Bug 449677

Summary: Please provide a direct download for KDEConnect for Android for sideloads
Product: [Applications] kdeconnect Reporter: Jeffrey Walton <noloader>
Component: android-applicationAssignee: Albert Vaca Cintora <albertvaka>
Status: REPORTED ---    
Severity: wishlist CC: aoeui, apicultor, fabio, grnb, me, noloader
Priority: NOR    
Version First Reported In: unspecified   
Target Milestone: ---   
Platform: Android   
OS: Linux   
Latest Commit: Version Fixed/Implemented In:
Sentry Crash Report:

Description Jeffrey Walton 2022-02-06 01:33:14 UTC 
Hi Everyone,

Re: https://userbase.kde.org/KDEConnect#Installation

I'm using Kubuntu 20.04.03, x86_64, fully patched. I am new to KDE, but I like what I see so far. I have a carrier unlocked Pixel 4a in US market. I purchased the phone from Google. I am not indentured to a carrier.

I do not use app stores, like Google Play or F-Droid. Instead, I download the app and use 'adb install' to sideload it/install it manually. For example, here are Firefox [1] and Duo Security [2] apps. (This cuts both ways. I don't give up my privacy, but I can't use Uber or Lyft because they don't run properly).

My request is, please provide a direct download for KDEConnect. I would like to try it (without compromising on my privacy by engaging an app store).

[1] https://wiki.mozilla.org/Mobile/Platforms/Android and https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1103697
[2] https://help.duo.com/s/article/2211?language=en_US
Comment 1 2wxsy58236r3 2022-10-05 06:22:41 UTC 
Even though KDE does not provide a direct download for KDE Connect at the moment, you can click "Download APK" on the F-Droid page, which is built and signed by F-Droid. You can click on the link to source tarball and verify the code.
This way, you can sideload the APK without installing the F-Droid client.

According to their About page:
> F-Droid respects your privacy. We don’t track you, or your device. We don’t track what you install.
> You don’t need an account to use the client, and it sends no additional identifying data when
> communicating with our web servers, other than its version number.

You can find F-Droid's client and server source code on https://gitlab.com/fdroid .

However, if you still do not trust the APK built by F-Droid, I am afraid that you will have to build the app from source yourself, or wait until KDE developers make the APK available for direct download on KDE site.
Comment 2 quaff 2025-04-14 16:19:25 UTC 
F-Droid's builds are always about a week late. It'd be good to provide an APK to allow the user to update quicker. Even with using something like [Obtainium](https://obtainium.imranr.dev/).
Comment 3 2wxsy58236r3 2025-06-18 01:32:13 UTC 
*** Bug 505680 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
Comment 4 ABSURD 2025-06-18 15:31:31 UTC 
I’m currently in the process of fully transitioning away from Google services and most proprietary/unsecure software. I have been using Graphene OS as my mobile OS of choice. I’ve successfully sourced all my necessary apps through Obtainium, the Graphene OS App Store, and Accrescent. However, I’m facing a similar challenge with KDE Connect. Unfortunately, it’s not currently available through Obtainium or other secure channels, and obtaining it via F-Droid or the Play Store poses security concerns for me. This has become somewhat of a dealbreaker in my de-googling efforts. 
providing an APK to allow the user to update quicker. and get it from a secure source with something like Obtainium would be very helpful to me and a lot of other users.


F-droid Security issues:
privsec.dev/posts/android/f-droid-security-issues/
xcancel.com/GrapheneOS/status/1883895255142932816#m
gitlab.com/ironfox-oss/IronFox/-/issues/7
github.com/obfusk/fdroid-fakesigner-poc