diff --git a/quickshell/PLUGINS/ExampleCompositePlugin/CompositeBarWidget.qml b/quickshell/PLUGINS/ExampleCompositePlugin/CompositeBarWidget.qml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1add9f6b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/quickshell/PLUGINS/ExampleCompositePlugin/CompositeBarWidget.qml
@@ -0,0 +1,137 @@
+import QtQuick
+import Quickshell
+import qs.Common
+import qs.Services
+import qs.Widgets
+import qs.Modules.Plugins
+
+PluginComponent {
+    id: root
+
+    layerNamespacePlugin: "composite-example"
+
+    property var enabledEmojis: pluginData.emojis || ["😊", "😢", "❤️"]
+    property int cycleInterval: pluginData.cycleInterval || 3000
+    property int maxBarEmojis: pluginData.maxBarEmojis || 3
+
+    property int currentIndex: 0
+    property var displayedEmojis: []
+
+    Timer {
+        interval: root.cycleInterval
+        running: true
+        repeat: true
+        onTriggered: {
+            if (root.enabledEmojis.length > 0) {
+                root.currentIndex = (root.currentIndex + 1) % root.enabledEmojis.length;
+                root.updateDisplayedEmojis();
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    function updateDisplayedEmojis() {
+        const maxToShow = Math.min(root.maxBarEmojis, root.enabledEmojis.length);
+        let emojis = [];
+        for (let i = 0; i < maxToShow; i++) {
+            const idx = (root.currentIndex + i) % root.enabledEmojis.length;
+            emojis.push(root.enabledEmojis[idx]);
+        }
+        root.displayedEmojis = emojis;
+    }
+
+    Component.onCompleted: {
+        updateDisplayedEmojis();
+    }
+
+    onEnabledEmojisChanged: updateDisplayedEmojis()
+    onMaxBarEmojisChanged: updateDisplayedEmojis()
+
+    horizontalBarPill: Component {
+        Row {
+            id: emojiRow
+            spacing: Theme.spacingXS
+
+            Repeater {
+                model: root.displayedEmojis
+                StyledText {
+                    text: modelData
+                    font.pixelSize: Theme.fontSizeLarge
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    verticalBarPill: Component {
+        Column {
+            id: emojiColumn
+            spacing: Theme.spacingXS
+
+            Repeater {
+                model: root.displayedEmojis
+                StyledText {
+                    text: modelData
+                    font.pixelSize: Theme.fontSizeMedium
+                    anchors.horizontalCenter: parent.horizontalCenter
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    popoutContent: Component {
+        PopoutComponent {
+            id: popoutColumn
+
+            headerText: "Emoji Picker"
+            detailsText: "Click an emoji to copy it to clipboard"
+            showCloseButton: true
+
+            property var allEmojis: ["😀", "😃", "😄", "😁", "😆", "😅", "🤣", "😂", "🙂", "🙃", "😉", "😊", "😇", "🥰", "😍", "🤩", "😘", "😗", "😚", "😙", "😋", "😛", "😜", "🤪", "😝", "🤑", "🤗", "🤭", "🤫", "🤔", "🤐", "🤨", "😐", "😑", "😶", "😏", "😒", "🙄", "😬", "🤥", "😌", "😔", "😪", "🤤", "😴", "😷", "🤒", "🤕", "🤢", "🤮", "❤️", "🧡", "💛", "💚", "💙", "💜", "🖤", "🤍", "🤎", "💔", "👍", "👎", "👊", "✊", "🤛", "🤜", "🤞", "✌️", "🤟", "🤘"]
+
+            Item {
+                width: parent.width
+                implicitHeight: root.popoutHeight - popoutColumn.headerHeight - popoutColumn.detailsHeight - Theme.spacingXL
+
+                DankGridView {
+                    id: emojiGrid
+                    anchors.horizontalCenter: parent.horizontalCenter
+                    width: Math.floor(parent.width / 50) * 50
+                    height: parent.height
+                    clip: true
+                    cellWidth: 50
+                    cellHeight: 50
+                    model: popoutColumn.allEmojis
+
+                    delegate: StyledRect {
+                        width: 45
+                        height: 45
+                        radius: Theme.cornerRadius
+                        color: emojiMouseArea.containsMouse ? Theme.surfaceContainerHighest : Theme.surfaceContainerHigh
+                        border.width: 0
+
+                        StyledText {
+                            anchors.centerIn: parent
+                            text: modelData
+                            font.pixelSize: Theme.fontSizeXLarge
+                        }
+
+                        MouseArea {
+                            id: emojiMouseArea
+                            anchors.fill: parent
+                            hoverEnabled: true
+                            cursorShape: Qt.PointingHandCursor
+
+                            onClicked: {
+                                Quickshell.execDetached(["dms", "cl", "copy", modelData]);
+                                ToastService.showInfo("Copied " + modelData + " to clipboard");
+                                popoutColumn.closePopout();
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    popoutWidth: 400
+    popoutHeight: 500
+}
diff --git a/quickshell/PLUGINS/ExampleCompositePlugin/CompositeDaemon.qml b/quickshell/PLUGINS/ExampleCompositePlugin/CompositeDaemon.qml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..33d00470
--- /dev/null
+++ b/quickshell/PLUGINS/ExampleCompositePlugin/CompositeDaemon.qml
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+import QtQuick
+import Quickshell.Io
+import qs.Common
+import qs.Services
+import qs.Modules.Plugins
+
+PluginComponent {
+    id: root
+
+    property string scriptPath: pluginData.scriptPath || ""
+    property var popoutService: null
+
+    Connections {
+        target: SessionData
+        function onWallpaperPathChanged() {
+            if (scriptPath) {
+                var scriptProcess = scriptProcessComponent.createObject(root, {
+                    wallpaperPath: SessionData.wallpaperPath
+                });
+                scriptProcess.running = true;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    Component {
+        id: scriptProcessComponent
+
+        Process {
+            property string wallpaperPath: ""
+
+            command: [scriptPath, wallpaperPath]
+
+            stdout: StdioCollector {
+                onStreamFinished: {
+                    if (text.trim()) {
+                        console.log("CompositeDaemon script output:", text.trim());
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
+            stderr: StdioCollector {
+                onStreamFinished: {
+                    if (text.trim()) {
+                        ToastService.showError("Wallpaper Change Script Error", text.trim());
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
+            onExited: exitCode => {
+                if (exitCode !== 0) {
+                    ToastService.showError("Wallpaper Change Script Error", "Script exited with code: " + exitCode);
+                }
+                destroy();
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    IpcHandler {
+        target: "compositeExample"
+
+        function runHook(): string {
+            if (!root.scriptPath)
+                return "no script configured";
+            var scriptProcess = scriptProcessComponent.createObject(root, {
+                wallpaperPath: SessionData.wallpaperPath
+            });
+            scriptProcess.running = true;
+            return "ran hook";
+        }
+    }
+
+    Component.onCompleted: {
+        console.info("CompositeDaemon: Started monitoring wallpaper changes");
+    }
+
+    Component.onDestruction: {
+        console.info("CompositeDaemon: Stopped monitoring wallpaper changes");
+    }
+}
diff --git a/quickshell/PLUGINS/ExampleCompositePlugin/CompositeDesktopWidget.qml b/quickshell/PLUGINS/ExampleCompositePlugin/CompositeDesktopWidget.qml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..55ac34c1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/quickshell/PLUGINS/ExampleCompositePlugin/CompositeDesktopWidget.qml
@@ -0,0 +1,172 @@
+import QtQuick
+import Quickshell
+import qs.Common
+import qs.Modules.Plugins
+
+DesktopPluginComponent {
+    id: root
+
+    minWidth: 120
+    minHeight: 120
+
+    property bool showSeconds: pluginData.showSeconds ?? true
+    property bool showDate: pluginData.showDate ?? true
+    property string clockStyle: pluginData.clockStyle ?? "analog"
+    property real backgroundOpacity: (pluginData.backgroundOpacity ?? 50) / 100
+
+    SystemClock {
+        id: systemClock
+        precision: root.showSeconds ? SystemClock.Seconds : SystemClock.Minutes
+    }
+
+    Rectangle {
+        id: background
+        anchors.fill: parent
+        radius: Theme.cornerRadius
+        color: Theme.surfaceContainer
+        opacity: root.backgroundOpacity
+    }
+
+    Loader {
+        anchors.fill: parent
+        anchors.margins: Theme.spacingM
+        sourceComponent: root.clockStyle === "digital" ? digitalClock : analogClock
+    }
+
+    Component {
+        id: analogClock
+
+        Item {
+            id: analogClockRoot
+
+            property real clockSize: Math.min(width, height) - (root.showDate ? 30 : 0)
+
+            Item {
+                id: clockFace
+                width: analogClockRoot.clockSize
+                height: analogClockRoot.clockSize
+                anchors.horizontalCenter: parent.horizontalCenter
+                anchors.top: parent.top
+                anchors.topMargin: Theme.spacingS
+
+                Repeater {
+                    model: 12
+
+                    Rectangle {
+                        required property int index
+                        property real markAngle: index * 30
+                        property real markRadius: clockFace.width / 2 - 8
+
+                        x: clockFace.width / 2 + markRadius * Math.sin(markAngle * Math.PI / 180) - width / 2
+                        y: clockFace.height / 2 - markRadius * Math.cos(markAngle * Math.PI / 180) - height / 2
+                        width: index % 3 === 0 ? 8 : 4
+                        height: width
+                        radius: width / 2
+                        color: index % 3 === 0 ? Theme.primary : Theme.outlineVariant
+                    }
+                }
+
+                Rectangle {
+                    id: hourHand
+                    property int hours: systemClock.date?.getHours() % 12 ?? 0
+                    property int minutes: systemClock.date?.getMinutes() ?? 0
+
+                    x: clockFace.width / 2 - width / 2
+                    y: clockFace.height / 2 - height + 4
+                    width: 6
+                    height: clockFace.height * 0.25
+                    radius: 3
+                    color: Theme.primary
+                    antialiasing: true
+                    transformOrigin: Item.Bottom
+                    rotation: (hours + minutes / 60) * 30
+                }
+
+                Rectangle {
+                    id: minuteHand
+                    property int minutes: systemClock.date?.getMinutes() ?? 0
+                    property int seconds: systemClock.date?.getSeconds() ?? 0
+
+                    x: clockFace.width / 2 - width / 2
+                    y: clockFace.height / 2 - height + 4
+                    width: 4
+                    height: clockFace.height * 0.35
+                    radius: 2
+                    color: Theme.onSurface
+                    antialiasing: true
+                    transformOrigin: Item.Bottom
+                    rotation: (minutes + seconds / 60) * 6
+                }
+
+                Rectangle {
+                    id: secondHand
+                    visible: root.showSeconds
+                    property int seconds: systemClock.date?.getSeconds() ?? 0
+
+                    x: clockFace.width / 2 - width / 2
+                    y: clockFace.height / 2 - height + 4
+                    width: 2
+                    height: clockFace.height * 0.4
+                    radius: 1
+                    color: Theme.error
+                    antialiasing: true
+                    transformOrigin: Item.Bottom
+                    rotation: seconds * 6
+                }
+
+                Rectangle {
+                    anchors.centerIn: parent
+                    width: 10
+                    height: 10
+                    radius: 5
+                    color: Theme.primary
+                }
+            }
+
+            Text {
+                visible: root.showDate
+                anchors.horizontalCenter: parent.horizontalCenter
+                anchors.bottom: parent.bottom
+                anchors.bottomMargin: Theme.spacingXS
+                text: systemClock.date?.toLocaleDateString(I18n.locale(), "ddd, MMM d") ?? ""
+                font.pixelSize: Theme.fontSizeSmall
+                font.weight: Font.Medium
+                color: Theme.surfaceText
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    Component {
+        id: digitalClock
+
+        Item {
+            id: digitalRoot
+
+            property real timeFontSize: Math.min(width * 0.16, height * (root.showDate ? 0.4 : 0.5))
+            property real dateFontSize: Math.max(Theme.fontSizeSmall, timeFontSize * 0.35)
+
+            Text {
+                id: timeText
+                anchors.horizontalCenter: parent.horizontalCenter
+                anchors.verticalCenter: parent.verticalCenter
+                anchors.verticalCenterOffset: root.showDate ? -digitalRoot.dateFontSize * 0.8 : 0
+                text: systemClock.date?.toLocaleTimeString(Qt.locale(), root.showSeconds ? "hh:mm:ss" : "hh:mm") ?? ""
+                font.pixelSize: digitalRoot.timeFontSize
+                font.weight: Font.Bold
+                font.family: "monospace"
+                color: Theme.primary
+            }
+
+            Text {
+                id: dateText
+                visible: root.showDate
+                anchors.horizontalCenter: parent.horizontalCenter
+                anchors.top: timeText.bottom
+                anchors.topMargin: Theme.spacingXS
+                text: systemClock.date?.toLocaleDateString(I18n.locale(), "ddd, MMM d") ?? ""
+                font.pixelSize: digitalRoot.dateFontSize
+                color: Theme.surfaceText
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/quickshell/PLUGINS/ExampleCompositePlugin/CompositeSettings.qml b/quickshell/PLUGINS/ExampleCompositePlugin/CompositeSettings.qml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7eefa7f3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/quickshell/PLUGINS/ExampleCompositePlugin/CompositeSettings.qml
@@ -0,0 +1,145 @@
+import QtQuick
+import qs.Common
+import qs.Widgets
+import qs.Modules.Plugins
+
+PluginSettings {
+    id: root
+    pluginId: "exampleComposite"
+
+    StyledText {
+        width: parent.width
+        text: "Bar Widget — Emoji Cycler"
+        font.pixelSize: Theme.fontSizeLarge
+        font.weight: Font.Bold
+        color: Theme.surfaceText
+    }
+
+    SelectionSetting {
+        settingKey: "emojiSet"
+        label: "Emoji Set"
+        description: "Choose which collection of emojis to cycle through"
+        options: [
+            {
+                label: "Happy & Sad",
+                value: "happySad"
+            },
+            {
+                label: "Hearts",
+                value: "hearts"
+            },
+            {
+                label: "Hand Gestures",
+                value: "hands"
+            },
+            {
+                label: "All Mixed",
+                value: "mixed"
+            }
+        ]
+        defaultValue: "happySad"
+
+        onValueChanged: {
+            const sets = {
+                "happySad": ["😊", "😢", "😂", "😭", "😍", "😡"],
+                "hearts": ["❤️", "🧡", "💛", "💚", "💙", "💜", "🖤", "🤍"],
+                "hands": ["👍", "👎", "👊", "✌️", "🤘", "👌", "✋", "🤚"],
+                "mixed": ["😊", "❤️", "👍", "🎉", "🔥", "✨", "🌟", "💯"]
+            };
+            root.saveValue("emojis", sets[value] || sets["happySad"]);
+        }
+
+        Component.onCompleted: {
+            const currentSet = value || defaultValue;
+            const sets = {
+                "happySad": ["😊", "😢", "😂", "😭", "😍", "😡"],
+                "hearts": ["❤️", "🧡", "💛", "💚", "💙", "💜", "🖤", "🤍"],
+                "hands": ["👍", "👎", "👊", "✌️", "🤘", "👌", "✋", "🤚"],
+                "mixed": ["😊", "❤️", "👍", "🎉", "🔥", "✨", "🌟", "💯"]
+            };
+            root.saveValue("emojis", sets[currentSet] || sets["happySad"]);
+        }
+    }
+
+    SliderSetting {
+        settingKey: "cycleInterval"
+        label: "Cycle Speed"
+        description: "How quickly emojis rotate"
+        defaultValue: 3000
+        minimum: 500
+        maximum: 10000
+        unit: "ms"
+        leftIcon: "schedule"
+    }
+
+    SliderSetting {
+        settingKey: "maxBarEmojis"
+        label: "Max Bar Emojis"
+        description: "Maximum number of emojis to display in the bar at once"
+        defaultValue: 3
+        minimum: 1
+        maximum: 8
+        rightIcon: "emoji_emotions"
+    }
+
+    StyledText {
+        width: parent.width
+        text: "Desktop Widget — Clock"
+        font.pixelSize: Theme.fontSizeLarge
+        font.weight: Font.Bold
+        color: Theme.surfaceText
+    }
+
+    SelectionSetting {
+        settingKey: "clockStyle"
+        label: "Clock Style"
+        options: [
+            {
+                label: "Analog",
+                value: "analog"
+            },
+            {
+                label: "Digital",
+                value: "digital"
+            }
+        ]
+        defaultValue: "analog"
+    }
+
+    ToggleSetting {
+        settingKey: "showSeconds"
+        label: "Show Seconds"
+        defaultValue: true
+    }
+
+    ToggleSetting {
+        settingKey: "showDate"
+        label: "Show Date"
+        defaultValue: true
+    }
+
+    SliderSetting {
+        settingKey: "backgroundOpacity"
+        label: "Background Opacity"
+        defaultValue: 50
+        minimum: 0
+        maximum: 100
+        unit: "%"
+    }
+
+    StyledText {
+        width: parent.width
+        text: "Daemon — Wallpaper Hook"
+        font.pixelSize: Theme.fontSizeLarge
+        font.weight: Font.Bold
+        color: Theme.surfaceText
+    }
+
+    StringSetting {
+        settingKey: "scriptPath"
+        label: "Script Path"
+        description: "Script executed when the wallpaper changes. The new wallpaper path is passed as the first argument."
+        placeholder: "/path/to/your/script.sh"
+        defaultValue: ""
+    }
+}
diff --git a/quickshell/PLUGINS/ExampleCompositePlugin/README.md b/quickshell/PLUGINS/ExampleCompositePlugin/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fc34906a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/quickshell/PLUGINS/ExampleCompositePlugin/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+# Composite Example
+
+A single plugin that provides **all three surfaces at once** by combining three of
+the standalone example plugins:
+
+| Surface | Source example | File |
+|---------|----------------|------|
+| `daemon` | WallpaperWatcherDaemon | `CompositeDaemon.qml` |
+| `widget` | Emoji Cycler (bar widget + popout) | `CompositeBarWidget.qml` |
+| `desktop` | Desktop Clock | `CompositeDesktopWidget.qml` |
+
+It demonstrates the `components` manifest map, where each surface points at its own
+QML file:
+
+```json
+"type": "composite",
+"components": {
+    "daemon":  "./CompositeDaemon.qml",
+    "widget":  "./CompositeBarWidget.qml",
+    "desktop": "./CompositeDesktopWidget.qml"
+}
+```
+
+All surfaces share one settings UI (`CompositeSettings.qml`) and one plugin-settings
+namespace (`exampleComposite`), so `pluginData` is the same for every surface.
+
+## Surfaces
+
+- **Daemon** — watches `SessionData.wallpaperPath` and runs a user-configured script
+  on change. Also registers an `IpcHandler` (`target: "compositeExample"`) exposing a
+  `runHook` call, so you can trigger the hook over IPC.
+- **Bar widget** — cycles emojis in the bar; click the pill for an emoji picker popout
+  that copies to the clipboard.
+- **Desktop widget** — an analog/digital clock you can drag and resize on the desktop.
+
+## Usage
+
+1. Copy this directory into `$CONFIGPATH/DankMaterialShell/plugins/`.
+2. Settings → Plugins → **Scan for Plugins**, then enable **Composite Example**.
+   (Composite plugins respect the enable toggle — unlike a pure `desktop` plugin they
+   do not auto-load, because they also carry a daemon.)
+3. Add the bar widget via Settings → Appearance → DankBar Layout.
+4. Place the desktop clock via Settings → Desktop Widgets.
+
+## Notes
+
+- The daemon surface is instantiated once and lives for as long as the plugin is
+  enabled. The bar and desktop surfaces are instantiated per bar/placement per screen.
+- Cross-surface runtime state (not needed here) is best shared via
+  `PluginService.getGlobalVar` / `setGlobalVar` or the daemon instance, since each
+  surface is a separate object.
+- `requires_dms` is `>=1.5.0` because the `components` multi-surface manifest is only
+  understood by DMS 1.5.0 and later.
diff --git a/quickshell/PLUGINS/ExampleCompositePlugin/plugin.json b/quickshell/PLUGINS/ExampleCompositePlugin/plugin.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cbba695b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/quickshell/PLUGINS/ExampleCompositePlugin/plugin.json
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+{
+    "id": "exampleComposite",
+    "name": "Composite Example",
+    "description": "One plugin providing all three surfaces at once: a wallpaper-watcher daemon, an emoji bar widget with popout, and a desktop clock",
+    "version": "1.0.0",
+    "author": "DankMaterialShell",
+    "type": "composite",
+    "capabilities": ["daemon", "dankbar-widget", "desktop-widget", "clipboard"],
+    "icon": "extension",
+    "components": {
+        "daemon": "./CompositeDaemon.qml",
+        "widget": "./CompositeBarWidget.qml",
+        "desktop": "./CompositeDesktopWidget.qml"
+    },
+    "settings": "./CompositeSettings.qml",
+    "requires_dms": ">=1.5.0",
+    "permissions": [
+        "settings_read",
+        "settings_write"
+    ]
+}
diff --git a/quickshell/PLUGINS/README.md b/quickshell/PLUGINS/README.md
index f7bed6ac..8beecbf1 100644
--- a/quickshell/PLUGINS/README.md
+++ b/quickshell/PLUGINS/README.md
@@ -1635,6 +1635,79 @@ See `PLUGINS/ExampleDesktopClock/` for a complete working example demonstrating:
 - Responsive sizing
 - Edit mode handling
 
+## Composite Plugins
+
+A single plugin can provide **multiple surfaces at once** — for example a background
+daemon (for IPC / monitoring), a bar widget, and a desktop widget. Because each surface
+has a different lifecycle (the daemon is instantiated once; bar and desktop widgets are
+instantiated per bar/placement per screen), each surface is its own QML file.
+
+### Plugin Type Configuration
+
+Instead of a single `type` + `component`, declare a `components` map. Set `type` to
+`composite` (any value works; `composite` is conventional):
+
+```json
+{
+    "id": "myComposite",
+    "name": "My Composite Plugin",
+    "description": "A daemon plus a bar widget plus a desktop widget",
+    "version": "1.0.0",
+    "author": "Your Name",
+    "type": "composite",
+    "capabilities": ["daemon", "dankbar-widget", "desktop-widget"],
+    "components": {
+        "daemon":   "./MyDaemon.qml",
+        "widget":   "./MyBarWidget.qml",
+        "desktop":  "./MyDesktopWidget.qml",
+        "launcher": "./MyLauncher.qml"
+    },
+    "trigger": "#",
+    "settings": "./MySettings.qml",
+    "requires_dms": ">=1.5.0",
+    "permissions": ["settings_read", "settings_write"]
+}
+```
+
+### Surfaces
+
+Provide any subset of these keys in `components`:
+
+| Surface | Component contract | Notes |
+|---------|--------------------|-------|
+| `widget` | `PluginComponent` (bar pills + optional Control Center widget) | see [Widget Component](#widget-component) |
+| `desktop` | `DesktopPluginComponent` (or an `Item` following the desktop contract) | see [Desktop Plugins](#desktop-plugins) |
+| `daemon` | any `Item` exposing `pluginService` / `pluginId` | instantiated once; ideal for IPC handlers and background monitoring |
+| `launcher` | launcher contract (`getItems` / `executeItem`) | requires `trigger` (or empty-trigger mode); see [Launcher Plugins](#launcher-plugins) |
+
+Each surface is loaded independently into its own registry, so the same plugin can show
+up in the bar **and** on the desktop **and** run a daemon simultaneously.
+
+### Shared State
+
+Each surface is a separate object, so share runtime state through:
+
+- `PluginService.getGlobalVar(pluginId, name, default)` / `setGlobalVar(...)` — reactive,
+  in-process, namespaced per plugin (see [Plugin Global Variables](#plugin-global-variables)).
+- The daemon instance — register `IpcHandler`s or expose data other surfaces read via
+  global vars.
+- `savePluginData` / `loadPluginData` for persisted settings (all surfaces of a plugin
+  share one settings namespace, so one `settings` component configures them all).
+
+### Settings, Enabling, and Backwards Compatibility
+
+- Declare a single top-level `settings` component; it configures every surface.
+- Composite plugins respect the **enable toggle** in Settings → Plugins (they are not
+  auto-loaded). A pure `desktop` plugin still auto-loads for backwards compatibility.
+- The legacy single `type` + `component` form is unchanged and fully supported — it is
+  treated internally as a one-entry `components` map.
+
+### Example Plugin
+
+See `PLUGINS/ExampleCompositePlugin/` for a working composite that combines the
+WallpaperWatcher daemon, the Emoji Cycler bar widget, and the Desktop Clock into one
+plugin.
+
 ## Resources
 
 - **Plugin Schema**: `plugin-schema.json` - JSON Schema for validation
@@ -1644,6 +1717,7 @@ See `PLUGINS/ExampleDesktopClock/` for a complete working example demonstrating:
   - [LauncherExample](./LauncherExample/)
   - [Calculator](https://github.com/rochacbruno/DankCalculator)
   - [Desktop Clock](./ExampleDesktopClock/)
+  - [Composite Example](./ExampleCompositePlugin/)
 - **PluginService**: `Services/PluginService.qml`
 - **Settings UI**: `Modules/Settings/PluginsTab.qml`
 - **DankBar Integration**: `Modules/DankBar/DankBar.qml`
diff --git a/quickshell/PLUGINS/plugin-schema.json b/quickshell/PLUGINS/plugin-schema.json
index 2f7e1720..fc55e832 100644
--- a/quickshell/PLUGINS/plugin-schema.json
+++ b/quickshell/PLUGINS/plugin-schema.json
@@ -11,8 +11,7 @@
     "version",
     "author",
     "type",
-    "capabilities",
-    "component"
+    "capabilities"
   ],
   "properties": {
     "id": {
@@ -42,8 +41,8 @@
     },
     "type": {
       "type": "string",
-      "description": "Plugin type",
-      "enum": ["widget", "daemon", "launcher", "desktop"]
+      "description": "Plugin type. Use 'composite' (or any value) together with 'components' to provide multiple surfaces from one plugin.",
+      "enum": ["widget", "daemon", "launcher", "desktop", "composite"]
     },
     "capabilities": {
       "type": "array",
@@ -55,9 +54,37 @@
     },
     "component": {
       "type": "string",
-      "description": "Relative path to main QML component file",
+      "description": "Relative path to main QML component file. Required unless 'components' is provided.",
       "pattern": "^\\./.*\\.qml$"
     },
+    "components": {
+      "type": "object",
+      "description": "Map of surface name to relative QML component path, for multi-surface (composite) plugins. Provide any subset of surfaces; each is loaded independently.",
+      "properties": {
+        "widget": {
+          "type": "string",
+          "description": "Bar/Control Center widget component (PluginComponent)",
+          "pattern": "^\\./.*\\.qml$"
+        },
+        "desktop": {
+          "type": "string",
+          "description": "Desktop widget component",
+          "pattern": "^\\./.*\\.qml$"
+        },
+        "daemon": {
+          "type": "string",
+          "description": "Background daemon component (instantiated once)",
+          "pattern": "^\\./.*\\.qml$"
+        },
+        "launcher": {
+          "type": "string",
+          "description": "Launcher provider component (requires 'trigger')",
+          "pattern": "^\\./.*\\.qml$"
+        }
+      },
+      "additionalProperties": false,
+      "minProperties": 1
+    },
     "trigger": {
       "type": "string",
       "description": "Trigger string for launcher activation (required for launcher type)"
@@ -109,6 +136,29 @@
       "then": {
         "required": ["trigger"]
       }
+    },
+    {
+      "if": {
+        "required": ["components"],
+        "properties": {
+          "components": {
+            "required": ["launcher"]
+          }
+        }
+      },
+      "then": {
+        "required": ["trigger"]
+      }
+    },
+    {
+      "anyOf": [
+        {
+          "required": ["component"]
+        },
+        {
+          "required": ["components"]
+        }
+      ]
     }
   ],
   "additionalProperties": true
diff --git a/quickshell/Services/DesktopWidgetRegistry.qml b/quickshell/Services/DesktopWidgetRegistry.qml
index 0e2ea6ff..43f5e8e2 100644
--- a/quickshell/Services/DesktopWidgetRegistry.qml
+++ b/quickshell/Services/DesktopWidgetRegistry.qml
@@ -21,8 +21,7 @@ Singleton {
     Connections {
         target: PluginService
         function onPluginLoaded(pluginId) {
-            const plugin = PluginService.availablePlugins[pluginId];
-            if (plugin?.type === "desktop")
+            if (PluginService.pluginDesktopComponents[pluginId] !== undefined)
                 syncPluginWidgets();
         }
         function onPluginUnloaded(pluginId) {
diff --git a/quickshell/Services/PluginService.qml b/quickshell/Services/PluginService.qml
index 7bc476ec..e921bb04 100644
--- a/quickshell/Services/PluginService.qml
+++ b/quickshell/Services/PluginService.qml
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 pragma Singleton
 pragma ComponentBehavior: Bound
 
-import QtCore
 import QtQuick
 import Qt.labs.folderlistmodel
 import Quickshell
@@ -202,8 +201,51 @@ Singleton {
         }
     }
 
+    readonly property var pluginSurfaceKeys: ["widget", "desktop", "daemon", "launcher"]
+
+    function _stripDotSlash(p) {
+        return p.startsWith("./") ? p.slice(2) : p;
+    }
+
+    function _deriveLegacySurface(type, capabilities) {
+        if (type === "daemon")
+            return "daemon";
+        if (type === "launcher" || (capabilities && capabilities.includes("launcher")))
+            return "launcher";
+        if (type === "desktop")
+            return "desktop";
+        return "widget";
+    }
+
+    function _resolveComponentPaths(manifest, dir) {
+        const paths = {};
+        if (manifest.components && typeof manifest.components === "object") {
+            for (const surface in manifest.components) {
+                if (!pluginSurfaceKeys.includes(surface)) {
+                    log.warn("unknown plugin surface", surface, "in", dir);
+                    continue;
+                }
+                const rel = manifest.components[surface];
+                if (!rel)
+                    continue;
+                paths[surface] = dir + "/" + _stripDotSlash(rel);
+            }
+            return paths;
+        }
+        if (manifest.component) {
+            const surface = _deriveLegacySurface(manifest.type, manifest.capabilities);
+            paths[surface] = dir + "/" + _stripDotSlash(manifest.component);
+        }
+        return paths;
+    }
+
+    function pluginHasSurface(pluginId, surface) {
+        const plugin = availablePlugins[pluginId];
+        return !!(plugin && plugin.surfaces && plugin.surfaces.includes(surface));
+    }
+
     function _onManifestParsed(absPath, manifest, sourceTag, mtimeEpochMs) {
-        if (!manifest || !manifest.id || !manifest.name || !manifest.component) {
+        if (!manifest || !manifest.id || !manifest.name || (!manifest.component && !manifest.components)) {
             log.error("invalid manifest fields:", absPath);
             knownManifests[absPath] = {
                 mtime: mtimeEpochMs,
@@ -214,13 +256,22 @@ Singleton {
         }
 
         const dir = absPath.substring(0, absPath.lastIndexOf('/'));
-        let comp = manifest.component;
-        if (comp.startsWith("./"))
-            comp = comp.slice(2);
         let settings = manifest.settings;
         if (settings && settings.startsWith("./"))
             settings = settings.slice(2);
 
+        const componentPaths = _resolveComponentPaths(manifest, dir);
+        const surfaces = Object.keys(componentPaths);
+        if (surfaces.length === 0) {
+            log.error("no valid component surfaces in manifest:", absPath);
+            knownManifests[absPath] = {
+                mtime: mtimeEpochMs,
+                source: sourceTag,
+                bad: true
+            };
+            return;
+        }
+
         const info = {};
         for (const k in manifest)
             info[k] = manifest[k];
@@ -236,10 +287,12 @@ Singleton {
 
         info.manifestPath = absPath;
         info.pluginDirectory = dir;
-        info.componentPath = dir + "/" + comp;
+        info.componentPaths = componentPaths;
+        info.surfaces = surfaces;
+        info.componentPath = componentPaths.widget || componentPaths[surfaces[0]];
         info.settingsPath = settings ? (dir + "/" + settings) : null;
         info.loaded = isPluginLoaded(manifest.id);
-        info.type = manifest.type || "widget";
+        info.type = manifest.type || (manifest.components ? "composite" : "widget");
         info.source = sourceTag;
         info.requires_dms = manifest.requires_dms || null;
 
@@ -260,7 +313,8 @@ Singleton {
             };
             _updateAvailablePluginsList();
             pluginListUpdated();
-            const enabled = info.type === "desktop" || SettingsData.getPluginSetting(manifest.id, "enabled", false);
+            const isPureDesktop = surfaces.length === 1 && surfaces[0] === "desktop";
+            const enabled = isPureDesktop || SettingsData.getPluginSetting(manifest.id, "enabled", false);
             if (enabled && !info.loaded)
                 loadPlugin(manifest.id);
         } else {
@@ -296,59 +350,70 @@ Singleton {
             return true;
         }
 
-        const isDaemon = plugin.type === "daemon";
-        const isLauncher = plugin.type === "launcher" || (plugin.capabilities && plugin.capabilities.includes("launcher"));
-        const isDesktop = plugin.type === "desktop";
+        const componentPaths = plugin.componentPaths || {};
+        const surfaces = Object.keys(componentPaths);
+        if (surfaces.length === 0) {
+            log.error("Plugin has no component surfaces:", pluginId);
+            pluginLoadFailed(pluginId, "No component surfaces");
+            return false;
+        }
 
-        const prevInstance = pluginInstances[pluginId];
+        const newWidgets = Object.assign({}, pluginWidgetComponents);
+        const newDesktop = Object.assign({}, pluginDesktopComponents);
+        const newDaemons = Object.assign({}, pluginDaemonComponents);
+        const newLaunchers = Object.assign({}, pluginLauncherComponents);
+        const newInstances = Object.assign({}, pluginInstances);
+
+        const prevInstance = newInstances[pluginId];
         if (prevInstance) {
             prevInstance.destroy();
-            const newInstances = Object.assign({}, pluginInstances);
             delete newInstances[pluginId];
-            pluginInstances = newInstances;
         }
 
         try {
-            let url = "file://" + plugin.componentPath;
-            if (bustCache)
-                url += "?t=" + Date.now();
-            const comp = Qt.createComponent(url, Component.PreferSynchronous);
-            if (comp.status === Component.Error) {
-                log.error("component error", pluginId, comp.errorString());
-                pluginLoadFailed(pluginId, comp.errorString());
-                return false;
-            }
-
-            if (isDaemon) {
-                const newDaemons = Object.assign({}, pluginDaemonComponents);
-                newDaemons[pluginId] = comp;
-                pluginDaemonComponents = newDaemons;
-            } else if (isLauncher) {
-                const instance = comp.createObject(root, {
-                    "pluginService": root
-                });
-                if (!instance) {
-                    log.error("failed to instantiate plugin:", pluginId, comp.errorString());
+            for (const surface of surfaces) {
+                let url = "file://" + componentPaths[surface];
+                if (bustCache)
+                    url += "?t=" + Date.now();
+                const comp = Qt.createComponent(url, Component.PreferSynchronous);
+                if (comp.status === Component.Error) {
+                    log.error("component error", pluginId, surface, comp.errorString());
                     pluginLoadFailed(pluginId, comp.errorString());
                     return false;
                 }
-                const newInstances = Object.assign({}, pluginInstances);
-                newInstances[pluginId] = instance;
-                pluginInstances = newInstances;
 
-                const newLaunchers = Object.assign({}, pluginLauncherComponents);
-                newLaunchers[pluginId] = comp;
-                pluginLauncherComponents = newLaunchers;
-            } else if (isDesktop) {
-                const newDesktop = Object.assign({}, pluginDesktopComponents);
-                newDesktop[pluginId] = comp;
-                pluginDesktopComponents = newDesktop;
-            } else {
-                const newComponents = Object.assign({}, pluginWidgetComponents);
-                newComponents[pluginId] = comp;
-                pluginWidgetComponents = newComponents;
+                switch (surface) {
+                case "daemon":
+                    newDaemons[pluginId] = comp;
+                    break;
+                case "desktop":
+                    newDesktop[pluginId] = comp;
+                    break;
+                case "launcher": {
+                    const instance = comp.createObject(root, {
+                        "pluginService": root
+                    });
+                    if (!instance) {
+                        log.error("failed to instantiate launcher surface:", pluginId, comp.errorString());
+                        pluginLoadFailed(pluginId, comp.errorString());
+                        return false;
+                    }
+                    newInstances[pluginId] = instance;
+                    newLaunchers[pluginId] = comp;
+                    break;
+                }
+                default:
+                    newWidgets[pluginId] = comp;
+                    break;
+                }
             }
 
+            pluginWidgetComponents = newWidgets;
+            pluginDesktopComponents = newDesktop;
+            pluginDaemonComponents = newDaemons;
+            pluginLauncherComponents = newLaunchers;
+            pluginInstances = newInstances;
+
             plugin.loaded = true;
             const newLoaded = Object.assign({}, loadedPlugins);
             newLoaded[pluginId] = plugin;
@@ -371,10 +436,6 @@ Singleton {
         }
 
         try {
-            const isDaemon = plugin.type === "daemon";
-            const isLauncher = plugin.type === "launcher" || (plugin.capabilities && plugin.capabilities.includes("launcher"));
-            const isDesktop = plugin.type === "desktop";
-
             const instance = pluginInstances[pluginId];
             if (instance) {
                 instance.destroy();
@@ -383,19 +444,22 @@ Singleton {
                 pluginInstances = newInstances;
             }
 
-            if (isDaemon && pluginDaemonComponents[pluginId]) {
+            if (pluginDaemonComponents[pluginId]) {
                 const newDaemons = Object.assign({}, pluginDaemonComponents);
                 delete newDaemons[pluginId];
                 pluginDaemonComponents = newDaemons;
-            } else if (isLauncher && pluginLauncherComponents[pluginId]) {
+            }
+            if (pluginLauncherComponents[pluginId]) {
                 const newLaunchers = Object.assign({}, pluginLauncherComponents);
                 delete newLaunchers[pluginId];
                 pluginLauncherComponents = newLaunchers;
-            } else if (isDesktop && pluginDesktopComponents[pluginId]) {
+            }
+            if (pluginDesktopComponents[pluginId]) {
                 const newDesktop = Object.assign({}, pluginDesktopComponents);
                 delete newDesktop[pluginId];
                 pluginDesktopComponents = newDesktop;
-            } else if (pluginWidgetComponents[pluginId]) {
+            }
+            if (pluginWidgetComponents[pluginId]) {
                 const newComponents = Object.assign({}, pluginWidgetComponents);
                 delete newComponents[pluginId];
                 pluginWidgetComponents = newComponents;
@@ -452,7 +516,8 @@ Singleton {
         const result = [];
         for (const pluginId in availablePlugins) {
             const plugin = availablePlugins[pluginId];
-            if (plugin.type !== "widget") {
+            const hasWidgetSurface = plugin.surfaces ? plugin.surfaces.includes("widget") : (plugin.type === "widget");
+            if (!hasWidgetSurface) {
                 continue;
             }
             const variants = getPluginVariants(pluginId);