# Updating firmware with fwupdmgr **URL:** \ **Category:** Guix\ **Tags:** guix\ **Created:** [August 19, 2025, 3:52am UTC](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/t/updating-firmware-with-fwupdmgr/1766 "2025-08-19T03:52:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wegei8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/53a042/32.png) [@wegei8](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/u/wegei8)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2025, 3:52am UTC](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/t/updating-firmware-with-fwupdmgr/1766/1 "2025-08-19T03:52:36Z")
Is this possible in Guix? I just added this to my `home.scm`. ```diff diff --git a/home.scm b/home.scm index 08240d2..c047c36 100644 --- a/home.scm +++ b/home.scm @@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ (gnu packages admin) (gnu packages base) (gnu packages file) + (gnu packages firmware) (gnu packages freedesktop) (gnu packages glib) (gnu packages librewolf) @@ -26,6 +27,7 @@ difftastic file flatpak + fwupd git `(,glib "bin") glibc ``` and then ran `guix home reconfigure home.scm`. But then I got this error. ```plaintext $ fwupdmgr get-updates Failed to connect to daemon: GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.ServiceUnknown: The name org.freedesktop.fwupd was not provided by any .service files ``` ---
**Author:** ![dgr](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.systemcrafters.net/dgr/32/394_2.png) [@dgr](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/u/dgr)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2025, 6:58am UTC](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/t/updating-firmware-with-fwupdmgr/1766/2 "2025-08-20T06:58:50Z")
I’ve tried to use it as well but in my system config with KDE Plasma and in the info tool I get the same error. ---
**Author:** ![paul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbe5ce/32.png) [@paul](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/u/paul)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2025, 8:18am UTC](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/t/updating-firmware-with-fwupdmgr/1766/3 "2025-08-22T08:18:27Z")
There is one Guix System service which should fix this error and one fwupd-nonfree package in nonguix, it should be possible to put them together and try but I never had the time ---
**Author:** ![logoraz](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.systemcrafters.net/logoraz/32/1133_2.png) [@logoraz](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/u/logoraz)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2025, 3:39am UTC](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/t/updating-firmware-with-fwupdmgr/1766/4 "2025-10-08T03:39:48Z")
I’ve recently tried adding `fwupd` (at the system level) and originally got the same error. Thought perhaps `guix-fwupd-service-type` existed, but seems to still be pending based the following issues thread: [[PATCH 1/2] gnu: Add fwupd service.](https://issues.guix.gnu.org/60699) However, in that thread it does gives the following work-around: ```scm (simple-service 'dbus-fwupd dbus-root-service-type (list fwupd)) (simple-service 'polkit-fwupd polkit-service-type (list fwupd)) ``` I gave this a go, and it worked in resolving the above error. But, now I get the following errors(?) when trying the following: ```shell logoraz@framework ~$ fwupdmgr refresh --force Failed to open polkit agent: missing executable pkttyagent in PATH No remotes are currently enabled so no metadata is available. Metadata can be obtained from the Linux Vendor Firmware Service. Enable this remote? [Y|n]: y Authenticating… [-] Failed to obtain auth ``` …and ```shell logoraz@framework ~$ fwupdmgr get-updates Failed to open polkit agent: missing executable pkttyagent in PATH Devices with no available firmware updates: • Fingerprint Sensor • Laptop Webcam Module (2nd Gen) • System Firmware • UEFI dbx • WD BLACK SN850X 1000GB No updatable devices ``` This is as far as I’ve got on this… Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![trev](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.systemcrafters.net/trev/32/81_2.png) [@trev](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/u/trev)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2025, 11:34am UTC](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/t/updating-firmware-with-fwupdmgr/1766/5 "2025-10-08T11:34:01Z")
Here is my `fwupd-service-type` : ```scheme (define-module (trev-guix services fwupd) #:use-module (gnu services) #:use-module (gnu services admin) #:use-module (gnu services dbus) #:use-module (gnu services shepherd) #:use-module (guix gexp) #:use-module (guix records) #:use-module (nongnu packages firmware)) (define-record-type* fwupd-configuration make-fwupd-configuration fwupd-configuration? (fwupd fwupd-configuration-fwupd (default fwupd-nonfree))) (define (fwupd-activation config) (with-imported-modules '((guix build utils)) #~(begin (use-modules (guix build utils)) (mkdir-p "/var/cache/fwupd") (mkdir-p "/var/lib/fwupd/local.d") (mkdir-p "/var/lib/fwupd/")))) (define-public fwupd-service-type (let ((fwupd-package (compose list fwupd-configuration-fwupd))) (service-type (name 'fwupd) (extensions (list (service-extension polkit-service-type fwupd-package) (service-extension dbus-root-service-type fwupd-package) (service-extension activation-service-type fwupd-activation))) (default-value (fwupd-configuration)) (description "A service that runs the necessary daemons for fwupd.")))) ``` Works for me! ---
**Author:** ![logoraz](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.systemcrafters.net/logoraz/32/1133_2.png) [@logoraz](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/u/logoraz)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2025, 1:15pm UTC](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/t/updating-firmware-with-fwupdmgr/1766/6 "2025-10-08T13:15:57Z")
Thanks - I’ll give this a try and see if it works for me as well, appreciate the help! EDIT: Just tried it and it works! Needed the `fwupd-activation` you implemented. `fwupdmgr refresh --force` still complains: ```auto Failed to open polkit agent: missing executable pkttyagent in PATH ``` But suppose this is not needed on guix, wonder if the fwupd package should be patched so that it doesn’t emit this message… Again, thanks a lot for the help! ---
**Author:** ![trev](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.systemcrafters.net/trev/32/81_2.png) [@trev](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/u/trev)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2025, 1:54pm UTC](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/t/updating-firmware-with-fwupdmgr/1766/7 "2025-10-08T13:54:53Z")
> [@logoraz](#): > > ```auto > Failed to open polkit agent: missing executable pkttyagent in PATH > > ``` I didn’t see this message before. Did you restart? I used `fwupdmgr refresh –-force`. BTW I am using the nonguix `fwupd-nonfree` package. ---
**Author:** ![logoraz](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.systemcrafters.net/logoraz/32/1133_2.png) [@logoraz](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/u/logoraz)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2025, 1:58am UTC](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/t/updating-firmware-with-fwupdmgr/1766/8 "2025-10-09T01:58:45Z")
I just trialed `fwupd-nonfree` from `(nongnu packages firmeware)` and am still getting that message as well. 🤔 Either way, it is better for me to have `fwupd-nonfree` as it has support for nonfree LVFS repository. ---
**Author:** ![dgr](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.systemcrafters.net/dgr/32/394_2.png) [@dgr](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/u/dgr)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 10:26pm UTC](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/t/updating-firmware-with-fwupdmgr/1766/9 "2025-10-26T22:26:58Z")
Installing `polkit` fixed `missing executable pkttyagent in PATH` for me. ---
**Author:** ![logoraz](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.systemcrafters.net/logoraz/32/1133_2.png) [@logoraz](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/u/logoraz)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2025, 12:30am UTC](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/t/updating-firmware-with-fwupdmgr/1766/10 "2025-10-27T00:30:32Z")
Awesome- thank you! I forgot about this, but just installed `polkit` and the warning message vanished!