IPC & Keybinds

IPC commands let you control Noctalia from a terminal, a compositor keybind, a script, or a hook.

All commands use this shape:

noctalia msg <command>

For example:

noctalia msg dock-toggle
noctalia msg volume-up
noctalia msg panel-toggle launcher
noctalia msg screenshot-region

Command lists

ShellStatus, config reload, settings, window switcher, and session actions.

SurfacesBar, panels, dock, desktop widgets, and lockscreen widgets.

Media & UINotifications, clipboard, media controls, wallpaper, theme, and screenshots.

PluginsPlugin event dispatch and plugin/source management.

System ControlsVolume, microphone, brightness, night light, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, caffeine, power profile, and display power.

Compositor keybinds

A compositor keybind only needs to launch a Noctalia command. The command part is compositor-agnostic:

noctalia msg panel-toggle launcher
noctalia msg panel-toggle control-center
noctalia msg settings-toggle
noctalia msg volume-up

Use your compositor’s normal exec, spawn, or command-binding syntax to run those commands.

NiriNiri bind syntax, overview integration, wallpaper backdrop, and blur.

HyprlandHyprland Lua bind syntax, persistent workspaces, and blur.

Sway / ScrollSway-style bind syntax for Noctalia launcher, panels, settings, audio, and brightness.

MangoMango effects and bind syntax for Noctalia launcher, panels, settings, audio, and brightness.

Discovering commands

Not sure what else you can control? You can see all IPC commands via this terminal command:

noctalia msg --help

Using IPC in config

Config command fields run through the shell. Use the canonical IPC CLI when a command needs to call Noctalia, and compose it with other shell commands when needed:

[idle.behavior.custom]
timeout = 660
action = "command"
command = "noctalia msg session lock && notify-send 'Session locked'"

[hooks]
started = "noctalia msg panel-toggle launcher"