I would also say optional for although that probably wouldn’t stop you uninstalling it
Correct I just go by required by. Do see the install reason.
Well, I managed to prune out only 3 packages: lib32-gst-plugins-base-libs, lib32-gstreamer, and pascube.
Whatever remains are actual applications or are packages required by one of the following: Gear Lever, Tag Editor, goverlay, or protonup-qt.
─❯ pacman -Qm
brave-origin-beta-bin 1.92.120-1
c++utilities 5.34.1-1
darkly 0.5.38-1
dwarfs-bin 0.15.3-1
freetube-bin 0.24.1-1
gearlever 4.4.10-1
grayjay-bin 17-2
klassy 6.5.3-1
kwin-effects-better-blur-dx 2.4.1-1
librewolf-bin 1:151.0.4_1-1
mullvad-vpn-bin 2026.2-1
mullvad-vpn-daemon-bin 2026.2-1
pacseek 1.8.6-1
pcloud-drive 2.1.1-1
pinta 3.1.2-1
plasma6-applets-appgrid 1.9.0-1
plasma6-applets-panel-colorizer 7.2.0-1
protonup-qt 2.15.0-1
python-desktop-entry-lib 5.0-1
python-ftputil 5.1.0-1
python-inputs 0.5-4
python-steam 2.0.0.alpha1-2
qtutilities 6.21.2-1
tageditor 3.9.10-1
tagparser 12.5.3-1
traur 0.4.1-1
upscayl-bin 2.15.0-10
vkbasalt 0.3.2.10-1
─❯
Thank you all!
I managed to clean up my AUR packages down to the minimum. Now I’m only keeping the ones I actually use:
pacman -Qm
canon-pixma-ts5055-complete 6.40-1
devin-desktop 3.1.7-1
gtk2 2.24.33-5
heroic-games-launcher-bin 2.22.0-1
kwin-effects-better-blur-dx 2.4.1-1
libpng12 1.2.59-2
oh-my-zsh-git r7579.2525dae66-1
pacseek 1.8.6-1
plasma6-applets-panel-colorizer 7.2.0-1
ttf-comfortaa 3.105-2
ttf-quicksand-variable 3.003-2
uzdoom-bin 4.14.3-3
ventoy 1.1.12-3
visual-studio-code-bin 1.124.2-1
At the same time, I cleared out my orphaned packages too. I removed everything that showed Required By: None and Optional For: None.
pacman -Qi package1 package2 package3 | grep -E "^(Name|Required|Optional For)"
The -Qdt flag should do this for all the packages installed.
-d, --deps
Restrict or filter output to packages installed as dependencies. This option can be combined with -t for listing real orphans - packages that were installed as dependencies but are no longer required by any installed package.
-t, --unrequired
Restrict or filter output to print only packages neither required nor optionally required by any currently installed package. Specify this option twice to include packages which are optionally, but not directly, required by another package.
So to list all the real orphans in your system:
pacman -Qdt
or
pacman -Qqdt
to get only the names without version numbers.
Ya, I used pacman -Qdt to get the list of orphaned packages. Then I use -Qi to really really confirm it again (unnecessary step actually 
)
I found a few more orphans, as well. I also double-checked each with -Qi. 
─❯ pacman -Qdt
lib32-gtk3 1:3.24.52-1
lib32-libsoup3 3.6.6-2
lib32-libvpx 1.16.0-2
lib32-mpg123 1.33.5-1
─❯
The Chaotic AUR may actually be the lesser of the two evils these days. In the past your logic would be sound, but the Chaotic AUR implemented safeguards a while back to automatically scan AUR packages for malware before the are built.
AUR packages had already been identified as infected and they were already red flagged by the Chaotic AUR’s build scripts before the AUR malware contaminations became widely known.
I’m not saying the Chaotic AUR safeguards are infallible by any means, but it at least adds any extra layer of security over and above installing directly from the AUR.
I just thought I’d mention the fact that the Chaotic AUR had implemented safeguards against malware infections a while back, for those that are concerned that the Chaotic AUR is less secure than packages downloaded directly from the AUR.
It always pays to be cautious, but the Chaotic AUR is not inherently riskier than the AUR now that screening safeguards are in place.
Just FYI, for those that didn’t know about the Chaotic AUR’s extra level of security screening that was implemented a while ago.
The Chaotic AUR is less chaotic than the AUR 
Since I went through the trouble of removing the Chaotic AUR a couple days ago, I’m not in a hurry to add it again. Good to know, nonetheless. Thanks.
It does seem that way!
I’ve pruned my list down by half. A few replaced by flatpaks, others just dumped.
These that remain are only available on the AUR.
asusctl 6.3.8-1
autopanogiga 4.4.2-5
brscan-skey 0.3.4_0-1
brscan4 0.4.11_1-5
electron41-bin 41.7.2-1
klassy 6.5.3-1
pacseek 1.8.6-1
proton-drive-sync-prerelease-bin 0.2.5beta.2-1
rog-control-center 6.3.8-1
traur-bin 0.4.1-1
via-bin 3.0.0-0
*Edit. Interestingly, both AsusCTL and ROG-control-center are on the chaotic AUR.
What is this needed for?
What the prick(ly) one said 
electron41 is in the Arch Extra repo.
The amazing music app Feishin.
pacman -Qi electron41-bin | grep Required
Required By : feishin
You can swap it out for electron41 - https://archlinux.org/packages/extra/any/feishin/
This is in the extra repo. You should not need the dependency from AUR. Nothing in the official repos have dependencies on something in AUR.
Done! Thanks for the tip.
asusctl 6.3.8-1
autopanogiga 4.4.2-5
brscan-skey 0.3.4_0-1
brscan4 0.4.11_1-5
klassy 6.5.3-1
pacseek 1.8.6-1
proton-drive-sync-prerelease-bin 0.2.5beta.2-1
rog-control-center 6.3.8-1
traur-bin 0.4.1-1
via-bin 3.0.0-0
You could use both packages from the Arch Extra Repo. 
These are my installed packages from the AUR:
1password
arch-update
betterbird-de-bin
brave-origin-bin
faugus-launcher
grub-theme-endeavouros
heroic-games-launcher-bin
jdownloader2
masterpdfeditor
plasma6-applets-appgrid
plasma6-applets-panel-colorizer
protonplus
samsung-unified-driver
samsung-unified-driver-common
samsung-unified-driver-printer
samsung-unified-driver-scanner
softmaker-office-2024-bin
ventoy-bin
vuescan-bin
xdg-terminal-exec
xnviewmp
zapzap
Excellent. Thanks for the heads-up, @DenalB. Shortend my pacman -Qm by a couple more now. Much appreciated!
─❯ pacman -Qm
brave-origin-beta-bin 1.92.120-1
c++utilities 5.34.1-1
darkly 0.5.38-1
dwarfs-bin 0.15.3-1
freetube-bin 0.24.1-1
gearlever 4.4.10-1
grayjay-bin 17-2
klassy 6.5.3-1
kwin-effects-better-blur-dx 2.4.1-1
librewolf-bin 1:151.0.4_1-1
pacseek 1.8.6-1
pcloud-drive 2.1.1-1
pinta 3.1.2-1
plasma6-applets-appgrid 1.9.0-1
plasma6-applets-panel-colorizer 7.2.0-1
protonup-qt 2.15.0-1
python-desktop-entry-lib 5.0-1
python-ftputil 5.1.0-1
python-inputs 0.5-4
python-steam 2.0.0.alpha1-2
qtutilities 6.21.2-1
tageditor 3.9.10-1
tagparser 12.5.3-1
traur 0.4.1-1
upscayl-bin 2.15.0-10
vkbasalt 0.3.2.10-1
─❯