# Install Waycar on your Host

One command on your Mac or Linux machine finds herdr or tmux, installs the Waycar host tools, and offers to show a Pairing Code.

Run one command on each machine you want to use with Waycar. It finds herdr or tmux, installs the Waycar host tools, and offers to show a Pairing Code so you can add the machine in the app. The same command works for herdr, tmux, or both.

## Run the install command

1. Open a terminal on the Host. Make sure you have [what Waycar needs](https://waycar.dev/help/requirements), including Node 20 or later.
2. Run:

   ```sh
   curl -fsSL https://waycar.dev/install.sh | sh
   ```

3. When it asks to show a pairing QR code, press Return (or type `y`). Then [pair with the Pairing Code](https://waycar.dev/help/pairing).

You can also copy the command from the **Add Your First Host** steps in the app. Tap it to copy; a Mac signed in to the same Apple Account can paste it.

## What does it install?

The command downloads the Waycar package, checks its SHA-256 checksum, and unpacks it to `~/.local/share/waycar/plugin`. Then:

- **With herdr on your PATH**, it links the Waycar plugin into herdr.
- **Without herdr but with tmux 3.2 or later**, it sets Waycar up for tmux. With an older tmux and no herdr, it stops and asks you to install one of them.
- **With tmux 3.2 or later**, it links the `waycar` command at `~/.local/bin/waycar` and installs Waycar hooks for Claude Code, Codex, omp, pi and opencode, so tmux agents report their status. See [Waycar hooks for tmux](https://waycar.dev/help/tmux-hooks).
- **With opencode on your PATH**, it installs a small opencode extension that [Chat Mode](https://waycar.dev/help/chat-mode) uses.

If `~/.local/bin` isn't on your PATH, the command tells you to add it.

## herdr and tmux

On herdr, the Pairing Code opens in a herdr popup. On tmux, it shows right in the terminal where you ran the command. To set Waycar up for tmux on a machine that also has herdr, add `--tmux`:

```sh
curl -fsSL https://waycar.dev/install.sh | sh -s -- --tmux
```

To skip the agent hooks and the opencode extension, add `--no-hooks`. You can add the hooks later with `waycar hooks install`. On a herdr Host without tmux 3.2 or later, there's no `waycar` link; see [The waycar command on your Host](https://waycar.dev/help/waycar-command#where-is-it).

## Install options

Flags go after `sh -s --`, as in the `--tmux` example above. Environment variables go right before `sh` in the install command, for example `WAYCAR_NO_PAIR=1 sh`.

| Option | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| `--tmux` | Sets Waycar up for tmux even when herdr is installed. |
| `--no-hooks` | Skips the agent status hooks and the opencode Chat Prompt extension. |
| `WAYCAR_NO_PAIR` | Set to anything to skip the pairing prompt, for scripted or dotfiles installs. |
| `WAYCAR_PLUGIN_DIR` | Installs to this absolute folder instead of `~/.local/share/waycar/plugin`. It can't contain a double quote, backslash or newline, and Waycar won't replace a folder that holds something else. |
| `WAYCAR_INSTALL_BASE_URL` | Downloads the package from this address instead of `https://waycar.dev`. |
| `WAYCAR_PLUGIN_SOURCE` | Installs from a local plugin folder (a checkout's `plugin/` or an unpacked package) instead of downloading. For testing. |

## Good to know

- Install agents first. Installed one later? Run the install command again so it gets its hooks.
- Codex asks you to review new hooks once, on its `/hooks` screen, before they turn on.
- Running the command again updates Waycar and keeps your pairing and notification keys. See [Update Waycar on your Host](https://waycar.dev/help/update-host-tools).
- For mosh, also install `mosh-server` on the Host. See [mosh](https://waycar.dev/help/mosh).
- The command stopped with an error or printed a warning? See [The install command fails](https://waycar.dev/help/install-fails).
- To uninstall, see [Remove Waycar from a Host](https://waycar.dev/help/remove-host-tools).

---

Waycar Help › Get started: https://waycar.dev/help/install