Start Parameters

Table of Contents

• Known parameters
  • Start the App Minimized
  • Use Proxy Server
  • Use Custom Config Directory
  • Enable Portable Mode
  • Enable Verbose Logging
  • Enable Chrome Developer Tools
  • Disable Web Security
  • Change Wrapped WebApp
• How to Use Start Parameters
  • Windows
  • macOS
  • Linux

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Known parameters

Wire for Desktop can be started with different arguments to influence the view and behaviour of the app. Here is a list of all known parameters:

Start the App Minimized

--startup

Use (Authenticated) Proxy Server

If the proxy requires authentication, a window will appear asking for the credentials. Alternatively, credentials can be provided within the url:

--proxy-server="<protocol>://<username>:<password>@<ip>:<port>"

Example

--proxy-server="http://my-user:secretpassword@company-proxy.local:8080"

Read more: https://www.electronjs.org/docs/api/command-line-switches#--proxy-serveraddressport

Note: It is mandatory to put the proxy address in string quotations and to declare the full protocol (http, https).

Use Custom Config Directory

To use a custom config directory (including Chrome Cache etc.), use --user_data_dir.

Example for Windows:

--user_data_dir="C:\wire"

Example for macOS / Linux:

--user_data_dir="/home/wire"

Enable Portable Mode

When enabling portable mode, Wire will save all its data into a Data directory which will be created where it was started at.

--portable

Enable Verbose Logging

--enable-logging

Enable Chrome Developer Tools

--devtools

Disable Web Security

Note: This needs the additional --user-data-dir parameter.

--disable-web-security

Example for Windows:

--disable-web-security --user-data-dir="%TEMP%\chromedev"

Example for macOS / Linux:

--disable-web-security --user-data-dir="/tmp/chromedev"

Change Wrapped WebApp

--env=http://localhost:8888/

Furthermore, see Electron's supported command line switches.

How to Use Start Parameters

Windows

Option 1: Create a shortcut

The easiest option on Windows is to edit the desktop shortcut.

1. Right-click on the desktop shortcut
2. Select "properties"
3. In the input field for "Target", add a space and one of the parameters
4. Click "OK"
5. Double-click the desktop shortcut

In the following example, --devtools was added to the input field:

Option 2: Start via command line

1. Click on start
2. Select "Run"
3. Enter "cmd"
4. Click "OK"
5. In the command line, enter %LOCALAPPDATA%\wire\Wire.exe following a space and one of the parameters
6. Press enter

In the following example, --devtools was entered in the command line:

macOS

1. Open the Terminal app
2. Enter open -a Wire.app --args following a space and one of the parameters
3. Press enter

Alternative:

1. Open the Terminal app
2. Enter the following:

# Navigate to the Wire binary directory
cd "$(mdfind 'kMDItemCFBundleIdentifier="com.wearezeta.zclient.mac"')/Contents/MacOS"

# Start the Wire binary
./Wire --devtools

Linux

1. Open a terminal
2. Enter /opt/Wire/wire-desktop following a space and one of the parameters
3. Press enter