Questions tagged [.desktop]

A .desktop file is a launcher. When run, it executes a command, which usually launches an application. Use this tag if you are asking a question about using a .desktop file or about the .desktop file format in general.

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Can't find a .desktop shortcut for VLC in '/usr/share/applications' to copy to my desktop

I'm using Ubuntu 18.04 LTS. I want to create a shortcut on my desktop for a program I've just installed (VLC media player). I've already done it for Google Chrome, so I do the same and I go to /usr/...
IntrovertSavage's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
176 views

launching python program with *.desktop shortcut

I want to be able to launch a python program simply by clicking an icon on the desktop. The program uses pycuda and the NVCC compiler from NVIDIA. I have created the following desktop file [Desktop ...
Airspeed's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
161 views

Where does the unix-socket go to?

My destkop file: /usr/share/applications/write-to-stdout-sterr.desktop [Desktop Entry] # created by autocreate-desktop-files-for-pycharm.py Name=write-to-stdout-sterr Icon=/usr/share/pixmaps/python2....
guettli's user avatar
  • 1,737
4 votes
1 answer
4k views

Invalid .desktop file

I have a simple script I want to be able to run from a Desktop entry on Ubuntu 19.10. I followed these directions and created a .desktop file but I'm getting an error saying it is invalid. Here is the ...
flashburn's user avatar
  • 213
0 votes
0 answers
154 views

Selecting eclipse.desktop icon doesn't do anything (visible to me), "Exec format error" from shell

Trying to execute via desktop icon: /usr/bin/eclipse $ ls -l eclipse -rwxrwxrwx 1 geri geri 61176 Sep 16 19:12 eclipse Right-click on desktop → Create launcher... creates: ~/Desktop# ls -l eclipse....
Gerold Broser's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
172 views

Firefox Beta instances are shown under Firefox Stable in the dock. How do we associate the Beta instance with the Beta launcher?

The directory ~/.local/share/applications/ includes three files associating with different versions of Firefox, namely Firefox - firefox.desktop [Desktop Entry] Encoding=UTF-8 Version=1.0 Type=...
Muhammad Asif Mohtesham's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
1k views

Ubuntu live world clock app as desktop wallpaper or widget possible?

While I work in Germany, some of my colleagues work in India, some in Canada. Is there a software to run in Ubuntu* and compatible environments so that the background screen displays sort of widget ...
J. Doe's user avatar
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3 votes
0 answers
68 views

How to create a .desktop entry for .run file [duplicate]

I tried to add a new Desktop Entry but it failed... I think the reason is the run file type. Is it possible to make a .desktop entry for a run file? [Desktop Entry] Version=1.1 Type=Application ...
Zubty's user avatar
  • 131
6 votes
1 answer
22k views

Login as root on ubuntu desktop [duplicate]

How do we turn on root desktop login? I set the root password then modified /etc/gdm3/custom.conf [Security] AllowRoot=true This is not giving me the option of the root at login screen, neither it ...
Majoris's user avatar
  • 185
1 vote
0 answers
22 views

Prevent double icons with custom .desktop file in dock [duplicate]

I have created a custom .desktop file to launch Chrome in dark mode. Here is what the file looks like: [Desktop Entry] Name=Dark Chrome Exec=google-chrome-stable --enable-features=WebUIDarkMode --...
Adam Griffiths's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
453 views

Where can I find the file format specification for MATE .desktop files?

The title pretty much says it all. I have searched the net; I have munged about in /usr/share/man/; I could probably go find the source and take a half day to find what I need but that does not seem ...
Dale Amon's user avatar
  • 341
3 votes
1 answer
1k views

How to Open the Profile Management Window Every Time You Open Chrome?

Chrome allows multiple people to use Chrome on the same computer, with each profile having its own custom bookmarks, settings, and themes. By default, Chrome opens to the profile used the last time ...
Sumeet Deshmukh's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
4k views

Running desktop shortcut just opens it in text editor

I've looked at some other StackExchange questions pertaining to this topic, but for whatever reason I still cannot get to a resolution. This is the simple test.desktop file I have on my desktop: [...
user3447014's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
1k views

Access USB drive on Ubuntu Server VM

I've had a look at this, but it doesn't solve the problem. I have the following configuration: Host: Ubuntu 18.04 Desktop Guest: Ubuntu 18.04 Server VM Software: VirtualBox USB Drive: 500GB I have ...
oshirowanen's user avatar
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21 votes
1 answer
20k views

Cannot launch .desktop files (opens with Text Editor instead)

For some reason, I cannot launch .desktop files. When I double-click the file, it opens the Text Editor. The desktop file has "Allow executing file as program" turned on (-rwx). In the tab "Open with",...
Liga's user avatar
  • 531
4 votes
1 answer
1k views

Escaping spaces in .desktop file Exec line with "bash -c"

I have a desktop file for a GTK application that I have created which has the following structure: [Desktop Entry] Version=1.0 Name=My GTK Application Comment=Desktop File Exec=bash -c 'sudo taskset -...
Leigh K's user avatar
  • 283
3 votes
1 answer
816 views

Custom keystroke button on Ubuntu dock or panel

With a touchy laptop in mind, and also a physical keyboard with some missing buttons (like, delete, caps lock, etc.), is it possible to create custom launchers, or panel indicators that can perform ...
Angorano's user avatar
  • 145
2 votes
1 answer
2k views

Invoking .desktop file from launcher opens it in editor rather than opening the program it describes

I am running with vanilla-gnome-desktop, using GNOME Classic on Ubuntu 18.04. When pressing Super and entering KeePass plus Enter, the ~/Desktop/KeePass.desktop file is opened in an editor (gedit in ...
0xC0000022L's user avatar
  • 5,720
2 votes
1 answer
277 views

Running application associated with wrong .desktop entry

I've got firefox (from apt) and firefox-nightly (from zip) installed at the same time, with two separate desktop entries. However, when I launch firefox nightly, it's associated with the wrong ...
9fd2d52935ca's user avatar
20 votes
1 answer
29k views

gnome-desktop-item-edit: command not found on Ubuntu 19.10 and later even with the 'gnome-panel' package installed

I installed Ubuntu 19.10 and have issues trying to create a desktop icon with gnome-desktop-item-edit. $ sudo gnome-desktop-item-edit ~/Desktop/ --create-new sudo: gnome-desktop-item-edit: command ...
hd625b's user avatar
  • 311
1 vote
1 answer
167 views

Which desktop file is my application using?

When I click on Applications from Gnome Shell (Ubuntu 18.04), I only see one "Desktop Icon" for the application Emacs. I want to change the arguments that this desktop icon launches with. However, I ...
Startec's user avatar
  • 1,815
1 vote
1 answer
829 views

On Ubuntu 18 Terminator windows are not grouped under same icon in Dock in a Wayland session

I recently bumped into a very itchy problem on Ubuntu 18.04. That is for each started terminator windows a dedicated icon is created on Dock. Additionally, these icons are shown as "not identified" ...
dmytro.poliarush's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
387 views

xdotool Desktop issue

I am very new to this, so I hope not to offend. I am trying to create Desktop.desktop icons for my HTPC (Home theatre PC). Each icon, once pressed should open the URL and maximise the screen. My code ...
Babek's user avatar
  • 45
2 votes
1 answer
463 views

Opening .jar files with `pkexec` and using Desktop Entries to run commands

I am writing a bash script that automates installation of TLauncher (Minecraft launcher) and basic dependency management on USBs running Lubuntu 18.04. Part of the bash script creates a desktop ...
solidwaffle's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
194 views

Change GTK 3 themes to spesific apps causing %f not detected

i change my .desktop option for wps, in the exec from Exec=/usr/bin/wps %f to Exec=sh -c 'GTK_DATA_PREFIX=/usr/share/themes/Ant/gtk-3.0/gtk.css wps %f' but the themes not change to Ant, i think ...
Ikan Gondrong's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
118 views

How can I boot from a Xubuntu LiveUSB? My Desktop is broken

Whenever I turn on my computer it opens to a terminal and I have to log in there and run startx to get to my Xubuntu 18.04.3 LTS Desktop. I have no idea how to get back the normal login screen, when I ...
Path's user avatar
  • 31
2 votes
1 answer
2k views

KDE task bar not recognizing the .desktop file

I have Ubuntu 18.04 with Plasma 5 desktop. I'm a programmer, and I have a question about a rare situation. I have a desktop file in ~/.local/share/applications/xapp.desktop with a content like this:...
James Suárez's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
400 views

How to undo things in Gnome desktop. CTRL+z not working in Ubuntu 19.04?

I've installed Ubuntu 19.04 from scratch after an issue with my old Ubuntu installation. I've found that now it uses Gnome instead of Unity. I like Gnome, but I have a couple of important usability ...
Rosamunda's user avatar
  • 781
1 vote
1 answer
3k views

How Can I Make A .desktop Launcher For A Sudo command To Execute GfxTablet Program?

I am new here been trying to find a way to make a .desktop icon for the sudo command to open the program called GfxTablet but cannot get any info that actually works. All the plethera of commands I ...
redyness's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
230 views

Launch terminal with initial position as split right?

I know that it is possible to edit the desktop entry for gnome-terminal and set geometry arguments, but I am wondering if it is possible to have gnome terminal by default launch with the positioning ...
Ace.C's user avatar
  • 165
4 votes
2 answers
4k views

Teams for Linux snap application will not start

I recently installed Ubuntu 19.04 on my work laptop, and installed Teams for Linux snap for work purposes. Everything seemed to work perfectly at first, but at some point it stopped working. I can ...
Pål Bjartan's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
96 views

.desktop file not running application

[Desktop Entry] Version=1.0 Encoding=UTF-8 Type=Application Terminal=false Name=FilterApp Exec=python /home/ankit/Downloads/Filter_app-linux/run.py Icon= /home/ankit/Downloads/Filter_app-linux/...
Vicrobot's user avatar
  • 170
1 vote
0 answers
626 views

What to do when desktop is frozen, but sound and mouse still work

Sometimes when I double click on a mkv video file, instead of opening vlc the system freezes. Audio continues to run, i can move the mouse, but the rest of the desktop (including the clock) is frozen. ...
bernd feinman's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
690 views

How to reinstall all applications with desktop-files in simple way?

I have Ubuntu system with a lot packages and applications installed. Let's name this system as a source. The applications here were installed only as deb-packages. I need to install application with ...
N0rbert's user avatar
  • 99.8k
0 votes
1 answer
842 views

Problem with gnome-desktop-item-edit on Ubuntu 18.04

I build the launch application with gnome-desktop-item-edit ~/.local/share/applications/.desktop --create-new How to show it #!/usr/bin/env xdg-open [Desktop Entry] Version=1.0 Type=Application ...
567hz's user avatar
  • 11
3 votes
2 answers
1k views

Panel: run application in terminal, set terminal application

With a MATE Panel item set to 'application in terminal' I see xterm: I want to change that to gnome-terminal (or mate-terminal in MATE)
Stephen Boston's user avatar
13 votes
4 answers
7k views

Ubuntu 18.04: "Add to Favorites" missing for certain qt-based applications?

OS: Ubuntu 18.04 (minimal installation option): dkb@dkb-ubu1804:~$ cat /etc/X11/default-display-manager /usr/sbin/gdm3 dkb@dkb-ubu1804:~$ echo $XDG_SESSION_TYPE x11 dkb@dkb-ubu1804:~$ I installed ...
DK Bose's user avatar
  • 42.5k
0 votes
1 answer
117 views

Java application (Minecraft) can't be launched from desktop

I'm okay with the terminal, but I'm trying to learn how to use the gnome gui. The following command works no problem in the terminal: /usr/bin/java -Xms2048M -Xmx4096M -jar /home/luke/.minecraft/...
Luke Howerter's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
156 views

.desktop launcher - keep different chromium apps separate

I've got the following .desktop files placed in ~/.local/share/applications for custom launchers for a full screen experience of Chromium: [Desktop Entry] Terminal=false Type=Application Name=...
EoghanM's user avatar
  • 5,125
2 votes
0 answers
34 views

Pass environment variables to .desktop file Exec entry [duplicate]

I want to create a shortcut that executes a program with an environment variable set, for example: [Desktop Entry] Version=1.0 Name=Chromium test UTC Exec=TZ=UTC chromium-browser The syntax above ...
Dan Dascalescu's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
300 views

Drag & Drop files & folders on GNOME Window manager Launcher Icons

I'm a new Ubuntu 18.04 user, but have been a Ubuntu user for years and used multiple desktop managers (GNOME, Unity, XFCE, etc.). One feature that I loved about XFCE is that I could drop a file or a ...
Patrick Da Silva's user avatar
17 votes
3 answers
18k views

How to find `.desktop` file location for a particular application

EDIT: This is not a duplicate as this question is the reverse of what the other question is asking. Here we know what is the application and we want to find its .desktop file that can be located in ...
Porcupine's user avatar
  • 679
2 votes
1 answer
1k views

Using a .desktop file to launch a node.js app

In Ubuntu 16.04, I (eventually) want to drop a text file onto a desktop icon and get a Node.js app to run, treating the dropped file and outputting a new file. I have discovered .desktop files, and ...
James Newton's user avatar
  • 1,063
0 votes
0 answers
45 views

New installation 18.04 - startup broken

I successfully installed the LTS version. I cannot login to my desktop, it just shows my desktop background but no sign of unity / gnome. The only way I can use my desktop is to press Ctrl+Alt+F6 ...
user568021's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
2k views

Creating desktop launcher for jupyter-notebook, but it is inside a python virtual environment

Like many other developers, I always follow this routine when I want to launch the jupyter notebooks that run in my repository (with a pipenv virtual environment): cd /path/to/your/repository pipenv ...
Marcos Galletero Romero's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
4k views

.desktop files not executing via double click, only from terminal

When I try to doubleclick-execute a .desktop file it opens up the GNOME Games launcher and does nothing else. Even if i try to reset the opening application by right clicking and editing the ...
user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
800 views

How do I remove duplicate entries from Dash on 18.04?

I'm running Ubuntu 18.04. I've installed Krita and VLC via the Ubuntu Software store (among other apps). I have enabled multiple repositories as sources for the store. Krita and VLC are both listed ...
SpencerDub's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
6k views

Created .desktop launcher is not working in Ubuntu 19.04

I wanted to create a shortcut to run a command which will move to a directory and run a command. The problem is that when double-click the launcher, it doesn't do anything. I set check "Allow execute ...
Viktor's user avatar
  • 151
0 votes
3 answers
4k views

Ubuntu 19.04 .desktop files not working correctly

I used to be able to copy and paste the .desktop files from use/share/applications to my desktop for shortcuts. When I first upgraded to 19.04, I selected the allow launching option on the right click ...
NiallMitch14's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
106 views

Script allowed to launch without sudo password works in console, but not in .desktop file, and pkexec issues

I have set in /etc/sudoers.d/qgis_2_18 a script to be launched without sudo password: marco ALL=NOPASSWD: /home/marco/Dropbox/bin/qgis_2_18 Content of /home/marco/Dropbox/bin/qgis_2_18: xhost local:...
Marco Sulla's user avatar

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