Wave Desktop on Linux (Beta)

Pick the right Linux download, install it, and fix the handful of Linux-specific snags with sign-in, system audio, and the tray.

Wave Desktop runs on Linux as a beta. It records your microphone and your computer's audio just like the Mac and Windows apps, so you can capture a Zoom, Meet, or Teams call without a bot. This page covers what's different on Linux. Everything else — recording, the library, settings — is in Wave Desktop.

Which download to pick

Get it at app.wave.co/desktop/download. The page detects your processor and offers the matching file. To choose yourself, open Linux options and set:

Architecture — x64 or ARM64. Run uname -m in a terminal: x86_64 means x64, aarch64 means ARM64. Only 64-bit processors are supported.
Package — AppImage works on any distribution, including Arch. DEB is for Debian and Ubuntu.

An AppImage built for the other architecture fails with "Exec format error" before Wave starts. Download the other one.

Install

Make the downloaded file executable: in its properties, allow executing it as a program, or run chmod +x on it.

Open it.

On first launch, Wave adds itself to your app menu with an icon and registers wavedesktop:// links, so browser sign-in can hand you back to the app.

If you move the AppImage somewhere else later, launch it once from its new location so the menu entry and links follow it.

Signing in

Click Sign in with Wave. Your browser opens the Wave login, and when you're done it asks "Open Wave AI?" — allow it, and you're back in the app.

If nothing happens after you sign in:

Click the Open Wave AI button on the browser page.
If your browser is installed as a Snap or Flatpak, its sandbox can block the handoff. Try signing in with a different browser.
Sign in from one tab only. Wave accepts only the newest sign-in attempt, so an older tab won't work.

To check that the links are registered, paste wavedesktop://session/test into your browser's address bar. If the browser offers to open Wave AI, they are. If it doesn't and you use the AppImage, launch the AppImage once more and try again.

System audio

Wave captures your computer's audio through PulseAudio. PipeWire desktops work through its PulseAudio compatibility layer (pipewire-pulse), which is expected to work but isn't fully tested yet.

When Wave starts capturing system audio, your desktop may show a screen or window picker. Pick any screen and share it. Wave only uses the audio; nothing is recorded from the picture. If you cancel, Wave shows "System audio sharing was cancelled or denied. Start it again and allow sharing." Start a new recording and allow sharing.

If a recording comes out silent:

Check the sound server is running: pactl info should answer.
Make sure the app you're recording plays through your default output.
Check System Audio is switched on in Audio sources, then start a new recording and allow sharing in the picker.

The rest of the audio setup, including microphones, is in desktop audio setup.

Closing the window hides Wave to the system tray; it keeps recording. Some GNOME setups need a tray extension (AppIndicator) before the icon shows up.

To start Wave when you log in, turn on Start Wave automatically when you log in to your computer in Settings → General → Startup. On Linux this adds a desktop autostart entry; for an AppImage it points at the file's current location.

Wave checks for updates at launch and every two hours. An AppImage replaces itself in place. A DEB install hands the update to your system package manager, which asks for your password.

Not on Linux yet

System echo cancellation
The Remind me to record when microphone is active reminder
The Windows System audio source output picker
Apple Calendar sync (Mac only)

Sending feedback

The Linux app is in beta, and reports help. Open your avatar menu and choose Support to chat with us. Mention your distribution and desktop, whether you installed the AppImage or the DEB, x64 or ARM64, and your Wave version from the About tab in Settings.