Kite

Frequently asked questions

General

Does Kite work outside KDE Plasma?
Yes, on any Linux desktop. Plasma-specific features such as KRunner search, KDE Connect, KDE Wallet and the Breeze look need Plasma to be there.
Is there a Windows, macOS or mobile version?
No. Kite is Linux only.
Which extensions can I use?
Firefox add-ons from addons.mozilla.org, both Manifest V2 and V3. Kite covers the common WebExtensions APIs, but not all of Firefox's: add-ons that need containers, find, dns, themes or filterResponseData won't work fully. Chrome Web Store extensions aren't supported.
Are plugins safe to install?

Only install plugins from people you trust. Unlike Firefox add-ons, a native plugin runs inside Kite with no sandbox, signing or review. Once switched on, it can read your saved logins, cookies and history, and see and change every page, including in private windows. Installing one is like installing a program.

Kite asks before anything runs: an installed plugin stays off until you turn it on in Settings → Plugins & Extensions. If an add-on from addons.mozilla.org can do the job, prefer it, as add-ons only get the permissions they ask for.

Can I bring my bookmarks and passwords from another browser?

Yes. The first time you start Kite, it looks for other browsers on your computer and offers to import their bookmarks: Firefox, LibreWolf, Waterfox, Chrome, Chromium, Brave, Edge, Vivaldi, Opera and Falkon, including Flatpak and Snap installs. You can come back to that page any time at kite:welcome.

Bookmarks can also be imported from an exported HTML file or Falkon's bookmarks.json. Passwords come in from CSV files (Firefox, Chrome, Bitwarden) or Falkon's XML export.

Kite doesn't show up in KRunner or the application launcher.
After installing, restart KRunner once with systemctl --user restart plasma-krunner. The application launcher picks Kite up at your next login.

How does Kite compare to other browsers?

Kite isn't the right browser for everyone. Here is where it does better, and where it doesn't. For the long version, see the full feature comparison.

Feature Kite Falkon Chrome Firefox Brave
Native KDE look (Breeze, colour scheme, icons) Yes Yes Partly Partly Partly
KDE Wallet for passwords Yes Yes Yes No Yes
KRunner, KDE Connect, media controls Yes Partly Add-on Add-on Add-on
Built-in ad and tracker blocking Yes Yes No Partly Yes
Full uBlock Origin (Manifest V2) Yes No No Yes Limited
Extension store Firefox add-ons Falkon plugins Chrome Web Store Firefox add-ons Chrome Web Store
Vertical and tree-style tabs Yes Plugin No Partly Vertical only
Split view with tabs per side Yes No Partly Partly Partly
Container tabs Yes No No Add-on Partly
No AI assistant, crypto or rewards built in Yes Yes No Partly No
Sync between devices No No Yes Yes Yes
Passkeys No No Yes Yes Yes
Translation Add-on No Yes Yes Yes
WebGPU No No Partly No Partly
Platforms Linux Linux, Windows All All All

As of November 2026.

Known issues

After tightening privacy settings, some sites stopped working.

The stricter you set Kite, the more sites break. Common examples:

  • Embedded YouTube videos don't play, or show an error.
  • Signing in to Google services (Gmail, YouTube, Drive) fails or loops.
  • Maps don't load, or show blank tiles.
  • Video calls can't connect.

The usual culprits are blocking all cookies, fingerprint protection, strict WebRTC settings and aggressive filter lists. Rather than loosening them everywhere, use the site settings button in the address bar to relax them for the site that's misbehaving, and try a private window to check whether your settings are the cause.

Picture-in-picture doesn't work on some videos.
Kite brings its own picture-in-picture, since QtWebEngine has none. It doesn't work for videos inside frames, and sites can't start it themselves.

Known limitations

Why isn't WebGPU available?
Kite's engine is QtWebEngine, which is built from Chromium. Chromium doesn't enable WebGPU on Linux yet, so Kite can't either. It will arrive once Chromium ships it on Linux and QtWebEngine catches up.
Why is Kite's engine older than Chrome's?
QtWebEngine follows Chromium a few releases behind, and Kite gets newer engines as new Qt versions come out. Qt backports Chromium's security fixes in between.
Is there sync, passkeys or translation?
Not yet. Kite has no account system, so no sync between devices. Passkeys (WebAuthn), card autofill, built-in translation and installing sites as apps are also missing.
Can I use browser themes?
No. Kite follows your KDE colour scheme and icon theme instead. Change those in System Settings and Kite follows along.

Not answered here? Ask on the issue tracker.