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wtf is kde-windows-modern?

jeysef/kde-windows-modern — explained in plain English

Analysis updated 2026-05-18

31QMLAudience · generalComplexity · 3/5Setup · moderate

TL;DR

A full Windows 11 style theme pack for KDE Plasma 6, including window decorations, icons, wallpapers, a custom Start Menu, system tray, and lock screen.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((Windows Modern))
    What it does
      Windows 11 look for KDE
      Dark and light variants
      Custom applets
      Optional login screen
    Tech stack
      QML
      C++
      KDE Plasma 6
      Kvantum
    Use cases
      Desktop theming
      Start Menu replacement
      System tray overhaul
    Audience
      Linux desktop users
      KDE Plasma 6 users

Code map

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Why would anyone build with this?

REASON 1

Transform a KDE Plasma 6 desktop into a Windows 11 style look with matching icons, colors, and window borders.

REASON 2

Install a custom Start Menu, system tray, and taskbar applet that mimic Windows 11 behavior.

REASON 3

Apply a ready made Windows style panel layout without manually configuring Plasma widgets.

REASON 4

Add a matching lock screen or, optionally, a Windows style login screen to the desktop.

What's in the stack?

QMLC++KDE PlasmaQtKvantum

How it stacks up

jeysef/kde-windows-modernfrancescopnr-dev/xmb-dashboardoowl/kstats
Stars312438
LanguageQMLQMLQML
Setup difficultymoderateeasyeasy
Complexity3/52/52/5
Audiencegeneralgeneralops devops

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you spin it up?

Difficulty · moderate Time to first run · 30min

Requires KDE Plasma 6 and the Kvantum engine, the system tray and taskbar applets additionally need a C++ compiler and KDE development packages.

The explanation does not state a license, so terms for reuse and modification are unclear.

Wtf does this do

Windows Modern is a theme pack that makes the KDE Plasma 6 desktop, a Linux desktop environment, look and behave like Windows 11. It bundles matching window borders, a widget style, color schemes, full desktop themes, an icon pack of about 25,000 icons, custom panel applets, a ready made panel layout, and wallpapers, all offered in both dark and light versions. The project only supports Plasma 6 and will not work on the older Plasma 5. Installation runs through a single script that walks the user through choices, or accepts direct flags to skip the prompts entirely. Running the full install applies everything at once: themes, icons, applets, a Windows style panel layout, window borders, and the widget engine, with a Plasma shell restart handled automatically. Individual pieces, like just the icon pack or just one applet, can also be installed on their own. Among the custom applets are a Windows style Start Menu with pinned apps, an all apps list, and search, a Show Desktop button, a digital clock with a Windows 11 styled calendar popup, and a full system tray rebuilt in C++ to match the Windows quick settings panel for network, Bluetooth, volume, and other controls. There is also an optional session lock screen and an optional boot login screen that replaces the system login manager, though the login screen is opt in since it requires system level installation. Most components install as ready made files, but the system tray and the icon based taskbar applet are compiled programs, so using them requires a C++ compiler and several KDE and Qt development packages to be installed first. The project is aimed at Linux desktop users who specifically want a Windows 11 look and feel on KDE Plasma, and it also includes small tweaks so that some non KDE apps, like Firefox, better match the theme.

Yoink these prompts

Prompt 1
Walk me through running install.sh on KDE-Windows-Modern to install the full dark theme non-interactively.
Prompt 2
What build dependencies do I need to install the System Tray and Icon Tasks applets from this theme pack?
Prompt 3
Explain the difference between installing 'all' versus installing individual components like themes or applets in this project.
Prompt 4
How do I set the panel to floating mode after installing Windows Modern to get the authentic Windows 11 look?

Frequently asked questions

wtf is kde-windows-modern?

A full Windows 11 style theme pack for KDE Plasma 6, including window decorations, icons, wallpapers, a custom Start Menu, system tray, and lock screen.

What language is kde-windows-modern written in?

Mainly QML. The stack also includes QML, C++, KDE Plasma.

What license does kde-windows-modern use?

The explanation does not state a license, so terms for reuse and modification are unclear.

How hard is kde-windows-modern to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated moderate, with roughly 30min to a first successful run.

Who is kde-windows-modern for?

Mainly general.

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