How to Install WirePlumber on Linux

Before you start

WirePlumber is a session manager for PipeWire. It usually runs locally as a user service, so you do not need a remote service or server. The install procedure depends on your distribution and package manager.

Check that PipeWire is already present on your system. WirePlumber is useful only when PipeWire is available because the session manager controls PipeWire graph objects such as cameras, microphones, and audio outputs.

Step-by-step instructions

Use the package name that matches your distribution. On Debian, Ubuntu, and similar systems, the main package is usually wireplumber. On Arch-based systems, the package may also be called wireplumber.

On Debian or Ubuntu, open a terminal and run:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install wireplumber

On Fedora, run:

sudo dnf install wireplumber

On Arch, run:

sudo pacman -S wireplumber

After installation, enable the user service if it is not started automatically. The exact service name can vary by distribution version. A common command is:

systemctl --user enable --now wireplumber

If the service file has a different name, check the installed package documentation or list the relevant user units with a command such as systemctl --user list-unit-files. Keep the change reversible by using disable instead of enable if you need to turn the service off later.

Check the output

Confirm that WirePlumber is running as your user. A useful check is:

systemctl --user status wireplumber

A running service does not by itself prove that a camera or microphone works. Open an application that uses PipeWire, such as a video call tool or an audio settings panel, and check whether the device appears and produces output.

If supported on your system, you can inspect PipeWire objects with wpctl status. This may show audio and video nodes that WirePlumber has detected. Device names and available nodes depend on your hardware and drivers.

Common problems and next steps

If the install command cannot find a package, update the package index first. A missing package may also mean that WirePlumber is provided under a different name in your distribution repository, so check the package search tool for your distribution.

If the service fails to start, read the recent service log. A useful starting point is:

journalctl --user -u wireplumber -e

Audio or camera devices may still be unavailable if PipeWire is not running, if the device requires firmware, or if application permissions block access. Restart the user service only after an actual failure, and keep the original package choices unless you have confirmed a specific compatibility problem.