---
name: "qjackctl"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "qjackctl"
version: "1.0.6-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/qjackctl"
---

# qjackctl(1)

User interface for controlling JACK (Jack Audio Connection Kit)

## NAME

qjackctl - User interface for controlling JACK (Jack Audio Connection Kit)

## SYNOPSIS

**qjackctl** \[*options*\]

## DESCRIPTION

This manual page documents briefly the **qjackctl** command-line options.

**QjackCtl** is used for controlling the Jack Audio Connection Kit (JACK) and as a patchbay for ALSA MIDI and JACK MIDI devices. **QjackCtl** also has support for the JACK transport control protocol, so you can use it to start and stop the JACK transport. Once you start qjackctl, you get presented with a single GUI window, the buttons are self-explanatory and have tooltips.

## OPTIONS

**-s**, **--start**

-

  Start JACK audio server immediately

**-p**, **--preset**=\[*label*\]

-

  Set default settings preset name

**-a**, **--active-patchbay**=\[*path*\]

-

  Set active patchbay definition file

**-n**, **--server-name**=\[*label*\]

-

  Set default JACK audio server name

**-?**, **--help**

-

  Displays help on command-line options.

**-v**, **--version**

-

  Show version information.

## D-BUS INTERFACE

Enable 'Setup \> Misc \> Other \> Enable D-Bus interface' to use the D-Bus interface commands as shown below.

**dbus-send --system / org.rncbc.qjackctl.start**

**dbus-send --system / org.rncbc.qjackctl.stop**

**dbus-send --system / org.rncbc.qjackctl.reset**

**dbus-send --system / org.rncbc.qjackctl.main**

**dbus-send --system / org.rncbc.qjackctl.messages**

**dbus-send --system / org.rncbc.qjackctl.status**

**dbus-send --system / org.rncbc.qjackctl.session**

**dbus-send --system / org.rncbc.qjackctl.connections**

**dbus-send --system / org.rncbc.qjackctl.patchbay**

**dbus-send --system / org.rncbc.qjackctl.graph**

**dbus-send --system / org.rncbc.qjackctl.rewind**

**dbus-send --system / org.rncbc.qjackctl.backward**

**dbus-send --system / org.rncbc.qjackctl.play**

**dbus-send --system / org.rncbc.qjackctl.pause**

**dbus-send --system / org.rncbc.qjackctl.forward**

**dbus-send --system / org.rncbc.qjackctl.setup**

**dbus-send --system / org.rncbc.qjackctl.about**

**dbus-send --system / org.rncbc.qjackctl.quit**

**dbus-send --system / org.rncbc.qjackctl.preset string**:\[*label*\]

**dbus-send --system / org.rncbc.qjackctl.active-patchbay string**:\[*path*\]

**dbus-send --system / org.rncbc.qjackctl.load**

**dbus-send --system / org.rncbc.qjackctl.save**

**dbus-send --system / org.rncbc.qjackctl.savequit**

**dbus-send --system / org.rncbc.qjackctl.savetemplate**

## SEE ALSO

[**jackd**(1)](/jackd/1.md)

## FILES

Configuration settings are stored in ~/.config/rncbc.org/QjackCtl.conf

## AUTHOR

QjackCtl was written by Rui Nuno Capela.

This manual page was written by Guenter Geiger \<geiger@debian.org\>, for the Debian project (but may be used by others).