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What you need before setup
- A Linux PC and a phone with KDE Connect installed.
- A local network on which the devices can communicate with each other. Being connected to the same Wi-Fi name is not always enough if guest-network rules or client isolation block device-to-device traffic.
- Permission to install software and adjust the Linux firewall if needed.
KDE describes the desktop app as available for major Linux distributions and desktop environments. Feature behavior can differ outside KDE Plasma, where the project is primarily developed. GNOME users may also consider GSConnect, which integrates KDE Connect functionality with GNOME. See KDE’s download page and KDE Connect documentation for current platform details.
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Install KDE Connect on your Linux PC and phone
Install the Linux desktop component
Open your distribution’s software center or package manager and search for KDE Connect. Depending on the distribution, the package may be named kdeconnect-kde, kdeconnect-plasma, kdeconnect, or kde-connect. Names and availability vary, so check your distribution’s current package listing rather than copying a command intended for another Linux release.
After installation, launch KDE Connect from your applications menu. On Plasma, its controls may also be available through the system tray. Make sure the app is running while you pair and use it.
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Install the phone app
Use KDE’s official download page to follow the current store link for your phone. KDE lists Android availability through Google Play, Huawei AppGallery, and F-Droid, and iOS availability through Apple’s App Store. Store availability can vary by region.
Pair your phone with the Linux PC
- Connect both devices to a network that allows local communication, then open KDE Connect on the PC and phone.
- In the phone app, look for the discovered Linux computer and select it. If the PC lists the phone instead, you can start the request from that device.
- Send a pairing request, then accept it on the other device. The request must be accepted before the devices can use paired features.
- Confirm that the devices appear as paired in KDE Connect. Screen labels and menu locations can differ by app version.
If no device appears, go to the discovery troubleshooting steps below before repeatedly sending pairing requests.
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Enable the phone feature you want to use
Pairing establishes the connection; it does not mean every feature is enabled or supported. Open the device’s feature or plugin settings in KDE Connect, enable the relevant option, and grant any phone permissions it requests. KDE lists features including:
- Remote input: use the phone screen as a touchpad and, where supported, send keyboard input to the PC.
- Multimedia control: control supported media playback on the computer.
- Presentation control: use the phone to navigate presentation slides.
- File and link sharing: send files or web links between paired devices.
- Clipboard sharing and notifications: share clipboard contents or receive notifications where supported and permitted.
- Phone utilities: ring the phone or view its battery status.
- Configured commands: run commands you have set up on the computer.
To control the PC from the phone, start with remote input or multimedia control, enable it in the relevant settings, and try it while the PC is awake and KDE Connect is running. The available controls and permissions vary across Android, iOS, Plasma, and other Linux desktops; KDE’s feature documentation describes platform differences. KDE Connect’s official website describes the software as “Open Source. Free to use. For any purpose. Forever.”
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Fix device discovery and connection problems
Check that both apps are running and the network allows local traffic
Verify that KDE Connect is open on both devices and that the network permits devices to communicate directly. Guest Wi-Fi, client isolation, VPN routing, or network policy can prevent discovery even when both devices have internet access. Try a trusted local network without those restrictions if available.
Check the Linux firewall
KDE Connect uses dynamic ports 1714–1764 for both TCP and UDP, according to KDE UserBase. Firewall rules that block this traffic can prevent discovery or interrupt the connection. KDE also identifies blocked UDP broadcast packets as a possible discovery problem. Use your distribution’s firewall manager to allow the required traffic on a trusted local network, if the firewall supports limiting the rule to that network. Avoid opening the service broadly to untrusted networks.
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Firewall tools, zones, and command syntax vary by distribution and network configuration. Choose the correct trusted network zone in your firewall manager; do not apply a command written for a different system without checking what it changes.
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Consider platform and desktop limitations
A device may pair successfully while a particular feature remains unavailable. KDE notes that some features can be broken or inaccessible outside Plasma. Its documentation also records differences between Android and iOS, including iOS limitations around notification sync, SMS, maintaining a connection while the app is off-screen, and virtual display. These details can change with app releases, so consult KDE’s current platform documentation for the feature you need.
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Confirm the setup with a focused test
- Check that the PC appears in the phone app and shows as paired.
- Open the feature you enabled, such as remote input, and try the action you need.
- If the feature is missing or does not respond, check its permissions and platform support, then revisit the local-network and firewall checks.
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