KDE Connect CLI not recognized

This guide is for the Command Prompt error 'kdeconnect-cli' is not recognized as an internal or external command. Windows cannot find the command by name. That is different from finding the command but getting no connected devices.

Use Command Prompt for all commands below; the %VARIABLE% syntax is for that shell. Start with:

kdeconnect-cli --version

1. Check the Microsoft Store alias #

If you installed KDE Connect from the Microsoft Store, search Windows Settings for App execution aliases. On Windows 11, it is under Apps → Advanced app settings. Find KDE Connect / kdeconnect-cli.exe and turn its switch On.

Using the standalone Windows installer? Skip to the standalone installation check below.

2. Test the Store command by its full path #

"%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\WindowsApps\kdeconnect-cli.exe" --version

• A version appears: the command works. Continue to the PATH check below.
• The path cannot be found: check the alias again and confirm KDE Connect is installed for your Windows account. Repair or reinstall it from the Microsoft Store if necessary.
• Access is denied: follow the permission-denied checks.

3. Check your user PATH #

1. Search Start for Edit environment variables for your account and open it.
2. Under User variables, select Path and click Edit.
3. Look for the WindowsApps folder below. If an equivalent entry is already there, leave it in place. Otherwise, click New and add it.
4. Click OK on the dialogs to save. Keep the other entries.

%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps

4. Reopen Command Prompt and Excel #

Close your terminal app and open a new Command Prompt. Save your work and fully close and reopen Excel too. Already-running apps may still have the old PATH. If the change is still not picked up, sign out of Windows and back in, or restart your PC.

5. Verify the command, then the phone connection #

kdeconnect-cli --version
kdeconnect-cli --list-devices

A version confirms Windows can run the command. An empty device list is now a phone connection or pairing issue, rather than a missing command. Return to Excel and click Test Connection.

Using the standalone Windows installer #

If you are switching from the Store version

Use one installation method at a time. If you choose to replace the Store version, uninstall KDE Connect from Settings → Apps → Installed apps first. You may need to pair your phone again afterward.

Install KDE Connect for Windows

Get the Windows installer from the official KDE Connect download page, then open KDE Connect on your PC.

Test the standalone installation

For the default installation folder, run this in Command Prompt. If you chose another folder, use that folder instead.

"C:\Program Files\KDE Connect\bin\kdeconnect-cli.exe" --version

If the full path works but the short command does not, add C:\Program Files\KDE Connect\bin to your User Path using step 3. QuickText Excel 2.0 already checks this default folder automatically.

Verify in QuickText

Reopen Excel and click Test Connection. For a custom installation location, the connection guide’s video shows how to set the KDE Connect path in QuickText. If it still fails, run the diagnostic tool and share the log with support.