Virtual Desktop Bar is a KDE Plasma widget that provides a clean, configurable, text-based virtual desktop switcher. It replaces the default Pager with a compact desktop bar focused on clarity, customization, and modern Plasma 6 Wayland environments.
The widget displays desktops as labeled buttons with configurable indicators, styling, and behavior options. It also supports optional dynamic desktop management to automatically maintain a spare empty desktop.
This project is a modern continuation of earlier work, updated and maintained specifically for Plasma 6 on Wayland.
(Screenshots may change as the widget evolves.)
- Displays desktops as labeled buttons instead of thumbnails
- Quickly switch desktops with a click
- Optional scroll-wheel desktop switching
- Optional filtering by screen
Multiple indicator styles are available:
- Edge line
- Side line
- Block
- Rounded block
- Full-size highlight
Indicator thickness, radius, colors, and behavior are configurable.
Desktop labels support:
- Multiple label styles
- Custom formatting
- Maximum length limits
- Uppercase option
- Bold current desktop
- Dim inactive desktops
- Custom fonts and sizes
- Custom label colors
- Adjustable button spacing and margins
- Optional uniform button sizing
- Configurable animations
- Add-desktop button support
Optionally:
- Automatically maintain one empty desktop
- Create desktops as needed
- Remove unused desktops
- Optionally switch or rename newly created desktops
- Execute commands when desktops are created
The widget is available in the AUR:
plasma6-applets-virtual-desktop-bar-wayland
Install using your preferred AUR helper:
paru -S plasma6-applets-virtual-desktop-bar-wayland
or:
yay -S plasma6-applets-virtual-desktop-bar-wayland
After installation, add the widget to a panel or desktop via Plasma's widget picker.
Clone the repository:
git clone https://github.com/lenonk/virtual-desktop-bar.git
cd virtual-desktop-bar
Build and install:
cmake -B build
cmake --build build
sudo cmake --install build
Restart plasmashell or re-login if the widget does not appear immediately.
- Add Virtual Desktop Bar to a panel or desktop.
- Open widget settings to configure appearance and behavior.
- Customize indicator styles, labels, colors, and dynamic desktop options to your liking.
This widget is designed and tested for:
- KDE Plasma 6
- Wayland sessions
Wayland is required.
Some Plasma panel visibility modes currently interfere with virtual desktop widgets. If desktops do not update correctly:
- Avoid panel modes that hide the panel automatically, or
- Use standard visibility modes.
Upstream Plasma behavior may change in future releases.
Bug reports, suggestions, and pull requests are welcome.
If reporting an issue, please include:
- Plasma version
- Distribution
- Steps to reproduce the problem
This project is distributed under the GPL license. See repository files for details.
This project builds upon earlier virtual desktop bar efforts within the KDE community and continues development for modern Plasma environments.
