# Desktop App 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. ## Installation ### Linux - Download the `.deb`, `.rpm`, or `.AppImage` package from the [releases page](https://github.com/meshtastic/Meshtastic-Android/releases) - Or install from Flathub: `flatpak install flathub org.meshtastic.MeshtasticDesktop` - Or build from source using `./gradlew :desktopApp:run` ### macOS - Download the `.dmg` package from the [releases page](https://github.com/meshtastic/Meshtastic-Android/releases) - Or build from source ### Windows - Download the `.msi` or `.exe` installer from the [releases page](https://github.com/meshtastic/Meshtastic-Android/releases) - Or build from source ## Connecting Your Radio ### USB Serial (Primary) 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. ### TCP/IP For network-connected radios: 1. Enter the radio's IP address and port (default: 4403). 2. Click **Connect**. ### Bluetooth (BLE) Bluetooth Low Energy is supported on desktop via the [Kable](https://github.com/JuulLabs/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. ## Feature Parity Feature | Android | Desktop | Белешке | ----------------------------------------------------- | ------- | ------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Messaging | ✓ | ✓ | Full parity | Node List | ✓ | ✓ | Full parity | Мапа | ✓ | ✓ | Interactive MapLibre map, with base map and overlay pickers and custom tile sources. Offline terrain (hillshade and contours) can be downloaded; offline base-map packs and local `.mbtiles` archives cannot | Map layers (`.kml`/`.kmz`/GeoJSON) | ✓ | ✓ | Same layer store and sheet as Android; imported files draw on the desktop map | Site Planner | ✓ | ✓\* | \*Opens in your browser on desktop; the estimate is not drawn on the desktop map | Подешавања | ✓ | ✓ | Full parity | Bluetooth (BLE) | ✓ | ✓ | Via Kable on desktop | Firmware Update | ✓ | ✓ | In-app USB, BLE, and Wi-Fi (ESP32) update work the same as Android. The USB maintenance flow — nRF52/RP2040 factory erase and bootloader upgrade — is Android-only | Notifications | ✓ | ✓ | Native OS notifications | Widgets | ✓ | ✗ | Android-only | AI Assistant (Chirpy) | ✓\* | ✗ | Google flavor Android only | App Functions (system AI) | ✓† | ✗ | Google flavor Android only | \*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](app-functions). ## UI Differences The desktop app uses the same Compose Multiplatform UI with adaptations for larger screens and desktop interaction. ### Keyboard Shortcuts Shortcuts use **⌘** (Command) on macOS and **Ctrl** on Windows and Linux. (The Super / Windows key is not bound.) Shortcut | Action | ------------ | ---------------------- | **⌘/Ctrl+Q** | Quit the app | **⌘/Ctrl+,** | Отвори подешавања | **⌘/Ctrl+1** | Switch to Messages tab | **⌘/Ctrl+2** | Switch to Nodes tab | **⌘/Ctrl+3** | Switch to Map tab | **⌘/Ctrl+4** | Switch to Connect tab | **⌘/Ctrl+/** | Open About | ### Window & System Tray - **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 ### Notification Preferences 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**. ## Built-in Documentation Browser The desktop app includes a built-in documentation browser for quick access to help content without leaving the app.  The browser supports full-text search across all documentation:  Individual doc pages render with full formatting:  ## Building from Source ```shell git clone https://github.com/meshtastic/Meshtastic-Android.git cd Meshtastic-Android ./gradlew :desktopApp:run ``` Requirements: - JDK 25 (Gradle can provision the toolchain itself via foojay) - No Android SDK required for desktop-only builds ## Known Limitations - Offline base-map downloads and local `.mbtiles` archives are not available on desktop. Offline terrain is — see [Map & Waypoints](map-and-waypoints). - `.kml`/`.kmz`/GeoJSON layer import works — see [Map & Waypoints](map-and-waypoints#map-layers). 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](map-and-waypoints#adding-your-own-tile-source) - 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](https://flasher.meshtastic.org) 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) ## Related Topics - [Connections](connections) — connection methods overview - [Firmware Updates](firmware) — in-app USB, BLE, and Wi-Fi update all work the same as on Android - [Map & Waypoints](map-and-waypoints) — base maps, layers, custom tile sources, and what the desktop map does not do