Elevate Your KDE Plasma Experience With These 15 Essential Widgets

Are you using these KDE Plasma widgets to enhance your user experience? We tell you the most useful options here.
Warp Terminal

KDE Plasma is a fantastic desktop environment. It is popular for its feature set that allows a user to customize the experience, add widgets, and multiply the usefulness of the desktop with various elements.

When you get started, you already have certain widgets in place to access things. You can customize/remove them or add some more pre-installed ones. In either case, you can also download widgets from the KDE store and try them out.

Here, I mention some of my favorite picks among the default, pre-installed, and downloadable widgets.

Default Panel Widgets

Let’s see some widgets that you get most of the time, when you log into a KDE Plasma desktop.

1. Application Launcher

The Application Launcher is the default App Menu in KDE Plasma.

KDE Plasma default Application Launcher, with Favorites tab highlighted.
KDE Plasma Launcher

Here, you can find the apps installed on your system, available neatly under different sections. To configure the functioning of the Application Launcher, right-click on top of it and select “Configure Application Launcher”.

Application Launcher Configuration page.
Application Launcher Configuration

It’s possible to make changes that include a custom icon, custom label, etc. as shown in the screenshot above.

2. Icons only Task Manager

The next useful and default widget is the Icons only Task Manager. You will see the favorite apps pinned to it. As you open other windows, their icons will also appear here. Of course, this is the expected behavior, but you can make changes to it.

Icons-only Task Manager in KDE Plasma default panel.
Icons-only Task Manager

In the configuration window, you can make visual and behavioral changes to the widget. For instance, let me shrink the spacing between icons:

Task Manager Appearance settings in its configuration window.
Task Manager Appearance

Similarly, in the behavior setting, I turn off the task grouping.

Task Manager Behavior Settings in Configuration page
Task Manager Behavior Settings

3. Klipboard

KDE Plasma offers a very handy clipboard, accessible through the panel and also via the Super + V keyboard shortcut.

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The Clipboard Indicator, by default, appears on the panel only if you have at least one item in the clipboard.

Compared to other clipboard managers, it offers some cool advantages. In most system, Plasma clipboard can also store the images you've copied. If an image or file or URL is copied, you can open it using the Application that can handle those MIME types directly from the clipboard.

Klipboard, the KDE Plasma Clipboard Manager. It can open the items based on their MIME types.
Klipboard, the KDE Plasma Clipboard Manager

If you are not getting these options by default, it is easily toggle-able through the widget configuration.

Pre-installed Widgets

Now, let's see some widgets, that are pre-installed on most systems, but not placed on the default panel.

To place a widget, first right-click on the desktop and then select “Enter Edit mode”.

Right-click on the desktop and select "Enter Edit Mode"
Enter Edit Mode

Now, click on the “Add Widgets” button.

Click on "Add Widgets" button in Edit Mode.
"Add Widgets" Button
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The position of the “Add Widgets” button varies for old KDE Plasma versions and the latest Plasma 6.1. Here, KDE Neon, with the very latest version (6.1) is used.

The widget collection will slide in from the left side of the screen.

The Widget Collection panel appearing in edit mode.
The Widget Collection Page

You can drag and drop a widget from this panel either to the desktop or to the panel. Below are some cool and useful widgets from this list.

4. Global Menu

If you use/used macOS, you may be aware of the Global Menu. It puts a neat global menu bar, which releases the menu bar of the current active window and places it as global menu.

You can drag and drop the widget to the panel, or anywhere on the desktop. In the screenshot below, you can see that, I have placed it on the panel.

Global Menu in KDE Plasma Panel. It shows the Menu bar for the currently active item, which is Dolphin file manager.
Global Menu in Panel

If you are facing congested space in Panel, you can make it a simple Global Menu button, by going into the configuration.

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The Global Menu widget will not be visible, when no app is active. In such a case, you need to go to the edit mode to get Global Menu Configuration.
Global Menu as a button in KDE Plasma Panel. Other menu items are appeared when clicked on this button.
Global Menu as a button

5. Sticky Note

There is no need to open a dedicated note window all the time for scribbling random texts. Use Sticky Notes instead.

You can place this much-needed widget in the Plasma Panel, and click on it to open a quick note.

Sticky Note is opened by clicking on the button, placed in Plasma panel.
Sticky Note in Panel

You can press the bottom-right settings button on the sticky note to get some cool theme and font settings.

Sticky Note Appearance settings, where we can select the background color of the note widget.
Sticky Note Appearances
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Use the Light-Transparent while using Light Plasma themes and Black-Transparent when using Dark Plasma theme.

6. Color Picker

At times, you may need a color picker, to quickly take note of a color you see. Why search through the web, while you have a simple widget right in your system?

Color Picker is available by default, and all you need to do is, drag and drop it into the panel.

Color Picker widget button appearing in KDE Plasma Panel.
Color Picker in KDE Panel

When you click on the pencil icon, the cursor will turn to a Plus sign. Click on the top of the color, you want to copy. You can select and store multiple color codes. Once a color is selected, you can access it from the adjacent circle button.

Get selected color codes from the Color Picker widget in panel.
Get Selected Color Codes

Click on a color to select its code to clipboard. More interestingly, right-click on a color and then choose various color codes!

7. Pager

Using multiple workspaces can improve your productivity by reducing the clutter and organizing the windows. In Plasma, you can add a pager widget to the panel, so that navigating between the workspaces is easier.

By default, the Pager widget is added to the panel when you install any KDE Plasma system. To make it visible, you need to have at least two workspaces.

First, search and open the Virtual Desktop from the Application Launcher.

Search for "Virtual Desktops" in Application launcher and press enter to open the settings.
Search for "Virtual Desktops"

On the settings window, set the number of desktops using the “Add Desktops” button. It's nice to keep the rows to 1. Click on the Apply button.

Add a couple of new desktops using the "Add Desktops" button. Then click on "Apply" to make changes permanent.
Add Desktops

You can now see, on the panel, a new Pager bar.

Default Pager in Panel appears when more than one Virtual Desktop is present on the system settings.
Default Pager in Panel

On its configuration page, set some values as shown in the screenshot below, to get a decent look and function.

The Pager widget's Configuration window.
Pager Configuration Window
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The pager can be configured such that when you click on the current virtual desktop, it will show the desktop. Thus, the use of a separate “minimize all windows” widget can be avoided.

8. System Monitor

In Plasma, you have a lot of customized system monitors, like Network Monitor, Physical Memory monitor, storage monitor etc. But the system monitor widget is the one you can use, if you want to monitor every aspect of your system.

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If you want the basic monitors, all the important ones are pre-configured. You need to search for them by name, like, Individual Core Usage, Memory Usage, etc.

On the widgets page, it is located with the name “System monitor sensor”.

System Monitor Sensor in Widgets collection
System Monitor Sensor

Like any other widgets, you can drag and drop it in a desired position on the panel or desktop. Now, go to its configuration window. On the appearance page, change the appearance of the sensor from the pie chart to any other available option of your choice.

Select Text only sensor from System Monitor Widget configuration window.
Select Text only sensor
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If you are placing the widget on a panel, it's better to go with a text-only sensor. Also, if you can spare some screen size, you can add a separate panel on the top and place a couple of text only monitors there.

As you can see, I have selected a text-only sensor and then gave “Sensors” a value CPU → All → Total Usage (%).

Gove Sensor Details
Sensor Details

In the screenshot below, a dedicated top panel is given for some much-needed system monitors.

Multiple Sensors added to a dedicated top panel.
Multiple Sensors in a panel.
💡
The network speed is automatically displayed, when you click on the network widget in the system tray. So, no need for a separate widget.

9. Margin Separator and Spacer

The Margin Separator and Spacer are two widgets that can arrange the items on your panel, neatly. The Margin Separator helps add a small gap between various panel items.

Margin Separator in Widgets collection
Margin Separator in Widgets collection

You can drag this and place between any two panel items.

Similarly, Spacer is a more flexible separator. Usually, you will use a maximum of two or three spacers, to make everything appear on the left/right/center of the panel.

You can get the spacer by going into panel edit mode. First, right-click on a panel and then select “Show Panel Configuration”.

Right-click on an empty space in the panel and select "Show Panel Configuration" to open the panel configuration.
Show Panel Configuration

Here, you can select the “Add a Spacer” button to add the spacer.

Click on "Add a Spacer" button to add Spacer to the selected panel.
Add a Spacer

Typically, using a two spacer can create Windows like panel (if you like the style).

Windows like Panel configuration using Spacers.
Windows like Panel

10. Lock/Logout

Place this item on the panel so that you can access the logout screen by clicking on it without going to the app menu. When you place it on the panel, go to its configuration and set the Shutdown and Logout button active.

Set Logout and Shutdown buttons active.
Logout and Shutdown buttons

Try the other buttons too, as per your specific requirements.

11. Konsole Profiles

This widget is useful for those, who are working with multiple Konsole terminal profiles. You can open a particular profile by selecting from the panel.

First, drag and drop the widget into the panel.

Konsole Profiles in Widget Collection Panel. Drag and drop it to the panel.
Konsole Profiles in Widget Collection

Now, click on the widget in the panel and select the required Konsole Profile!

Click on the Konsole Profiles widget in the Panel.
Konsole Profiles in Panel

Widgets That You Can Download

Now, let's see a couple of widgets, that you can download.

To install a widget, first, right-click on an empty place on the desktop and select “Enter Edit Mode”. And, then, go to the widget collection page by clicking on the “Add Widgets” button.

Here, you need to click on the “Get New Widgets” → “Download New Plasma Widgets” button.

Click on "Download New Plasma Widgets" button inside "Get New Widgets" button.
Download New Widgets

This will bring you to KDE online store, where you can download third-party widgets.

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While using third-party widgets/themes in KDE Plasma, you should be very cautious because some may break your user experience.
KDE Plasma Online Widget Store
Online Widget Store

When you hover over an item, you will get an “Install” button. Click on it to install that widget.

Now let us take a look at some options:

12. Modern Clock

Modern clock is a super cool clock widget that you can place on your desktop. You can search for it with the name “Modern Clock” and install it.

Modern Clock Widget in Plasma Store
Modern Clock Widget

Once installed, drag and drop it from the widget collection to the desktop.

Modern Clock Widget placed on the Desktop
Modern Clock Widget on the Desktop

You can configure it by right-clicking on it and selecting “Configure…”.

Moder Clock Widget Settings/Configuration page.
Modern Clock Settings

Changes like Font size, Font color, etc. can be made to look it more aligned to your wallpaper.

13. Panel Colorizer

You know that latte-dock has stopped its development. So, if it does not work for you as intended, you can try this plasma extension.

Panel Colorizer is a widget, that helps you to tweak the appearance of the panel as you like.

Panel colorizer in KDE Plasma Widgets store
Panel Colorizer in Store

Once you installed it, you can drag and drop the widget to the panel. It will show a cool rotating animation. When placed, right-click on it and go to the configurations page:

Panel colorizer configurations page, where there are several tabs for different areas that you can customize
Panel Colorizer Configuration

You can tweak the background of the panel, text and icons, and a lot more. You can try the changes as you please.

This is what I applied to my test panel.

A custom panel tweak is applied using the Panel Colorizer widget.
Custom Panel Tweak

14. Third-party App Launchers

On a default installation of KDE Plasma, you will get three types of application menu. An application launcher, an application menu and an application dashboard.

You can easily switch between these by right-clicking on the current application menu widget and selecting “Show Alternatives”.

Right-click on a widget and select "Show Alternatives" option
Select Show Alternatives

Here, you can switch to another launcher with ease. This is valid for all widgets, when a similar other widget is installed.

Showing Alternative Widgets for a particular widget
Alternative Widgets

Now, if you are not interested in the default option, there are a couple of launchers like the Andromeda Launcher and Menu 11.

Andromeda Launcher

At least some of you may have noticed, Andromeda Launcher is installed automatically if you install any Nord theme from the KDE theme store. So, for those, you can drag and place it in the panel. Else, just search and install it.

Using Andromeda Launcher in KDE Plasma
Andromeda Launcher

This is a minimal and interesting launcher with several customizations. Some configurations include: greeting text, launcher position, edge gap settings, etc.

The configuration window of Andromeda Launcher
Andromeda Launcher Configuration

Fan of the Windows 11 Start Menu? Then here is one, with no ads.

Menu 11 is an quick app launcher, helping you access things in a couple of clicks.

Menu 11 as the launcher in KDE Plasma Panel
Menu 11 in Panel

You can configure the place of appearance of the menu, number of columns, rows, and app icon size.

Configuration window for Menu 11 widget.
Menu 11 Configuration

15. Advanced Radio Player

Playing internet radio is a hobby for many PC users. Advanced Radio Player is a radio player with an editable list of stations.

Advanced Radio Player in KDE Plasma Widgets Store
Advanced Radio Player in Store
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The source code link to this widget is not available for the listing on Plasma 6 yet, you can find the source code for Plasma 5.

Once installed, place it on the panel and click on it to get a default list of stations.

Advanced Radio Player opened with a list of default stations
Advanced Radio Player

You can configure it through the configuration window. Settings are available to arrange the stations, search for new stations, etc.

Advanced Radio Player Configuration window
Advanced Radio Player Configuration

Bonus: Configure the System Tray

You have all your widgets set. What next? Let me tell you something interesting:

By default, the widgets icons on the system tray will be visible when it is active. For example, the clipboard icon in the panel will be shown only if at least one item is present on the clipboard.

However, if you like, you can change that to make things look better as per your taste by configuring the system tray widgets.

Right-click on the up-arrow adjacent to the tray and select “Configure System Tray”.

Right-click on the up-arrow adjacent to system tray and select "Configure System Tray" option.
Select Configure System Tray

Here, you can change either the icons' size and spacing:

Change Tray Icon appearance like Size of the icons and spacing between them.
Change Tray Icon Appearance

Or, set what appears on the system tray in panel.

Change the visibility status of system tray icons.
Icon Visibility Settings

Items can be made permanently visible by making them “Always Shown”. And, you can change visibility to “Always Hidden” to hide them. Configure this, based on your liking.

Here is a final look, with all the widgets applied:

💬 What is your favorite on the list? Tell me about your favorite KDE Plasma widget in the comments below!

About the author
Sreenath

Sreenath

Linux tinkerer by day, Lord of the Rings fanatic by night. When I'm not busy conquering the command line, you can find me kicking back and watching some football while quoting JRR Tolkien

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