Right now, when I search for “settings” in the start menu of Kubuntu, it shows “Sensors” for about two seconds, and then realizes what I’m asking for and displays “System Settings.” This is the only desktop environment on Linux that I’ve had this issue with. I’m used to PowerToys Run, Spotlight, and the search on Mint, where when I type in just a few short letters, it immediately knows what I’m talking about.
The same thing happens with Ente Auth. It picks up the “ente” part of the word “center” and opens the Discover “Software Center.” I have to wait for it to finally catch up with me.
Is there a way to alter the way that the search algorithm works so that it’s as snappy as the search solutions that I am used to? I type quickly and I just am opening the wrong program constantly because the search in KDE is just so strange.
Yes, configure Krunner search plug-ins which you can find in System Settings, turn off the ones you don’t use, change order of priority. I can provide the setup I have that gives search results instantly but can’t do it right now
Ok so the setting is called “Plasma Search”. Open “System Settings”, find “Workspaces” category, click on “Search” then select “Plasma Search” or simply search for “Plasma Search” in the “Application Launcher” search bar (the “start menu search” you mentioned).
I disabled every plugin except for “Command LIne”, “Power”, “System Settings” and “Applications”, in that order. The order matters matters since for example I have an app called “System Monitor” and if I search for “System” then the first thing that will come up if “Applications” comes BEFORE “System Settings” will be the “System Monitor” app, which I don’t want, so that’s why I have moved the “Applications” to come after “System Settings”. You can also edit the krunner config file for the same result:
