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

Note

These pages list the command exactly as you run it. If you use the same command inside an idle behavior or hook with the noctalia: prefix, remove noctalia msg and keep the rest. For example, noctalia msg session lock becomes noctalia:session lock.

Command lists

Shell & UI Status, config reload, bar, panels, dock, desktop widgets, notifications, media controls, wallpaper, theme, and lock.

System Controls Volume, 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.

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

Hyprland Hyprland Lua bind syntax, persistent workspaces, and blur.

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

Mango Mango 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

Some config fields accept normal shell commands. Idle behaviors and hooks also accept the noctalia: shorthand:

[idle.behavior.lock]
timeout = 660
command = "noctalia:session lock"

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

Both styles call the same command registry. Use noctalia msg ... in a terminal or compositor keybind, and noctalia:... where a Noctalia config field documents that shorthand.