When I open Kickoff, there is the option to type-to-search for programs. However, the search results also list any files on the computer and also Firefox bookmarks.

I already succeeded to turn off the bookmark search as described here, but I also want to disable searching for files. Basically I just want to have applications displayed that are listed somewhere in Kickoff.

edit: fixed link to correct answer post.

try same but with /usr/share/kservices5/plasma-runner-baloosearch.desktop

That worked, thanks

What Plasma version are you using?

Starting with 5.5, there is an option in Kickoff's settings to "Expand search to bookmarks, files and emails".
Disabling this option should restrict the search to menu entries only.

The alternative "Kicker" (Application Menu - A launcher based on cascading popup menus) that is new in Plasma5 had this option in earlier versions already.

5.5.5 apparently.
Where are the Kickoff settings? When I right-click on the icon and select settings, I don't see such an option, just two checkboxes on switching sub-windows by mouseover and sorting applications alphabetically.

outa wrote:5.5.5 apparently.
Where are the Kickoff settings? When I right-click on the icon and select settings, I don't see such an option, just two checkboxes on switching sub-windows by mouseover and sorting applications alphabetically.

The option is there here in 5.6.4.
Maybe it was only added in 5.6 though...