# info > BUSCTL

---
type: CommandReference
command: busctl
mode: man
section: "1"
source: man-pages
---

## Quick Reference

- `busctl list` — Show all peers on the bus.
- `busctl status [SERVICE]` — Show process info and credentials.
- `busctl monitor [SERVICE...]` — Dump messages being exchanged.
- `busctl introspect SERVICE OBJECT [INTERFACE]` — Show interfaces, methods, properties, signals.
- `busctl call SERVICE OBJECT INTERFACE METHOD [SIGNATURE [ARGUMENT...]]` — Invoke a method.
- `busctl get-property SERVICE OBJECT INTERFACE PROPERTY...` — Retrieve property values.
- `busctl set-property SERVICE OBJECT INTERFACE PROPERTY SIGNATURE ARGUMENT...` — Set property.
- `busctl emit OBJECT INTERFACE SIGNAL [SIGNATURE [ARGUMENT...]]` — Emit a signal.

## Name

busctl - Introspect the bus

## Synopsis

`busctl [OPTIONS...] [COMMAND] [NAME...]`

## Options

### Connection Options

- `--address=ADDRESS` — Connect to the bus specified by ADDRESS.
- `--user` — Talk to the service manager of the calling user.
- `--system` — Talk to the service manager of the system (default).
- `-H, --host=` — Execute operation remotely via SSH. Syntax: `[user@]host[:port][/container]`.
- `-M, --machine=` — Execute operation on a local container. Syntax: `[user@]container` or `.host` for local system.
- `--watch-bind=BOOL` — Wait for AF_UNIX socket to appear before connecting (default off).

### Output Control

- `-q, --quiet` — Suppress display of response message payload (with `call`).
- `--verbose` — Show output in verbose format (with `call` or `get-property`).
- `--json=MODE` — Output as JSON (`short` or `pretty`).
- `-j` — Equivalent to `--json=pretty` if terminal, else `--json=short`.
- `--list` — With `tree`, show flat list of object paths.
- `-l, --full` — Do not ellipsize output in `list`.
- `--no-pager` — Do not pipe output into a pager.
- `--no-legend` — Do not print column headers or footer.
- `--xml-interface` — With `introspect`, dump XML description instead of normal output.

### Filtering and Matching

- `--unique` — Show only unique names (`:number.number`).
- `--acquired` — Show only well-known names.
- `--activatable` — Show only not-yet-activated peers.
- `--match=MATCH` — Filter messages by match expression (see `sd_bus_add_match(3)`).
- `--show-machine` — Show container names in `list` output.

### Call/Property Behavior

- `--expect-reply=BOOL` — Whether to wait for method call reply (default yes).
- `--auto-start=BOOL` — Whether to implicitly activate service (default yes).
- `--allow-interactive-authorization=BOOL` — Allow interactive authorization (default yes).
- `--timeout=SECS` — Maximum time to wait for method call (default 25s).
- `--destination=SERVICE` — For `emit`, send signal to specific service.
- `--size=` — With `capture`, max bus message size to capture (default 4096).

### Misc

- `--augment-creds=BOOL` — Augment credentials with `/proc/` data (default yes).
- `-h, --help` — Print help text.
- `--version` — Print version string.

## Examples

**Example 1: Write and Read a Property**

shell
# busctl set-property org.freedesktop.systemd1 /org/freedesktop/systemd1 org.freedesktop.systemd1.Manager LogLevel s debug
# busctl get-property org.freedesktop.systemd1 /org/freedesktop/systemd1 org.freedesktop.systemd1.Manager LogLevel
s "debug"
**Example 2: Terse and Verbose Output**

shell
$ busctl get-property org.freedesktop.systemd1 /org/freedesktop/systemd1 org.freedesktop.systemd1.Manager Environment
as 2 "LANG=en_US.UTF-8" "PATH=/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin"
$ busctl get-property --verbose org.freedesktop.systemd1 /org/freedesktop/systemd1 org.freedesktop.systemd1.Manager Environment
ARRAY "s" {
        STRING "LANG=en_US.UTF-8";
        STRING "PATH=/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin";
};
**Example 3: Invoking a Method**

shell
# busctl call org.freedesktop.systemd1 /org/freedesktop/systemd1 org.freedesktop.systemd1.Manager StartUnit ss "cups.service" "replace"
o "/org/freedesktop/systemd1/job/42684"
## See Also

- [dbus-daemon(1)](http://localhost/phpMan.php/man/dbus-daemon/1/markdown)
- [sd-bus(3)](http://localhost/phpMan.php/man/sd-bus/3/markdown)
- [systemd(1)](http://localhost/phpMan.php/man/systemd/1/markdown)
- [machinectl(1)](http://localhost/phpMan.php/man/machinectl/1/markdown)
- [wireshark(1)](http://localhost/phpMan.php/man/wireshark/1/markdown)
- [Libpcap File Format](https://wiki.wireshark.org/Development/LibpcapFileFormat)
- [D-Bus Specification (Type system)](http://dbus.freedesktop.org/doc/dbus-specification.html#type-system)
- [D-Bus](https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/dbus)