# How to Install WezTerm on Omarchy Linux (When the Standard Package Fails)

I tried installing WezTerm on Omarchy via the normal WezTerm package, but nothing happened when I went to lanuch it.

Well, it looks like I'm [not the only one](https://github.com/basecamp/omarchy/issues/1133).

The standard `wezterm` package from Arch's extra repository has compatibility issues with Hyprland (not specifically Omarchy).

## The Problem

When you install WezTerm the normal way:

```bash
sudo pacman -S wezterm
```

It installs successfully, but launching it does nothing. No window appears, no error messages, nothing. This happens because the packaged version lags behind WezTerm's latest release and lacks proper Wayland/Hyprland support.

## The Solution: Install wezterm-git from AUR

The fix is to install the `-git` version from the Arch User Repository (AUR), which builds from the latest source and includes proper Hyprland support.

### Step 1: Remove the Broken Package

First, remove the standard WezTerm package:

```bash
sudo pacman -R wezterm
```

### Step 2: Install wezterm-git from AUR

Install the working version using `yay`:

```bash
yay -S wezterm-git
```

This builds WezTerm from source, which takes a few minutes but ensures you get the latest version with full Wayland/Hyprland compatibility.

### Step 3: Launch WezTerm

After installation completes, launch WezTerm:

```bash
wezterm start --always-new-process
```

## Setting WezTerm as Your Default Terminal

Now that WezTerm is working, you'll want to set it as your default terminal so it launches when you press `SUPER + RETURN`. Check out my guide on [how to set your default terminal in Omarchy](/blog/set-default-terminal-omarchy-linux/).

## Why This Works

According to the [WezTerm documentation](https://wezfurlong.org/wezterm/install/linux.html#__tabbed_1_4) and confirmed in [this GitHub issue](https://github.com/basecamp/omarchy/issues/1133#issuecomment-3410921394), the version in Arch's extra repository can lag significantly behind the latest WezTerm release. The `-git` version pulls from the main development branch, which includes:

- Latest Wayland compositor support
- Hyprland-specific fixes
- Recent performance improvements
- Up-to-date features

The tradeoff is a slightly longer installation time (since it compiles from source), but you get a terminal that actually works.

## Keeping wezterm-git Updated

Since this is an AUR package, update it with:

```bash
yay -Syu wezterm-git
```

Or just run your regular system updates and `yay` will handle it.