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# Wiimote

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This article will go through the basic steps required to have a working Wiimote in Linux for general use. It will not go into much detail for some steps as there are many guides already written for some parts already.

## Prerequisites

- Bluetooth
- A Wii Remote

Wiimotes connect via Bluetooth. This must already be configured and running without the help of this guide. You will need a Wiimote, this can include (although are not required) the Nunchuk and Classic Control attachments.

Once a Wiimote is connected via Bluetooth, the device should start working, as the kernel driver for the Wiimote is in Linux since version 3.1 and the bluez package in Arch Linux includes the required wiimote plugin.

## Connect the Wiimote

See XWiimote#Connect the Wii Remote.

## Infrared sources

Possible infrared sources are

- Nintendo Wii Sensor Bar
- Wireless sensor bar - check eBay!
- Normal light bulbs
- Small candles (should have about 30cm distance)
- Home made sensor bar ([1])

## Input device

### X11

XWiimote provides an X11 input driver for using a Wiimote as a desktop input device. See XWiimote#X.Org Input Driver for details.

### cwiid

Note This approach is based on software which is no longer developed upstream. You should use the Linux kernel driver and `uinput` or XWiimote instead.

The Wiimote can act as a regular input device like a mouse using wminput(1) from the cwiidAUR package. This package contains a userspace driver, libraries, and programs required for basic use of the Wiimote.

First you need to make sure to load the `uinput` module:

    # modprobe uinput

You should have a device in `/dev/uinput` now. For permanent use, add uinput to MODULES in mkinitcpio.conf.

cwiid should allow you to scan for your Wiimote now. Run the following command and press the `1` and `2` buttons on your Wiimote:

    $ bluetoothctl scan on

    Scanning ...
           MAC_address       Nintendo RVL-CNT-01

Once your Wiimote has been detected you can test if it is working by running wmgui(1)[dead link 2025-11-17—HTTP 404] and testing out various buttons and sensors through that interface.

If you have no infrared source, simply run:

    $ wminput -w

You can control your pointer now by tilting your Wiimote forward, backward or to the sides.

If you have an infrared source, run:

    $ wminput -c ir_ptr -w

#### Configuration

The default configuration files are in `/etc/cwiid/wminput/`. They are a good starting point for your customized settings in `~/.cwiid/wminput` or `/usr/local/etc/cwiid/wminput`. The general syntax is:

    Wiimote_button = keyboard_key

All possible values for `Wiimote_button` can be found in cwiid/wminput.list. The possible values for `keyboard_key` are keycodes in /usr/include/linux/input-event-codes.h.

#### Unable to open uinput

If wminput gives this error, leaving you unable to use the Wiimote, create a udev rule with the following contents [2]:

    KERNEL=="uinput", GROUP="wheel", MODE="0660"

Reboot the system afterwards. See also wminput(1) § DESCRIPTION regarding udev rules for `uinput`.

Alternatively, add `uinput` to the MODULES array in mkinitcpio.conf:

    MODULES=(uinput ...)

Regenerate the initramfs and reboot the system afterwards.

## See also

- XWiimote

Category:

- Input devices

Hidden category:

- Pages with dead links

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