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System Controls

v5-ipc-system-controls.md

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System Controls

These commands are useful for media keys, compositor binds, scripts, and custom widgets.

Volume

Section titled “Volume”

ActionCommandDescription
Set output volumevolume-set 65Set output volume. Accepts 65, 65%, or normalized values such as 0.65.
Raise output volumevolume-upRaise output volume by the default step.
Raise output by amountvolume-up 10Raise output volume by a custom step.
Lower output volumevolume-downLower output volume by the default step.
Mute outputvolume-muteToggle output mute.

Default step is 5% when not specified. Output volume is clamped to 100% unless [audio] enable_overdrive = true, which allows up to 150%.

Microphone

Section titled “Microphone”

ActionCommandDescription
Set mic volumemic-volume-set 0.5Set microphone volume. Accepts normalized or percent values.
Raise mic volumemic-volume-upRaise microphone volume by the default step.
Raise mic by amountmic-volume-up 5%Raise microphone volume by a custom step.
Lower mic volumemic-volume-downLower microphone volume by the default step.
Mute micmic-muteToggle microphone mute.

Brightness

Section titled “Brightness”

ActionCommandDescription
Set current brightnessbrightness-set 65Set brightness on the current monitor.
Set one monitorbrightness-set DP-1 0.65Set brightness for a specific monitor or monitor selector.
Set all monitorsbrightness-set * 40%Set brightness on every monitor.
Raise current brightnessbrightness-upRaise brightness by the default step.
Raise one monitorbrightness-up DP-1 10Raise brightness for one monitor.
Lower all monitorsbrightness-down * 5%Lower brightness on every monitor.
Show brightness OSDbrightness-osd 72Show the brightness OSD at the given value without changing brightness. Useful when an external script controls brightness.

Targets can be current, all, *, a monitor connector name such as eDP-1 or DP-1, or a monitor selector token. Values accept normalized 0.0 to 1.0 or percentage form such as 65, 65%, and 5%.

brightness-osd takes a value only - unlike brightness-set, it has no monitor target. The OSD appears on whichever monitors are configured under [osd].monitors.

Night light

Section titled “Night light”

ActionCommandDescription
Enable schedulenightlight-enableEnable scheduled night light.
Disable schedulenightlight-disableDisable scheduled night light.
Toggle schedulenightlight-toggleToggle scheduled night light.
Toggle forced modenightlight-force-toggleForce night light on or return to schedule behavior.

Wireless

Section titled “Wireless”

ActionCommandDescription
Enable Wi-Fiwifi-enableTurn the Wi-Fi radio on.
Disable Wi-Fiwifi-disableTurn the Wi-Fi radio off.
Toggle Wi-Fiwifi-toggleToggle the Wi-Fi radio.
Show Wi-Fi statuswifi-statusPrint on or off.
Enable Bluetoothbluetooth-enableTurn the Bluetooth adapter on.
Disable Bluetoothbluetooth-disableTurn the Bluetooth adapter off.
Toggle Bluetoothbluetooth-toggleToggle the Bluetooth adapter.
Show Bluetooth statusbluetooth-statusPrint on or off.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth IPC commands show a short OSD when they change the state.

Caffeine

Section titled “Caffeine”

ActionCommandDescription
Enable caffeinecaffeine-enablePrevent idle actions while enabled.
Disable caffeinecaffeine-disableAllow idle actions again.
Toggle caffeinecaffeine-toggleSwitch caffeine on or off.

Caffeine IPC commands show a short OSD when they change the state.

Power profile

Section titled “Power profile”

Requires org.freedesktop.UPower.PowerProfiles (same as the Control Center home shortcut). Profile ids come from the compositor/session; common values are performance, balanced, and power-saver.

When another app or an IPC command changes the active profile, Noctalia shows a short OSD with the active mode’s icon and profile name. Profile changes made through Noctalia’s UI update the UI and fire hooks without showing extra OSD feedback.

ActionCommandDescription
Set power profilepower-set balancedActivate the named profile. If the service reports a profile list, the name must match one of those entries exactly.
Cycle power profilepower-cycleSwitch to the next profile in UPower’s ordered list (same order as the bar power widget and control center shortcut). Wraps from the last profile back to the first. Takes no arguments.

Monitor power

Section titled “Monitor power”

ActionCommandDescription
Turn monitors ondpms-onTurn monitors on.
Turn monitors offdpms-offTurn monitors off.