---
name: "pw-metadata"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "pipewire"
version: "1:1.6.10-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/pw-metadata"
---

# pw-metadata(1)

The PipeWire metadata

## NAME

pw-metadata - The PipeWire metadata

## SYNOPSIS

**pw-metadata** \[*options*\] \[*id* \[*key* \[*value* \[*type* \] \] \] \]

## DESCRIPTION

Monitor, set and delete metadata on PipeWire objects.

Metadata are key/type/value triplets attached to objects identified by *id*. The metadata is shared between all applications binding to the same metadata object. When an object is destroyed, all its metadata is automatically removed.

When no *value* is given, **pw-metadata** will query and log the metadata matching the optional arguments *id* and *key*. Without any arguments, all metadata is displayed.

When *value* is given, **pw-metadata** will set the metadata for *id* and *key* to *value* and an optional *type*.

## OPTIONS

**-r \| --remote=NAME**

The name the remote instance to use. If left unspecified, a connection is made to the default PipeWire instance.

- **-h \| --help**

  Show help.

- **--version**

  Show version information.

- **-l \| --list**

  List available metadata objects

- **-m \| --monitor**

  Keeps running and log the changes to the metadata.

- **-d \| --delete**

  Delete all metadata for *id* or for the specified *key* of object *id*. Without any option, all metadata is removed.

- **-n \| --name**

  Metadata name (Default: "default").

## EXAMPLES

**pw-metadata**

Show metadata in default name.

**pw-metadata** -n settings 0

Display settings.

**pw-metadata** -n settings 0 clock.quantum 1024

Change clock.quantum to 1024.

## AUTHORS

The PipeWire Developers \<https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/pipewire/pipewire/issues\>; PipeWire is available from \<https://pipewire.org\>

## SEE ALSO

**[pipewire(1)](/pipewire/1.md)**, **[pw-mon(1)](/pw-mon/1.md)**, **[pw-cli(1)](/pw-cli/1.md)**,