Curious why so many Linux power users swear by KDE Plasma? Are you already using Plasma and wondering which specific features to try out? Well, I’ve got you covered—here are 10 awesome Plasma features I use all the time for peak productivity!
KDE Plasma is theLinux desktop environment (DE)equivalent of an all-you-can-eat buffet. It offers almost all the features you can want from a DE and then some. I have been using KDE Plasma for over five years, and it’s gotten to the point where I can’t daily drive a Linux distro that’s not running Plasma. It offers a host of thoughtful features that make me super productive, and I feel handicapped when using another DE or operating system. Here’s a quick overview of 10 of my favorite KDE Plasma features and how you too can use them to become more productive.
9Panel Widgets
By panel widgets I am simply referring to the ability to add widgets to the panel. Unlike desktop widgets which get hidden behind open windows, panel widgets are always visible—as long as the panel is not configured to auto-hide. This means you’re able to monitor system stats, access quick controls, or see other useful info at a glance—without having to minimize any of the open windows. In fact, I’ve completely ditched desktop widgets in favor of panel widgets for this reason!
To add panel widgets, simply right-click on the panel and click “Show Panel Configuration.” Then, from the editing overlay, click on “Add or Manage Widget” to trigger the widget sidebar. you’re able to now add any one of these widgets to your panel, or even download new ones if you find the default options limiting.
8Virtual Desktops with Pager Widget
Most KDE Plasma users know about virtual desktop support, but not everyone knows about or makes use of the Pager widget. It’s a simple yet powerful tool that gives you a visual overview of all your virtual desktops, showing which apps are open on which desktop and how they’re laid out. You’d ideally add this widget to your panel, like any other panel widget, so you can easily access it anytime.
I should also mention that the Pager is a fully interactive widget that allows you to control and manage your virtual desktops. For example, you’re able to click and drag windows between desktops right from the widget, or simply click a desktop to switch to it instantly. Scrolling over the Pager widget with your mouse wheel will also let you cycle through desktops. Overall, if you rely on virtual desktops to organize your workflow, the Pager widget is an absolute must-have.
7KDE Activities
KDE Activities are like virtual desktops, but on steroids. You can think of it like virtual desktops for virtual desktops. It’s not just there to help you organize your open windows, but rather entire workflows. You can create virtual workspaces called Activities, each with its own wallpaper, desktop widget, and pinned apps. By default, apps that you open in one Activity won’t appear in another, and you can set specific Window Rules (discussed later) such that certain apps only open in specific Activities.
Creating a new Activity is fairly intuitive. Just open the Settings app and go to the Activities section. I have adedicated guide on KDE Activitiesif you want more detailed instructions on how to set it up. Once you have a few Activities set up, you may switch between them by pressing Meta+Q to open the Activities panel. There’s also a dedicated Activity Pager widget if you prefer a more streamlined workflow.
6Window Rules
Window Rules is a powerful automation feature in KDE Plasma that lets you predefine how certain windows behave—down to the tiniest detail. For example, I can be on any virtual desktop or KDE Activity, start all my apps, and know that each one will open and automatically occupy the exact spaces I’ve set for them. A full how-to is beyond the scope of this list, but here’s a quick demo of how I automate Spotify to always open in Virtual Desktop 8.
You need to create a virtual desktop before you can set Window Rules for it.
Just open the KDE Plasma Settings app > Window Management > Window Rules. Give the rule a description. Set “Window Class” toSpotifyand from the dropdown, select “Exact Match”. Pick “No” for “Match Whole Window Class” since the title may also include song names. Under Window Type, choose “All Window Types.” Next, click “Add Property” and select “Virtual Desktop”. Set the first drop-down to “Force” and the second one to “Desktop 8”. That’s it—you have successfully created your first Window Rule!
5KRunner
KRunner works likeSpotlight on macOS, but is much more feature-packed and versatile. Just press Alt+Space to trigger the search bar, type in what you want to search for, and it will instantly fetch any and all local files and folders—and even give you a few relevant web results from your browser history or currently open browser tabs. Apart from searching for things, it also lets you launch apps, run quick calculations, help you shutdown your PC, and even execute terminal commands.
Now, KRunner comes with a modular plugin system, and you may enable or disable plugins to control what it can do. I generally have all the default plugins enabled, but you can disable a few if you like—especially if you don’t want to see particular answers clogging up the results. Likewise, you can also download plugins to make KRunner even more powerful and versatile.
4Pinning System Interface Elements
How do you open multiple apps in KDE Plasma? Most people press the Meta (Windows) key to bring up the app launcher, click an app, and the launcher disappears—so you have to repeat the process for every new app. The same thing happens with other pop-ups, like the calendar widget—click elsewhere, and it vanishes. Now, KDE Plasma offers a clever solution to this problem where you canpinmany system interface elements so that they stay open no matter where you click.
Just look for the pin icon (usually in the top right corner) in the app launcher, calendar, or even KRunner. Once pinned, that interface stays visible until you close or unpin it—so you can open multiple apps in one go using the app launcher, keep the calendar widget handy as a reference, or use KRunner persistently while multitasking. It’s a feature you won’t find in most other desktop environments, and it can make multitasking so much smoother.
3Screen Edges
Here’s another instance of KDE Plasma replicating macOS functionality and doing it better! Screen Edges function like a more powerful version of Hot Corners, where you can assign special triggers to not just the four corners of your screen, but also the four edges, giving you a total of eight trigger points. Now, if you quickly move your mouse pointer to an edge or corner of the screen, it will automatically trigger the specific action—no click or button press required.
To set up Screen Edges, you need to go to Settings > Mouse & Touchpad > Screen Edges. From here, just click on any edge or corner and pick an action from the menu. you’re able to choose to instantly show the desktop, open the window Overview, present all open windows, or toggle activities—all from a quick mouse swipe. I personally have it configured to open the window Overview in the top-left corner and to show the desktop in the bottom-right corner.
2System-Wide Keyboard Shortcuts
KDE Plasma lets you tie almost anything on your system to a custom keyboard shortcut. You can set shortcuts for common actions like opening the app launcher, toggling the Calendar widget, launching specific apps, switching virtual desktops, controlling media playback, and even muting your microphone—all without ever touching your mouse.
To configure these, go to Settings > Keyboard > Shortcuts. Here you’ll find a list of apps and system services for which you can quickly select keyboard shortcuts to trigger them. Alternatively, you can select “Add New”, and you’ll have two options: Application and Command or Script. Under Application, you have access to all the apps installed on your device, and you can set a shortcut to open any one of them. Meanwhile, under Command or Script, you can define a command or upload a script and set a keyboard shortcut to trigger it.
1KDE Connect
KDE Connect is the ultimate bridge between your computer and your phone. With it, you can sync notifications, share files, send texts, control your desktop remotely, and even use your phone as a trackpad or presentation remote—all wirelessly, across any network. I currently use it to connect my KDE Plasma system with my Android smartphone, but itworks with iOSas well.
KDE Connect is cross-platform and can help you connect your smartphone with a Mac or a Windows PC.
Now, KDE Connect has the best integration with Plasma desktops, and you can access it by heading into the Settings app. From here, you can pair your PC with your phone, provided you have also installed KDE Connect there. For reference on how to set it up or use its various features, you can check out my guide on using KDE Connect toconnect my Windows PC with my Pixel 6a.
There you have it—my nine favorite KDE Plasma features that I use daily to boost productivity on my system. From panel widgets to window rules, these features eliminate repetitive tasks and help me create personalized workflows. If you’re currently using aKDE Plasma-powered distro(or planning to), give these features a try—you’ll likely see the same productivity gains I’ve experienced!
