pw-cli(1)

NAME
pw-cli - The PipeWire Command Line Interface

SYNOPSIS

pw-cli [command]

DESCRIPTION

Interact with a PipeWire instance.

When a command is given, pw-cli will execute the command and exit

When no command is given, pw-cli starts an interactive session with the default PipeWire instance pipewire-0.

Connections to other, remote instances can be made. The current instance name is displayed at the prompt.

Note that pw-cli also creates a local PipeWire instance. Some commands operate on the current (remote) instance and some on the local instance, such as module loading.

Use the 'help' command to list the available commands.

GENERAL COMMANDS

help | h
    Show a quick help on the commands available. It also lists the aliases for many commands.

quit | q
    Exit from pw-cli

MODULE MANAGEMENT

Modules are loaded and unloaded in the local instance, thus the pw-cli binary itself and can add functionality or objects to the local instance. It is not possible in PipeWire to load modules in another instance.

load-module name [arguments...]
    Load a module specified by its name and arguments in the local instance. For most modules it is OK to be loaded more than once.

    This command returns a module variable that can be used to unload the module.

    The locally module is not visible in the remote instance. It is not possible in PipeWire to load modules in a remote instance.

unload-module module-var
    Unload a module, specified either by its variable.

OBJECT INTROSPECTION

list-objects
    List the objects of the current instance.

Objects are listed with their id, type and version.

info id | all
    Get information about a specific object or all objects.

Requesting info about an object will also notify you of changes.

WORKING WITH REMOTES

connect [remote-name]
    Connect to a remote instance and make this the new current instance.

    If no remote name is specified, a connection is made to the default remote instance, usually pipewire-0.

    The special remote name called internal can be used to connect to the local pw-cli PipeWire instance.

    This command returns a remote var that can be used to disconnect or switch remotes.

disconnect [remote-var]
    Disconnect from a remote instance.

    If no remote name is specified, the current instance is disconnected.

list-remotes
    List all remote instances.

switch-remote [remote-var]
    Make the specified remote the current instance.

    If no remote name is specified, the first instance is made current.

NODE MANAGEMENT

create-node factory-name [properties...]
    Create a node from a factory in the current instance.

    Properties are key=value pairs separated by whitespace.

    This command returns a node variable.

export-node node-id [remote-var]
    Export a node from the local instance to the specified instance. When no instance is specified, the node will be exported to the current instance.

DEVICE MANAGEMENT

create-device factory-name [properties...]
    Create a device from a factory in the current instance.

    Properties are key=value pairs separated by whitespace.

    This command returns a device variable.

LINK MANAGEMENT

create-link node-id port-id node-id port-id [properties...]
    Create a link between 2 nodes and ports.

    Port ids can be -1 to automatically select an available port.

    Properties are key=value pairs separated by whitespace.

    This command returns a link variable.

GLOBALS MANAGEMENT

destroy object-id
    Destroy a global object.

PARAMETER MANAGEMENT

enum-params object-id param-id
    Enumerate params of an object.

    param-id can also be given as the param short name.

set-param object-id param-id param-json
    Set param of an object.

    param-id can also be given as the param short name.

PERMISSION MANAGEMENT

permissions client-id object-id permission
    Set permissions for a client.

    object-id can be -1 to set the default permissions.

get-permissions client-id
    Get permissions of a client.

COMMAND MANAGEMENT

send-command object-id
    Send a command to an object.

AUTHORS

The PipeWire Developers <https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/pipewire/pipewire/issues>; PipeWire is available from <https://pipewire.org>

SEE ALSO

pipewire(1), pw-mon(1),