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- PipeWire

WirePlumber is a powerful session and policy manager for PipeWire. Based on a modular design, with Lua plugins that implement the actual management functionality, it is highly configurable and extendable.

## Installation

Install the wireplumber package. It will conflict with other PipeWire Session Managers and make sure they are uninstalled.

WirePlumber uses systemd user units to manage the server.

## Configuration

This article or section is out of date.

Reason: WirePlumber's configuration format is changing.[1] (Discuss in ArchWiki talk:Requests#Update for new WirePlumber configuration format)

### Configuration file layout

WirePlumber's configuration is comprised of global PipeWire-flavored JSON objects such as `context` and `alsa_monitor` that are modified to change its behavior. The configuration files are read from `~/.config/wireplumber/` (user configuration), `/etc/wireplumber/` (global configuration), and then `/usr/share/wireplumber/` (stock configuration).

WirePlumber starts by reading the main configuration file. This is a JSON-like file that sets up the PipeWire context, SPA plugins, modules, and components. Among these components is the Lua scripting engine, which is used to dynamically modify the global objects.

There are different main configuration files that ship with the package:

- The single-instance configuration file, at `/usr/share/wireplumber/wireplumber.conf`. This is the default configuration, which includes the functionality of all the other configurations within one process.
  - See the documentation for the "context" object used in all of the main configuration files.
- The main configuration file, at `/usr/share/wireplumber/main.conf`. This loads the modules and components necessary for the WirePlumber core, and loads Lua configuration files from `config-dir/main.lua.d/`. [2]
  - See the documentation for the ALSA objects and "access" objects.
- The Bluetooth configuration file, at `/usr/share/wireplumber/bluetooth.conf`. This is suitable for a WirePlumber process that is handling Bluetooth connectivity for the core process. This loads Lua files from `config-dir/bluetooth.lua.d/`.
  - See the documentation for the Bluetooth object.
- The policy configuration file, at `/usr/share/wireplumber/policy.conf`. This encapsulates policy functionality, which is how WirePlumber makes decisions about moving and making changes to nodes. This loads Lua files from `config-dir/policy.lua.d/`
  - See the documentation for the policy-related objects.

The Lua configuration files in the `lua.d/` directories also load Lua scripts from `config-dir/scripts/`. These scripts implement some of the logic/functionality of Pipewire, and could also be worth modifying under certain circumstances.

### Modifying the configuration

The recommended way to configure WirePlumber is to add a Lua script to the appropriate `lua.d/` directory within `/etc/wireplumber/` or `~/.config/wireplumber/`. Some things to consider are:

- If there is an existing script you want to override, copy it from `/usr/share/wireplumber/` to the destination while keeping its name the same. Configuration files with the same name but in a lower priority location will be ignored. [3]
- Otherwise, if you are adding a new script, you should start it with a number bigger than 50 (e.g. `51-my-config.lua`), as the default configuration is mostly done at or below 50 in the alphanumeric ordering.
  - Note that WirePlumber performs multi-path merging, meaning that a lower numbered stock config will run before your new script, as alphanumeric ordering takes precedence over directory priorities.
- The directory you choose should be consistent with what the stock configuration does, but it does not strictly matter unless you are using multiple instances.
- ALSA properties for Bluetooth devices must be configured in `bluetooth.lua.d/`. An ALSA property for a Bluetooth device set in `main.lua.d/` is not applied.

### Obtain interface name for rules matching

In the Lua scripts, you need to specify `matches` rules with a property from an object of the interface you want to configure.

Use the command `wpctl status` to show all objects managed by WirePlumber. Find the `ID` assigned to the target interface. Then use command `wpctl inspect ID` to get a needed property.

Example, if you target interface is `HD Audio Controller Analog Stereo` and consider following output:

    $ wpctl status

    PipeWire 'pipewire-0' [0.3.56, user@hostname, cookie:1163266174]

    Audio
     ├─ Devices:
     │      42. HD Audio Controller                 [alsa]
     │     105. USB PnP Audio Device                [alsa]
     │
     ├─ Sinks:
     │  *   48. HD Audio Controller Analog Stereo   [vol: 0.50]
     │
     ├─ ...
     │
     ├─ Sources:
     │  *  101. USB PnP Audio Device Mono           [vol: 0.74]
     │
     └─ ...

the interface `ID` is `48`.

Then use inspect command to view object detail, listed all properties in that object:

    $ wpctl inspect 48

    id 48, type PipeWire:Interface:Node
        ...
        device.api = "alsa"
        device.class = "sound"
      * device.id = "42"
        device.profile.description = "Analog Stereo"
        device.profile.name = "analog-stereo"
        ...
      * factory.id = "18"
        factory.mode = "merge"
        factory.name = "api.alsa.pcm.sink"
        ...
      * media.class = "Audio/Sink"
      * node.description = "HD Audio Controller Analog Stereo"
      * node.name = "alsa_output.pci-0000_08_00.4.analog-stereo"
      * node.nick = "ALC1220 Analog"
        ...
      * object.path = "alsa:pcm:1:front:1:playback"
      * object.serial = "49"
        ...

Choose `device.name` or `node.name` property to use with the `matches` rules in the Lua configuration script.

Avoid using `device.id`, it is dynamic and changes often.

Multiple properties in `matches` rules is possible, see the `alsa_monitor.rules` section in documentation for the WirePlumber ALSA configuration.

Note:

- You can determine the `Endpoint` class of this object from the `media.class` property.
- For ALSA, `node` objects are Sinks or Sources / `device` objects correspond to the card.
- Since v0.4.9, ALSA nodes use the PCM name to populate `node.nick`, which is useful at least on HDA cards using UCM, where all outputs (analog, HDMI, etc.) are exposed as `Node` on a single profile.

Tip:

- The command `pw-top` shows the PipeWire `Device` and `Node` currently in use.
- Similar inspection command from PipeWire is `pw-cli info ID`.

### Changing a device/node property

To change a device or node property, such as its description or nick, you must create a Lua script and add it into `/etc/wireplumber/` or `~/.config/wireplumber/` under the proper path and name.

For instance, to change the description of an ALSA node, you would create a file such as:

    /etc/wireplumber/main.lua.d/51-device-rename.lua (or ~/.config/wireplumber/main.lua.d/51-device-rename.lua)

    rule = {
      matches = {
        {
          { "node.name", "equals", "alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1f.3.output_analog-stereo" },
        },
      },
      apply_properties = {
        ["node.description"] = "Laptop",
      },
    }

    table.insert(alsa_monitor.rules, rule)

If instead you wish to change something on a Bluetooth node or device, you could create a file such as:

    /etc/wireplumber/bluetooth.lua.d/51-device-rename.lua (or ~/.config/wireplumber/bluetooth.lua.d/51-device-rename.lua)

    rule = {
      matches = {
        {
          { "node.name", "equals", "bluez_output.02_11_45_A0_B3_27.a2dp-sink" },
        },
      },
      apply_properties = {
        ["node.nick"] = "Headphones",
      },
    }

    table.insert(bluez_monitor.rules, rule)

The properties that you can change as well as the matching rules to select devices or nodes are documented at ALSA configuration and Bluetooth configuration.

### Disable a device/node

Since WirePlumber v0.4.7, users could now disable any devices or nodes by property `device.disabled` or `node.disabled`:

    /etc/wireplumber/main.lua.d/51-alsa-disable.lua (or ~/.config/wireplumber/main.lua.d/51-alsa-disable.lua)

    rule = {
      matches = {
        {
          { "device.name", "equals", "alsa_card.pci-0000_08_00.4" },
        },
      },
      apply_properties = {
        ["device.disabled"] = true,
      },
    }

    table.insert(alsa_monitor.rules,rule)

For the name of `alsa_card.*` in your system, see #Obtain interface name for rules matching.

Note: Common use-case, for example, is to disable NVIDIA's HDMI audio output.

### Simultaneous output to multiple sinks on the same sound card

Create a copy of `/usr/share/alsa-card-profile/mixer/profile-sets/default.conf` so that changes persist across updates. Here we define a profile joining the two default mappings for Analog and HDMI.

    /usr/share/alsa-card-profile/mixer/profile-sets/multiple.conf

    [General]
    auto-profiles = no

    [Mapping analog-stereo]
    device-strings = front:%f
    channel-map = left,right
    paths-output = analog-output analog-output-lineout analog-output-speaker analog-output-headphones analog-output-headphones-2
    paths-input = analog-input-front-mic analog-input-rear-mic analog-input-internal-mic analog-input-dock-mic analog-input analog-input-mic analog-input-linein analog-input-aux analog-input-video analog-input-tvtuner analog-input-fm analog-input-mic-line analog-input-headphone-mic analog-input-headset-mic
    priority = 15

    [Mapping hdmi-stereo]
    description = Digital Stereo (HDMI)
    device-strings = hdmi:%f
    paths-output = hdmi-output-0
    channel-map = left,right
    priority = 9
    direction = output

    [Profile multiple]
    description = Analog Stereo Duplex + Digital Stereo (HDMI) Output
    output-mappings = analog-stereo hdmi-stereo
    input-mappings = analog-stereo

Now we configure Wireplumber to use the new card-profile for matching devices. For identifying information see #Obtain interface name for rules matching. We apply the configuration by creating a Lua script such as the following:

    /etc/wireplumber/main.lua.d/51-alsa-custom.lua (or ~/.config/wireplumber/main.lua.d/51-alsa-custom.lua)

    rule = {
      matches = {
        {
          { "device.nick", "matches", "HDA Intel PCH" },
        },
      },
      apply_properties = {
        ["api.alsa.use-acp"] = true,
        ["api.acp.auto-profile"] = false,
        ["api.acp.auto-port"] = false,
        ["device.profile-set"] = "multiple.conf",
        ["device.profile"] = "multiple",
      },
    }
    table.insert(alsa_monitor.rules,rule)

## Tips and tricks

### Keyboard volume control

See Keyboard shortcuts#Xorg to bind the following commands to your volume keys: `XF86AudioRaiseVolume`, `XF86AudioLowerVolume`, `XF86AudioMute` and `XF86AudioMicMute`.

To raise the volume, with a limit of 150%:

    $ wpctl set-volume -l 1.5 @DEFAULT_AUDIO_SINK@ 5%+

To lower the volume:

    $ wpctl set-volume @DEFAULT_AUDIO_SINK@ 5%-

To mute/unmute the volume:

    $ wpctl set-mute @DEFAULT_AUDIO_SINK@ toggle

To mute/unmute the microphone:

    $ wpctl set-mute @DEFAULT_AUDIO_SOURCE@ toggle

Tip: To use sinks or sources other than the default ones, run `wpctl status` to list all available sinks, and use sink or source numbers in place of `@DEFAULT_AUDIO_SINK@` or `_SOURCE@`.

### Show volume level

To get the volume level and mute status of the default sink:

    $ wpctl get-volume @DEFAULT_AUDIO_SINK@

    Volume: 0.45

Note: The mute status is only visible when the sink is muted.

### Keep Bluetooth running after logout / Headless Bluetooth

By default `/usr/share/wireplumber/bluetooth.lua.d/50-bluez-config.lua` enables the logind module which disables Bluetooth whenever the session is terminated. You can override this like so:

    /etc/wireplumber/bluetooth.lua.d/50-bluez-config.lua (or ~/.config/wireplumber/bluetooth.lua.d/50-bluez-config.lua)

    bluez_monitor.properties = {
      ["with-logind"] = false,
    }

Note: You also need to enable lingering for the user running PipeWire/Wireplumber.

## See also

- Documentation — Official documentation
- WirePlumber, the PipeWire session manager — Blog post by George Kiagiadakis (Collabora) from May 2020, detailing how WirePlumber works

Category:

- Multimedia

Hidden category:

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