makoctl-mode

List all currently active modes

$ makoctl mode

$ makoctl mode -a [do-not-disturb]

$ makoctl mode -r [do-not-disturb]

$ makoctl mode -t [do-not-disturb]

$ makoctl mode -s [mode1 mode2 ...]

makoctl mode [MODE]

where MODE := normal | dnd

MODE
    Sets mode to normal (display notifications) or dnd (hide notifications). Omitting prints current mode.

-h, --help
    Display help for mode subcommand.

makoctl mode controls the notification display behavior of Mako, a lightweight Wayland notification daemon inspired by dunst.

Mako receives desktop notifications via DBus and renders them on Wayland compositors like Sway or River. This subcommand switches between normal mode, where notifications appear as configured, and dnd (do-not-disturb) mode, which suppresses display while queuing notifications for later review via history or dismiss.

Without arguments, it prints the current mode (e.g., "normal").

Ideal for keybindings in window managers: toggle DND for meetings or focus sessions. Changes apply instantly to the running daemon, respecting per-mode config rules like urgency levels or layer positioning.

Requires running mako daemon; fails silently if absent. No effect on already-displayed notifications.

makoctl mode dnd
makoctl mode normal
makoctl mode # Prints: normal (or dnd)

Use in shell: makoctl mode $(makoctl mode | grep -q dnd && echo normal || echo dnd)

Introduced in early Mako releases (2018) by developer emersion (Simon Ser) as part of Sway/Wayland notification tooling.

mako(1), makoctl(1), notify-send(1), sway(1)