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Falkon

ApplicationKDE

Also called falkon browser, qupzilla

KDEBrowsers

KDE's QtWebEngine browser, formerly QupZilla. On Windows the process is falkon.exe.

What you need to know

Falkon is KDE QtWebEngine. It is not Firefox.

falkon.exe is Falkon, formerly QupZilla. firefox.exe is Firefox. The engine is QtWebEngine, not Gecko.

What is it?
Web browser
Still current?
Yes, see Current status
Official download?
Use the vendor link in this article
Feex says
If falkon.exe is open, I would treat it as KDE Falkon, not Firefox. QupZilla was the old name. Closing firefox.exe does not quit this window.

What is Falkon?

Falkon is KDE's desktop browser on QtWebEngine. The Windows executable is falkon.exe.

If you have never used it

If you want KDE's browser on Windows, this is Falkon, formerly QupZilla, not Firefox. Download it from falkon.org. The process is falkon.exe. It uses QtWebEngine (Chromium-family), not Gecko. firefox.exe is Firefox.

What is it used for?

QtWebEngine browsing

Daily tabs on a Chromium-family engine inside a Qt app. It is not Gecko.

KDE-style settings

Falkon docs cover preferences and extensions. Firefox about:config is the wrong toolbox.

A QupZilla upgrade path

Old QupZilla shortcuts should be replaced with Falkon. The old name is this product family.

Who is it for?

  • People who want a KDE browser on Windows
  • Users upgrading from QupZilla
  • Anyone who assumed falkon.exe was Firefox

Current status

Falkon (2018) is a current web browser from KDE. The vendor still points Windows users at https://www.falkon.org/.

How old is it?

QupZilla was renamed Falkon when it joined KDE, with the Falkon name in 2018. It is newer than Firefox and not a 2004 KDE Konqueror-only story. Current Falkon is QtWebEngine.

Versions

Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here.

Current Windows build

System requirements

Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need.

Minimum

Minimum system requirements
Operating system A current supported Windows 10 or Windows 11 release, per the vendor
RAM Enough for Windows plus this app. Heavy projects want more.

Resource profile

CPU demand
Follows what you open inside the app
RAM demand
Follows documents, tabs, or libraries

Installed processes

These executables belong to this product when it is installed.

Installed processes
falkon.exe Main Windows executable

Startup components

Falkon can restore the last session. It is not a Windows service.

File locations

Common Falkon locations
Typical install C:\Program Files\Falkon\

File formats

HTMLPDFPNGJPEG

Common problems

Old QupZilla profiles

A 2016 QupZilla folder may not migrate cleanly. Use current Falkon docs.

People apply Firefox extension guides

AMO WebExtensions are not Falkon's extension model.

Getting unstuck

Install from falkon.org

A Falkon plus KDE pack from a mill is junk. KDE hosts the project.

Read docs.falkon.org

Mozilla Support will name the wrong engine and profile path.

Confirm falkon.exe, not firefox.exe

Open file location. A Falkon folder is this product.

Alternatives

Firefox if you want Gecko. Chrome or Edge for stock Chromium. Midori if you were pointed at Astian instead.

Official help and downloads

Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel.

Official contacts
Download www.falkon.org/ Official installer or vendor page
Help docs.falkon.org/ Vendor support
Official site www.falkon.org/ Start here, not a random exe host

Related hardware

RAM follows QtWebEngine tabs. A current GPU driver helps video.

Technical details

Technical details

Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build.

Sources and verification

Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. How we research.

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