apt list --installed | grep -i baloo
dpkg -l | grep -i baloo
balooctl status
Baloo is currently disabled. To enable, please run balooctl enable
System Settings > Search > File Search, "Enable File Search" is unchecked.
In Kubuntu 24.04, it is not recommended to completely remove Baloo because it is a core dependency for critical desktop components. Attempting to uninstall it via standard commands (like sudo apt remove baloo-kf5) will typically trigger the removal of the entire plasma-desktop or plasma-workspace package, which would break your graphical environment.
Why You Should Not Remove It
System Integrity: Baloo is tightly integrated into KDE Plasma 5.27 (the version used in Kubuntu 24.04).
Dependency Chain: Core applications like Dolphin (file manager), Gwenview (image viewer), and even the SDDM login theme often depend on Baloo libraries to function.
Limited Impact when Disabled: If you have already disabled it, the Baloo process remains idle and consumes negligible resources, effectively serving only as a library for other apps.
Recommended "Clean" State
Since using Recoll, you can ensure Baloo is completely neutralized without removing the packages:
Purge Existing Index: If you haven't already, delete the old Baloo database to free up disk space:
balooctl purge
Verify Disabled Status: Check that it is truly off:
balooctl status
It should state "Baloo File Indexer is NOT running".
Confirm Settings: In System Settings > Search > File Search, ensure "Enable File Search" is unchecked.
Baloo database and its related index files are located in your home directory at:
~/.local/share/baloo/
du -sh ~/.local/share/baloo
balooctl purge (This wipes the database while keeping your configuration intact).
Baloo is not there because it’s the best search engine. Baloo exists because KDE needs:
A Qt-native
DBus-integrated
Cross-platform
Framework-controlled
Always-available backend
Baloo is infrastructure, not a “best of breed” tool.
Recoll is a solution.
Baloo is a dependency.
Use Baloo if you primarily search for files by name or tags and want search integrated directly into your desktop's "Start" menu and file manager.
Use Recoll if you need to find specific phrases inside thousands of documents or if Baloo is causing performance issues on your Kubuntu setup.
As an alternative to Nepomuk or Baloo, Recoll has at least two advantages. First, its interface is simple to use and, for many users, probably less intimidating as well. Second, its advanced search options are better integrated into the interface, and many are close enough to those of web browsers that they are easy to learn.
Unfortunately, Recoll is not integrated into the latest versions of KDE Plasma. The manual does discuss using a Unity Lens and an obsolete Krunner plugin, but what Recoll could really use is integration into the Dolphin file manager. If such a thing existed, it would show those who have had trouble with previous search indexers exactly what was intended.
As things are, non-integration is a small price to pay for Recoll's speed and convenience. As long as you are willing to memorize some of its advanced features, Recoll is a powerful tool that is totally undeserving of its obscurity. Like Krunner, it comes very close to being a superior alternative to a standard file manager, especially on large drives. Recoll is explicitly recommended for content search while Baloo is recommended only for filename / basic file search.
https://www.linux-magazine.com/Online/Features/Total-Recoll#:~:text=As%20an%20alternative%20to%20Nepomuk%20or%20Baloo%2C,browsers%20that%20they%20are%20easy%20to%20learn.
https://www.lorenzobettini.it/2022/10/taming-kde-baloo/
https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=284493
https://askubuntu.com/questions/1214572/how-do-i-stop-and-remove-kde-baloo-that-is-broken-and-filling-up-my-syslog-file
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