KDE Connect links a phone and computer—or other supported devices—so they can share files, links, notifications and selected controls. To pair them, install and open KDE Connect on both, let them discover each other over a network that permits communication, then request pairing on one device and accept the prompt on the other.
What KDE Connect does
KDE Connect is free, open-source software that lets supported devices communicate. It is installed on the devices you want to connect; it is not a special hardware accessory or a service you have to buy. Its features are provided through integrations and plugins, so what you can use depends on the operating systems, permissions and app state involved. KDE Connect’s official site describes capabilities including:
- Sharing files and links between devices, and browsing phone files remotely.
- Showing phone notifications on a desktop and replying to text messages where supported.
- Controlling desktop media or using a phone as a presentation remote or trackpad.
- Viewing a phone’s battery level or making it ring.
- Running commands configured by the user.
The KDE Applications catalog also summarizes the project’s device-linking features. Protocol documentation describes additional plugin capabilities, such as clipboard text, lock requests, remote pointer and keyboard input, and file transfers using SFTP; these are not guarantees that every feature works on every device combination. KDE’s protocol documentation describes those capabilities.
Which devices can use KDE Connect?
KDE’s download page lists Linux desktop, Android, Windows, Plasma Mobile, SailfishOS, macOS and iOS. The available features and installation route vary by platform. KDE describes its macOS release as stable and marks nightly builds as untested. For iOS, the download page points users to information about known limitations and data disclosure. Check the current platform guidance before assuming a feature is available on both ends.
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How to pair devices
Pairing is an approval-based exchange: one device asks, and the other accepts or rejects. KDE’s protocol defines a pairing packet with a value that starts or accepts pairing, or rejects or removes it; paired status is required before ordinary packets are exchanged. The protocol documentation also says a receiving device should reject packets from unpaired devices.
- Install KDE Connect on both devices. Use the appropriate platform download or package source listed by KDE.
- Open the app on both devices. Keep both running while you initiate discovery and pairing.
- Allow the devices to discover each other. KDE’s ordinary setup guidance is to put them on the same network. A firewall or network setting that blocks discovery or device-to-device traffic can prevent them from appearing.
- Select the device you want to connect to and request pairing. You can initiate the request from either endpoint.
- Accept the request on the other device. Pairing is not complete until the receiving device approves it. If the prompt is unexpected, reject it.
KDE UserBase documents the usual flow, network guidance and alternatives in its KDE Connect setup and troubleshooting guide.
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Do both devices need to be on the same Wi-Fi?
The same network is KDE’s recommended starting point for discovery, but the key condition is that the devices can communicate and discover each other. “Same Wi-Fi” is not a guarantee: guest-network isolation, firewall rules or blocked broadcasts can keep devices from appearing. Conversely, KDE UserBase documents adding a device by IP as an alternative discovery route. Its troubleshooting guidance identifies dynamic TCP and UDP ports 1714–1764 and UDP broadcast access as relevant to its documented setup. Network configuration can vary, so do not open ports indiscriminately; check the guide and your firewall’s rules for the devices you are pairing.
What to check if pairing does not work
- Confirm KDE Connect is installed and open on both devices, and that you selected the intended device.
- Check whether both devices can communicate on their network. Guest Wi-Fi isolation and firewall rules may block discovery or traffic even when both devices have internet access.
- If automatic discovery fails, consult KDE UserBase’s instructions for adding a device by IP and its network and port guidance.
- Look for the approval prompt on the receiving device. A discovery listing is not the same as a completed pairing.
- After pairing, check the platform’s available plugins, permissions and app state if an individual feature is missing.
Is KDE Connect safe to use?
KDE published a critical security advisory on November 28, 2025, for CVE-2025-66270. The issue involved inconsistent device IDs in discovery packets; an attacker who knew the ID of a previously paired device could impersonate it and bypass authentication. KDE’s advisory lists these affected version ranges, along with affected ranges for GSConnect and Valent: KDE Project Security Advisory, November 28, 2025.
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| Component | Affected versions listed by KDE |
|---|---|
| KDE Connect desktop | >=25.04 and <25.12 |
| KDE Connect Android | >=1.33.0 and <1.34.4 |
| KDE Connect iOS | >=0.5.2 and <0.5.4 |
Keep all connected implementations updated. The advisory recommends updating to a non-vulnerable version; until then, it advises stopping KDE Connect on untrusted networks and/or unpairing devices. The listed ranges are KDE’s published affected versions, not proof of the version installed on your device or the timing of a distribution’s package update. Check your app or distribution’s current security guidance rather than assuming an installation is fixed.
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