Installation

Which Distro are you using?

• Arch
• Fedora
• Gentoo
• openSUSE
• Ubuntu
• Void
• Other

Arch

On Arch, you can simply install waybar from community. You can also install waybar-git from the AUR.

Fedora

On Fedora, Waybar is also in the official repositories. Install with dnf install waybar.

Fedora Silverblue

Fedora Silverblue uses an immutable ostree-based filesystem, meaning ordinarily you would not install packages directly. There are three main approaches to installing Waybar.

Package layering (easiest)

You can install Waybar from the official repositories, using package layering with:

rpm-ostree install waybar

This functions similarly to packages installed with dnf and requires a reboot to take effect. rpm-ostree update will work as normal.

Customised ostree image

Alternatively, a customised ostree image could be prepared already including waybar. You can do this by modifying workstation-ostree-config. Guidance is available here.

Flatpak

The other approach is with Flatpak, like most software on Silverblue. There are no official Flatpak packages for Waybar at this time.

Gentoo

On Gentoo, the package is in the official repositories. Install with emerge -a waybar. Note that all versions are currently unstable, so you will have to accept keywords for it.

openSUSE

On openSUSE, Waybar is in the official repositories. Install with zypper in waybar. See devel project.

Ubuntu

On Ubuntu, since version 20.04 LTS ("Focal Fossa"), Waybar is available as waybar in universe. Install with apt-get install waybar. See the Ubuntu Packages page.

Void

On Void, the package is available as Waybar. Install with xbps-install -S Waybar.

Other

To build and install Waybar just run:

git clone https://github.com/Alexays/Waybar && cd Waybar && sudo make install

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How to use with Sway?

First, ensure you have the otf-font-awesome package installed. These are free fonts provided by Fonts Awesome and commonly used in Waybar configurations. You can also download the OTF fonts package from this link.

You can use Waybar by defining in your Sway config file:

bar {
    swaybar_command waybar
}

or at the end of your sway config file

exec waybar