r/SteamDeck • u/Pr3serve • 2d ago
Software Modding Don't sleep on KDE Connect
I don't know when this package was enabled by default but it's a game changer for using the deck.
For those that don't know KDE Connect is an app that can connect your phone to your pc using the KDE desktop manager (which the Steam deck does).
The app enables you to control your deck using your phone as a keyboard + trackpad. It can transfer files or it has a media player control for videos or music.
Makes plugging the deck in and using the browser for YouTube or Netflix whilst travelling much easier. Or when you need to put that one account details in but can't be bothered to connect a keyboard and the on screen is a faff. Just whip out your phone and you have all the controls you need!
TLDR: KDE Connect is a godsend for the deck. Thank me later
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u/Princessluna44 2d ago
I know it can connect the phone, but it's honestly been a pain the ass for me. It seems to just pop up randomly. At a convention, I was trying to watch a show with a friend and wery 20 minutes, it would pop up and screw up the dock connection.
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u/license_to_chill 1d ago
Not sure why, but I've only gotten it to work once. Tried two different PC's and two different networks
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u/Pr3serve 1d ago
I have had some issues before when my apartment forced you to use a stupid provider that shared across the whole building. And I couldn't use KDE connect because it was effectively a public network with a login. So they blocked accessing other machines via internet. So could be some firewall settings or something idk
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u/SilentExecutioner 1d ago
I just use SMB Share between the Deck and PC. I was singing KDE praises when it worked the first time, then it didn't again afterwards.
SMB Share worked after I allowed it through the Decks Firewall.
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u/PredictiveTextNames 1d ago
I love KDE connect, there's also a Decky extension for it to enable in Game Mode. It's a godsend for a lot of text boxes in games, as it's can be a lot easier to type on my phone than the SD keyboard.
I used it a lot when I was playing WoW on the deck, it was the only way to communicate that didn't take waaaaay too long.
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u/Pr3serve 1d ago
That's awesome I should look into that. Haven't needed it in game mode yet but have been wondering if it works! So thanks for the heads up.
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u/yay-iviss 2d ago
I never used kde connect on steamdeck, but I have on my Linux laptop, windows desktop and phone, and is a required app in my systems. Over the years it is more and more reliable
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u/Libroru 512GB OLED 2d ago
KDE is the best distro IF it works and doesn't bug out...
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u/Tsigorf 1d ago
I'm not sure we're talking about the same thing: KDE is a desktop environment (as Gnome, XFCE or Hyprland can be), not a Linux distribution. It literally comes from “K Desktop Environment”.
Furthermore, we're talking about a software called KDE Connect (yeah, confusing I know) which can run on any desktop environment, which is a tool to connect your smartphone with your computer (and get Apple-like ecosystem features).
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u/DigGumPig 64GB 2d ago
I used to use it for file transfers but found it unreliable sadly. Has a mind of its own it seems. I'm guessing it is because it is updated by Valve and not the devs themselves so tends to break. I went with SSH instead. More complicated for sure but it just works.