Disable Audio Devices in Pipewire/Wireplumber on Linux

Table of Contents

Find the device name #

List the devices for handling audio input/output

pactl list cards short

Find the name of the current audio input/output YOUR using

wpctl status

It will be listed at the bottom
To get more info on the audio inputs/outputs (sources/sinks)
```
wpctl inspect <id_value>
```

Create the config file #

Once you’ve found the device, create a configuration file in ~/.config/wireplumber/main.lua.d.

If it doesn’t exist, run

mkdir -p ~/config/wireplumber/main.lua.d/

Name the file <value>-disable-devices.lua with the value not conflicting others in that directory

touch  ~/config/wireplumber/main.lua.d/<value>-disable-devices.lua

Write the code #

Here’s how I disabled my devices

-- Disables HDMI
hdmi = {
  matches = {
    {
      { "device.name", "equals", "alsa_card.pci-0000_c5_00.1" },
    },
  },
  apply_properties = {
    ["device.disabled"] = true,
  },
}

-- Disables audio jack
audioJack = {
  matches = {
    {
      { "device.name", "equals", "alsa_card.pci-0000_c5_00.6" },
    },
  },
  apply_properties = {
    ["device.disabled"] = true;
  },
}

Here’s how I disabled one of my outputs from my device (Audio Interface)

-- Disables digital output from Audio Interface
scarletOutput = {
  matches = {
    {
      { "node.name", "equals", "alsa_output.usb-Focusrite_Scarlett_Solo_USB_Y7ANZA324ED720-00.iec958-stereo" },
    },
  },
  apply_properties = {
    ["node.disabled"] = true;
  },
}

Here’s how to apply those rules

table.insert(alsa_monitor.rules, hdmi)
table.insert(alsa_monitor.rules, audioJack)
table.insert(alsa_monitor.rules, scarletOutput)

Run the configuration #

systemctl --user restart wireplumber

Now you don’t have to see those devices from your sound settings! :D