	assert_line '  required by (installed): apt'
+	assert_line 'required by: apt'
+}
+
+@test "apt: install reason from apt-mark showauto / showmanual, dpkg for a package in neither list" {
+	run skup info su-dummy-a
+	assert_success
+	assert_output "$(printf '%s\n' 'su-dummy-a: dummy package su-dummy-a for skeptical-updater tests' 'reason: explicitly installed' 'required by: nothing')"
+	log_has 'apt-mark showauto su-dummy-a'
+	log_has 'apt-mark showmanual su-dummy-a'
+	log_lacks '^dpkg-query -W -f \$\{db:Status-Abbrev\} '
+	run skup info su-dummy-b
+	assert_line 'reason: installed as a dependency'
+	# apt-mark prints a native package without the ":arch" it was asked for
+	run skup info libc6:amd64
+	assert_line 'reason: installed as a dependency'
+	# installed but in neither list: manual
+	FAKE_APT_MARK_NEITHER=su-dummy-c run skup info su-dummy-c
+	assert_success
+	assert_line 'reason: explicitly installed'
+	# shellcheck disable=SC2016 # dpkg-query's own ${...} format, literally
+	log_has 'dpkg-query -W -f ${db:Status-Abbrev} su-dummy-c'
+	# removed with its configuration files kept (rc), or unknown to dpkg: not installed
+	run skup info su-dummy-f
+	assert_line 'reason: not installed'
+	run skup info gpgv
+	assert_success
+	assert_line 'reason: not installed'
+	# apt-mark cannot tell
+	FAKE_APT_MARK_SHOW_RC=100 run skup info su-dummy-a
+	assert_success
+	assert_line 'reason: unknown'
 }
 
 @test "apt: the description also comes from Description-<lang> fields (Translation files)" {
@@ -141,7 +171,7 @@ setup() { common_setup; }
 	run skup info su-dummy-a
 	assert_success
 	assert_line 'su-dummy-a: Skeptical-updater dummy package A'
-	assert_line '  required by (installed): nothing'
+	assert_line 'required by: nothing'
 	run skup info su-dummy-new
 	assert_success
 	assert_line 'su-dummy-new: Skeptical-updater dummy package NEW'
@@ -152,9 +182,32 @@ setup() { common_setup; }
 	run skup info glibc
 	assert_success
 	assert_line 'glibc: GNU C Library'
-	assert_line '  required by (installed): bash, gcc-libs, ncurses, readline'
+	assert_line 'required by: bash, gcc-libs, ncurses, readline'
 	run skup info su-dummy-b
-	assert_line '  required by (installed): su-dummy-a'
+	assert_line 'required by: su-dummy-a'
+}
+
+@test "pacman: install reason from the 'Install Reason' of -Qi; -Qi failing = not installed" {
+	use_fakes pacman
+	run skup info su-dummy-a
+	assert_success
+	assert_output "$(printf '%s\n' 'su-dummy-a: Skeptical-updater dummy package A' 'reason: explicitly installed' 'required by: nothing')"
+	run skup info su-dummy-b
+	assert_success
+	assert_output "$(printf '%s\n' 'su-dummy-b: Skeptical-updater dummy package B (dependency of A)' 'reason: installed as a dependency' 'required by: su-dummy-a')"
+	run skup info glibc
+	assert_line 'reason: installed as a dependency'
+	# in a sync database only
+	run skup info su-dummy-new
+	assert_success
+	assert_line 'reason: not installed'
+	# a value this tool does not know, or no such field
+	FAKE_PACMAN_REASON='su-dummy-c=Installed for a reason pacman 9 invented' run skup info su-dummy-c
+	assert_success
+	assert_line 'reason: unknown'
+	FAKE_PACMAN_REASON='su-dummy-c=' run skup info su-dummy-c
+	assert_line 'reason: unknown'
+	log_has 'pacman -Qi -- su-dummy-c'
 }
 
 @test "pacman: the closure resolves provides (sonames, sh) and version constraints" {
@@ -249,7 +302,7 @@ setup() { common_setup; }
 	run skup info su-dummy-d
 	assert_success
 	assert_line 'su-dummy-d: skeptical-updater dummy su-dummy-d (v1.0)'
-	assert_line '  required by (installed): nothing'
+	assert_line 'required by: nothing'
 	FAKE_DNF_MAJOR=5 run skup info su-dummy-a
 	assert_line 'su-dummy-a: skeptical-updater dummy su-dummy-a (v2.0)'
 }
@@ -257,11 +310,55 @@ setup() { common_setup; }
 @test "rpm reverse deps: provides + owned files joined with every requirement (rich deps too)" {
 	use_fakes dnf rpm
 	run skup info su-dummy-b
-	assert_line '  required by (installed): su-dummy-a, su-dummy-d'
+	assert_line 'required by: su-dummy-a, su-dummy-d'
 	run skup info su-dummy-c
-	assert_line '  required by (installed): su-dummy-d'
+	assert_line 'required by: su-dummy-d'
 	run skup info bash
-	assert_line '  required by (installed): filesystem, glibc-common, redhat-rpm-config, rpm, su-dummy-d'
+	assert_line 'required by: filesystem, glibc-common, redhat-rpm-config, rpm, su-dummy-d'
+}
+
+@test "dnf4: install reason from repoquery --installed %{reason}; plain rpm -i = unknown" {
+	use_fakes dnf rpm
+	run skup info su-dummy-a
+	assert_success
+	assert_output "$(printf '%s\n' 'su-dummy-a: skeptical-updater dummy su-dummy-a (v2.0)' 'reason: explicitly installed' 'required by: su-dummy-d')"
+	log_has 'dnf -q repoquery --installed --queryformat %{reason}'
+	run skup info su-dummy-b
+	assert_line 'reason: installed as a dependency'
+	run skup info su-dummy-c
+	assert_line 'reason: unknown'
+	# weak-dependency counts as a dependency, a group member as asked for
+	run skup info glibc-gconv-extra
+	assert_line 'reason: installed as a dependency'
+	run skup info basesystem
+	assert_line 'reason: explicitly installed'
+	# only in a repository: repoquery --installed prints nothing
+	run skup info su-dummy-new
+	assert_success
+	assert_line 'su-dummy-new: skeptical-updater dummy su-dummy-new (v1.0)'
+	assert_line 'reason: not installed'
+	# repoquery failing: unknown
+	FAKE_DNF_REPOQUERY_RC=1 run skup info su-dummy-a
+	assert_success
+	assert_line 'reason: unknown'
+}
+
+@test "dnf5: install reason in dnf5's words (External User = plain rpm -i, counted as user-installed)" {
+	use_fakes dnf rpm
+	export FAKE_DNF_MAJOR=5
+	run skup info su-dummy-a
+	assert_success
+	assert_line 'reason: explicitly installed'
+	run skup info su-dummy-b
+	assert_line 'reason: installed as a dependency'
+	run skup info su-dummy-c
+	assert_line 'reason: explicitly installed'
+	run skup info glibc-gconv-extra
+	assert_line 'reason: installed as a dependency'
+	FAKE_DNF_REASON='su-dummy-c=None' run skup info su-dummy-c
+	assert_line 'reason: unknown'
+	run skup info su-dummy-new
+	assert_line 'reason: not installed'
 }
 
 @test "rpm closure: file deps, rich deps without their condition, rpmlib() dropped" {
@@ -393,9 +490,58 @@ setup() { common_setup; }
 @test "zypper: reverse deps and closure use the same pure-rpm code" {
 	use_fakes zypper rpm
 	run skup info su-dummy-c
-	assert_line '  required by (installed): su-dummy-d'
+	assert_line 'required by: su-dummy-d'
 	run skup trust su-dummy-a
 	assert_output 'trusted su-dummy-a (+1 dependency: su-dummy-b)'
 	run cut -f1 "$STATE_FILE"
 	assert_line zypper
 }
+
+@test "zypper: install reason from the Installed line of zypper info (not 'Installed Size')" {
+	use_fakes zypper rpm
+	run skup info su-dummy-a
+	assert_success
+	assert_output "$(printf '%s\n' 'su-dummy-a: skeptical-updater dummy su-dummy-a (v2.0)' 'reason: explicitly installed' 'required by: su-dummy-d')"
+	log_has 'zypper --non-interactive --no-refresh --quiet info su-dummy-a'
+	run skup info su-dummy-b
+	assert_success
+	assert_output "$(printf '%s\n' 'su-dummy-b: skeptical-updater dummy su-dummy-b (v2.0)' 'reason: installed as a dependency' 'required by: su-dummy-a, su-dummy-d')"
+	# only in a repository
+	run skup info su-dummy-orphan-parent
+	assert_success
+	assert_line 'su-dummy-orphan-parent: skeptical-updater dummy su-dummy-orphan-parent (v1.0)'
+	assert_line 'reason: not installed'
+	# unknown to zypper (exit 104) and to rpm
+	run skup info nothing-like-this
+	assert_failure 1
+	assert_line 'reason: not installed'
+}
+
+@test "zypper: without an answer from zypper (lock held: exit 7) rpm + libzypp's AutoInstalled decide" {
+	use_fakes zypper rpm
+	export SKEPTICAL_UPDATER_ZYPP_ROOT=$BATS_TEST_TMPDIR/zroot FAKE_ZYPPER_INFO_RC=7
+	# no readable AutoInstalled: the tool cannot tell
+	run skup info su-dummy-b
+	assert_success
+	assert_line 'su-dummy-b: skeptical-updater dummy su-dummy-b (v1.0)'
+	assert_line 'reason: unknown'
+	mkdir -p "$SKEPTICAL_UPDATER_ZYPP_ROOT/var/lib/zypp"
+	printf '# AutoInstalled generated Sat Oct 10 11:14:20 2026\n#\nsu-dummy-b\npattern:minimal_base\n#\n' >"$SKEPTICAL_UPDATER_ZYPP_ROOT/var/lib/zypp/AutoInstalled"
+	run skup info su-dummy-b
+	assert_line 'reason: installed as a dependency'
+	run skup info su-dummy-a
+	assert_line 'reason: explicitly installed'
+	run skup info su-dummy-orphan-parent
+	assert_line 'reason: not installed'
+}
+
+@test "zypper on Tumbleweed: N? on a new dependency (old -) says 'not installed' without asking" {
+	use_fakes zypper rpm
+	export SKEPTICAL_UPDATER_OS_RELEASE=$FAKE_DATA/os-release-tumbleweed
+	FAKE_ZYPPER_DUP=removes run skup --no-refresh <<<$'2?\nq'
+	assert_success
+	assert_line ' [2] su-dummy-newdep  -      ->  1.0-1  su-dummy'
+	assert_line 'reason: not installed'
+	assert_line 'required by: nothing'
+	log_lacks 'zypper --non-interactive --no-refresh --quiet info su-dummy-newdep'
+}
diff --git a/tests/unit/root.bats b/tests/unit/root.bats
index efa0176..9bdd090 100644
--- a/tests/unit/root.bats
+++ b/tests/unit/root.bats
@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@ setup() {
 	assert_line "apt${T}su-dummy-a${T}user${T}2026-10-09T09:40:12Z"
 	run skup info su-dummy-b
 	assert_success
-	assert_line '  required by (installed): su-dummy-a'
+	assert_line 'reason: installed as a dependency'
+	assert_line 'required by: su-dummy-a'
 	run skup show su-dummy-a
 	assert_success
 	assert_line 'Package: su-dummy-a'