Created a hotspot on my laptop (arch linux, kde plasma) have the app installed on Mi5, android 6 both devices cannot find each other but, i was able to connect another android phone to mine (mi5) that android phone is also not visible on my laptop
I can confirm this. I'm running Gentoo Linux with plasma 5.8.5-r1. $ equery list kdeconnect * Searching for kdeconnect ... [IP-] [ ] kde-misc/kdeconnect-1.0.3:5 iptables INPUT chain is empty and policy set to ACCEPT. On my phones the installed KDE Connect version is 1.6.1 from Google Play. My main phone is Xperia X Performance, which runs Android 7.0 (Stock Sony ROM, no root). It doesn't see the laptop. Manual IP doesn't work either. Another phone is Xperia J (Android 4.1.2, Stock Sony ROM, rooted) sees the laptop with no issues. Moreover, phones are able to see each other.
Make sure udp broadcast is working properly on your network.
Dear Bug Submitter, This bug has been in NEEDSINFO status with no change for at least 15 days. Please provide the requested information as soon as possible and set the bug status as REPORTED. Due to regular bug tracker maintenance, if the bug is still in NEEDSINFO status with no change in 30 days, the bug will be closed as RESOLVED > WORKSFORME due to lack of needed information. For more information about our bug triaging procedures please read the wiki located here: https://community.kde.org/Guidelines_and_HOWTOs/Bug_triaging If you have already provided the requested information, please set the bug status as REPORTED so that the KDE team knows that the bug is ready to be confirmed. Thank you for helping us make KDE software even better for everyone!
Dear Bug Submitter, This bug has been in NEEDSINFO status with no change for at least 30 days. The bug is now closed as RESOLVED > WORKSFORME due to lack of needed information. For more information about our bug triaging procedures please read the wiki located here: https://community.kde.org/Guidelines_and_HOWTOs/Bug_triaging Thank you for helping us make KDE software even better for everyone!