Node / meshtastic / Meshtastic-Android / files / docs / gl-rES / user / desktop.md

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title: Desktop App

parent: User Guide

nav_order: 14

last_updated: 2026-08-30

description: Install and use the Meshtastic Desktop app on Linux, macOS, and Windows — connections, feature parity, and keyboard shortcuts.

aliases:

• desktop

• linux

• macos

• windows

• jvm

This page covers installing the Meshtastic desktop app, connecting a radio, and how it differs from Android. The desktop app shares its core codebase with Android via Kotlin Multiplatform, so most features work identically across Linux, macOS, and Windows.

• Download the T383838.deb, T383838.rpm, or T383838.AppImage package from the releases page

• Or install from Flathub: T383838flatpak install flathub org.meshtastic.MeshtasticDesktop

• Or build from source using T383838./gradlew :desktopApp:run

• Download the T383838.dmg package from the releases page

• Or build from source

• Download the T383838.msi or T383838.exe installer from the releases page

• Or build from source

The most reliable connection method on desktop:

Connect your radio via USB. The app detects the serial port automatically; if it doesn't, select the port from the Connect menu.

For network-connected radios:

1. Enter the radio's IP address and port (default: 4403).

2. Click Connect.

Bluetooth Low Energy is supported on desktop via the Kable library:

1. Ensure your system has a Bluetooth adapter. The app scans for nearby Meshtastic radios automatically.

2. Select your radio from the Connect screen.

\*Chirpy AI requires Android 14+ on Google flavor builds with supported hardware.

†App Functions exposes app actions to the Android system AI on Google flavor builds. See App Functions.

The desktop app uses the same Compose Multiplatform UI with adaptations for larger screens and desktop interaction.

Shortcuts use ⌘ (Command) on macOS and Ctrl on Windows and Linux. (The Super / Windows key is not bound.)

• Window resizing — responsive layout adapts to window dimensions

• System tray — closing the window minimizes to the system tray for background mesh operation. On a desktop environment with no tray, there is nowhere to minimize to, so closing quits the app instead

• Tray menu — right-click the tray icon to show window or quit

• Mouse interaction — hover states and standard desktop navigation

The desktop app provides in-app toggles for controlling which notifications are shown. Find them in the App Notifications section of the Settings screen: Direct message notifications, New node notifications, and Low battery notifications.

The desktop app includes a built-in documentation browser for quick access to help content without leaving the app.

!Docs browser with table of contents

The browser supports full-text search across all documentation:

!Searching the docs browser

Individual doc pages render with full formatting:

!A documentation page

T282828

Tffa657cd Meshtastic-Android

./gradlew :desktopApp:run

Requirements:

• JDK 25 (Gradle can provision the toolchain itself via foojay)

• No Android SDK required for desktop-only builds

• Offline tile downloads and local T383838.mbtiles archives are not available on desktop.

• T383838.kml/T383838.kmz/GeoJSON layer import works — see

Map & Waypoints. Site Planner opens in your browser

rather than in the app; to bring its coverage estimate onto the map, click the transmitter pin

in the browser and use the planner's GeoJSON export, then add the file as a layer — not the KML

export, which is a ground-overlay image this map cannot draw. Custom network tile sources work

too — see Map & Waypoints

• The USB maintenance flow — nRF52/RP2040 factory erase and bootloader upgrade — is Android-only, and the

desktop app does not offer it. Use the Web Flasher instead

• Some Android-specific features (widgets, specific notification channels) are unavailable

• Performance may vary on low-spec hardware running Compose Desktop

• BLE bonding is not yet supported on desktop (pairing works without bonding)

• Connections — connection methods overview

• Firmware Updates — in-app USB, BLE, and Wi-Fi update all work the same as on Android

• Map & Waypoints — base maps, layers, custom tile sources, and what the desktop map does not do