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KDE Plasma 5 is a beautiful desktop environment. It has a large number of graphical effects that make it stand out, and for this reason, many users agree that it is one of the most attractive desktops in all of Linux. However, that beauty comes at a considerable cost in system resources, and as a result, many users are unable to enjoy the desktop to its full potential.
If you’re frustrated with the way KDE runs on your Linux PC, we can help! Follow along as we show you how to speed up your KDE Plasma 5 desktop!
Upgrade KDE Plasma 5
With each release, KDE Plasma 5 gets performance improvements. Therefore, if you are having problems with the KDE desktop environment malfunctioning, the first thing you should do is check for updates. Your Linux operating system most likely has a new version of KDE ready for you with fixes, performance improvements, and more.
Not sure how to update your operating system on KDE Plasma? That is how!
Step 1: Press the Windows key on your keyboard and type “Discover” in the search box. Then launch the app with the blue shopping bag icon.
Step 2: In the Discover app, look for “Updates” at the bottom left of the window and click on it to access the system update area for KDE.
Step 3: Update your KDE Plasma 5 desktop (and Linux OS as a whole) by locating the “Update All” button.
Are you using a Linux distribution that doesn’t receive regular updates? Get rid of the KDE-based Linux distribution you are currently using for KDE Neon. It is an Ubuntu-based Linux system that offers new updates to the KDE Plasma desktop on a stable LTS foundation. You always get the latest news, so you’ll always see performance updates from the KDE team. For more information on Neon, .
Adjust desktop effects
One of the most common reasons why KDE Plasma 5 slows down on low-resource computers is graphical effects. They take a significant toll on system resources (mainly your GPU). Therefore, a quick way to speed up the KDE Plasma 5 desktop is to drastically reduce or disable fancy graphical effects on the desktop.
To disable graphical effects in KDE Plasma, press the Windows key on the keyboard and type “Effects”. Launch the application that is labeled “Desktop Effects”.
Once in the effects area of the desktop, you will be able to see many of the graphical effects that the KDE Plasma 5 system uses. Scroll down and uncheck the boxes next to all enabled effects and you should see a slight increase in speed and performance.
disable composition
Composite effects are awesome in KDE. They add shadow and depth to your applications. These effects also add a beautiful translucent effect to open windows (when you drag them) and other attractive effects.
It goes without saying, but these compounding effects play a big role in making KDE Plasma slow, especially on low-end computers. Fortunately, the KDE developers make it easy to disable compositing.
To disable composite effects, press the Windows key and search for “Composite.” An app icon labeled “Composer” should appear. Click on it and you will be taken to the Plasma Desktop Composite Settings.
Inside the Composer window, uncheck the box next to “Enable composer at startup”. Then click on the “Apply” button, close the window and restart your PC. When you log back in, the compositing effects will be turned off, which will speed things up.
Uninstall Akonadi
KDE has a central database system known as Akonadi. It’s a solid service and helps many applications access information on the Plasma desktop. While you won’t notice Akonadi running in the background in KDE if you have decent computer specs, those with lower-end machines may notice that it’s slowing down your KDE session at times.
Uninstalling Akonadi and disabling the database system is very easy, but it differs depending on which Linux distribution you are using. To disable the service, open a terminal window and follow the command prompts that correspond to the operating system you are using.
Note: uninstalling Akonadi will also uninstall any KDE programs that depend on it.
ubuntu
sudo apt remove akonadi –purge
Debian
sudo apt-get remove akonadi –purge
ArchLinux
sudo pacman -Rsc akonadi
fedora
sudo dnf remove akonadi
OpenSUSE
sudo zypper remove akonadi
Switch window managers (optional)
The Window Manager plays a huge role in how heavy a desktop environment is. In KDE, the window manager is not inflated by itself. However, replacing it will make a big difference to memory, GPU, and CPU usage, so it’s a good idea to swap it out for something slimmer if necessary.
Openbox is an ideal replacement window manager to combine with KDE Plasma. Best of all, the Openbox developers provide a KDE/Openbox session, so no configuration is required. To get your tuned KDE/Openbox session, open a terminal window and follow the instructions next to the Linux operating system you’re running Plasma on.
Note: You should only switch from the KDE window manager to Openbox if you have gone through this list and are still running into a slow KDE session.
ubuntu
sudo apt install openbox openbox-kde-session
Debian
sudo apt-get install openbox openbox-kde-session
ArchLinux
sudo pacman -S openbox
fedora
sudo dnf install openbox-kde
OpenSUSE
sudo zypper install openbox-kde
Log in to KDE/Openbox
To log into your new KDE / Openbox session, click on the KDE application menu and then click on the logout button. Once you have signed out, you will see the login screen. On the login screen, find “session” and click the dropdown next to it to reveal the desktop sessions that are available, then select “KDE/Openbox”.
After selecting the “KDE / Openbox” option, click on your username and enter your password to log in. When you’re done logging in, you’ll see the KDE Plasma 5 desktop, but with Openbox, a much lighter window manager.
