Bug 475570

Summary:	Allow adding device by hostname/address on desktop (similar to "Add devices by IP" in the mobile app)
Product:	[Applications] kdeconnect	Reporter:	Linus Kardell <linus.kardell>
Component:	common	Assignee:	Albert Vaca Cintora <albertvaka>
Status:	REPORTED ---
Severity:	normal	CC:	andrew.g.r.holmes, xalt7x.service
Priority:	NOR
Version First Reported In:	22.12.3
Target Milestone:	---
Platform:	Other
OS:	Linux
Latest Commit:		Version Fixed/Implemented In:
Sentry Crash Report:

Description Linus Kardell 2023-10-13 14:47:32 UTC

SUMMARY
In the Android application it's possible to pair with KDE Connect via hostname or IP address, which is useful in case the devices can't find eachother via broadcast, e.g. if they're connected via a VPN such as Tailscale. However, there seems to be no such option in the PC version, so you can't do the same between two PCs.

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Operating System: openSUSE Leap 15.5
KDE Plasma Version: 5.27.4
KDE Frameworks Version: 5.103.0
Qt Version: 5.15.8
Kernel Version: 5.14.21-150500.55.28-default (64-bit)
Graphics Platform: X11
Processors: 16 × AMD Ryzen 7 1700X Eight-Core Processor
Memory: 62.7 Gibyte of RAM
Graphics Processor: AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT

Comment 1 Yevhen Popok 2025-10-08 04:56:18 UTC

It's possible to make remote device visible by setting "customDevices" parameter in config.
It works for me to connect Desktops. 

1. Find kdeconnect Desktop config:
- Linux: ~/.config/kdeconnect/
- Windows: %LocalAppData%\kdeconnect\config
2. Add "customDevices" parameter, specifying IP address of required devices
customDevices=192.168.89.35,192.168.89.36
3. Open KDEConnect window on both devices and click "Refresh"

For me Desktops start  to see each other if I set this parameter on either of devices (be it device with VPN connection or local device).

References:
- https://www.reddit.com/r/kde/comments/l2kqiu/kde_connect_actually_supports_adding_devices_by/
- https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=282623
- https://www.reddit.com/r/mullvadvpn/comments/1ajopzf/kdeconnect_mullvad_linux_desktop/

I really hope this will be added in Desktop app UI or at least documented.
Currently we get such important information from the deleted Reddit post

P.S.  Linus Kardell, can you please add "Add devices by IP" (mobile app action) in the title so it will be more discoverable?