How can I find *.desktop files?
up vote
72
down vote
favorite
To the best of my knowledge, all shortcuts in the Unity Launcher have a corresponding *.desktop file. I have one shortcut (for skrooge) that doesn't have an icon. How can I find the *.desktop file corresponding to this shortcut so that I can add an icon to it?
unity launcher .desktop
edited Oct 4 '15 at 7:43
Slothworks
322117
asked Mar 30 '12 at 13:52
Koviko
6332917
add a comment |
up vote
72
down vote
favorite
To the best of my knowledge, all shortcuts in the Unity Launcher have a corresponding *.desktop file. I have one shortcut (for skrooge) that doesn't have an icon. How can I find the *.desktop file corresponding to this shortcut so that I can add an icon to it?
unity launcher .desktop
edited Oct 4 '15 at 7:43
Slothworks
322117
asked Mar 30 '12 at 13:52
Koviko
6332917
add a comment |
up vote
72
down vote
favorite
up vote
72
down vote
favorite
To the best of my knowledge, all shortcuts in the Unity Launcher have a corresponding *.desktop file. I have one shortcut (for skrooge) that doesn't have an icon. How can I find the *.desktop file corresponding to this shortcut so that I can add an icon to it?
unity launcher .desktop
edited Oct 4 '15 at 7:43
Slothworks
322117
asked Mar 30 '12 at 13:52
Koviko
6332917
To the best of my knowledge, all shortcuts in the Unity Launcher have a corresponding *.desktop file. I have one shortcut (for skrooge) that doesn't have an icon. How can I find the *.desktop file corresponding to this shortcut so that I can add an icon to it?
unity launcher .desktop
unity launcher .desktop
edited Oct 4 '15 at 7:43
Slothworks
322117
asked Mar 30 '12 at 13:52
Koviko
6332917
edited Oct 4 '15 at 7:43
Slothworks
322117
asked Mar 30 '12 at 13:52
Koviko
6332917
edited Oct 4 '15 at 7:43
Slothworks
322117
edited Oct 4 '15 at 7:43
Slothworks
322117
edited Oct 4 '15 at 7:43
Slothworks
322117
322117
asked Mar 30 '12 at 13:52
Koviko
6332917
asked Mar 30 '12 at 13:52
Koviko
6332917
asked Mar 30 '12 at 13:52
Koviko
6332917
6332917
add a comment |
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
up vote
92
down vote
accepted
It's probably sitting in /usr/share/applications/ but if you want to find every .desktop file on the system run this:
find / -name '*.desktop'
or
sudo updatedb
locate *.desktop
To find files with "skrooge" in their path or name, add a grep to the command:
locate *.desktop | grep -iR "skrooge"
edited Mar 22 '13 at 16:57
8128
24.7k21100137
answered Mar 30 '12 at 13:56
Oli♦
218k85550759
18
locate -i "*skrooge*.desktop". Though there's mainly three places unity will look for desktop files.~/.local/share/applications,/usr/local/share/applicationsand/usr/share/applications. If there are desktop files for the same command in multiple places, it'll use the left-most of the three I listed.
– geirha
Mar 30 '12 at 14:32
Showed up as/usr/share/applications/kde4/skrooge.desktop. Thanks. :)
– Koviko
Mar 30 '12 at 15:08
add a comment |
up vote
29
down vote
The system stores the .desktop files in /usr/share/applications/. Unfortunately, if you open that folder in nautilus the .desktop files appears with the icon specified in the file and with the file name called out within the file. You also won't be allowed to edit these files by clicking on them and selecting edit.
To edit these files, you need to open that folder within a terminal window. Doing an ls command will show all the .desktop files with their actual names. When you locate the .desktop you wish to change, run gksudo gedit {file-name}.desktop.
It's normal practice to keep any .desktop files you create or edit in your home folder ~/.local/share/applications.
edited Mar 31 '12 at 4:35
jokerdino♦
32.2k21118186
answered Mar 31 '12 at 4:18
fragos
2,61721522
Running from the terminal can be handier for some, but it is also possible to drag from nautilus into gedit or another text editor.
– Jon Hanna
May 1 '14 at 21:40
what's the point of the directory "~/.local/share/applications"? Files there don't seem to be used, not I cannot add them as "shortcut" to Unity.
– Malachiasz
Feb 8 '15 at 15:14
2
@Malachiasz Actually, the *.desktop files from~/.local/share/applicationsare reloaded when session restarts. So, log out and log back in. Note that these are specific to that user.
– akshay2000
Mar 21 '15 at 7:11
I also found this Q&A here on site useful: How to force Unity reload ~/.local/share/applications/
– hakre
Sep 18 '17 at 18:19
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
Some additional details valid too for the other answers:
By default, the .desktop files should be in /usr/share/applications
If you want, you could copy them over to ~/.local/share/applications and edit them there without needing sudo.
Leave the edited copy in ~/.local/share/applications. It will override the copy in /usr/share/applications
Note that the modifications you make to the .desktop file in ~/.local/share/applications will persist until you change them.
Any changes you make to the .desktop file in /usr/share/applications will be automatically lost when the application updates.
Extracted from here
answered Nov 21 at 15:50
Sopalajo de Arrierez
3432718
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
92
down vote
accepted
It's probably sitting in /usr/share/applications/ but if you want to find every .desktop file on the system run this:
find / -name '*.desktop'
or
sudo updatedb
locate *.desktop
To find files with "skrooge" in their path or name, add a grep to the command:
locate *.desktop | grep -iR "skrooge"
edited Mar 22 '13 at 16:57
8128
24.7k21100137
answered Mar 30 '12 at 13:56
Oli♦
218k85550759
18
locate -i "*skrooge*.desktop". Though there's mainly three places unity will look for desktop files.~/.local/share/applications,/usr/local/share/applicationsand/usr/share/applications. If there are desktop files for the same command in multiple places, it'll use the left-most of the three I listed.
– geirha
Mar 30 '12 at 14:32
Showed up as/usr/share/applications/kde4/skrooge.desktop. Thanks. :)
– Koviko
Mar 30 '12 at 15:08
add a comment |
up vote
92
down vote
accepted
It's probably sitting in /usr/share/applications/ but if you want to find every .desktop file on the system run this:
find / -name '*.desktop'
or
sudo updatedb
locate *.desktop
To find files with "skrooge" in their path or name, add a grep to the command:
locate *.desktop | grep -iR "skrooge"
edited Mar 22 '13 at 16:57
8128
24.7k21100137
answered Mar 30 '12 at 13:56
Oli♦
218k85550759
18
locate -i "*skrooge*.desktop". Though there's mainly three places unity will look for desktop files.~/.local/share/applications,/usr/local/share/applicationsand/usr/share/applications. If there are desktop files for the same command in multiple places, it'll use the left-most of the three I listed.
– geirha
Mar 30 '12 at 14:32
Showed up as/usr/share/applications/kde4/skrooge.desktop. Thanks. :)
– Koviko
Mar 30 '12 at 15:08
add a comment |
up vote
92
down vote
accepted
up vote
92
down vote
accepted
It's probably sitting in /usr/share/applications/ but if you want to find every .desktop file on the system run this:
find / -name '*.desktop'
or
sudo updatedb
locate *.desktop
To find files with "skrooge" in their path or name, add a grep to the command:
locate *.desktop | grep -iR "skrooge"
edited Mar 22 '13 at 16:57
8128
24.7k21100137
answered Mar 30 '12 at 13:56
Oli♦
218k85550759
It's probably sitting in /usr/share/applications/ but if you want to find every .desktop file on the system run this:
find / -name '*.desktop'
or
sudo updatedb
locate *.desktop
To find files with "skrooge" in their path or name, add a grep to the command:
locate *.desktop | grep -iR "skrooge"
edited Mar 22 '13 at 16:57
8128
24.7k21100137
answered Mar 30 '12 at 13:56
Oli♦
218k85550759
edited Mar 22 '13 at 16:57
8128
24.7k21100137
edited Mar 22 '13 at 16:57
8128
24.7k21100137
edited Mar 22 '13 at 16:57
8128
24.7k21100137
24.7k21100137
answered Mar 30 '12 at 13:56
Oli♦
218k85550759
answered Mar 30 '12 at 13:56
Oli♦
218k85550759
answered Mar 30 '12 at 13:56
Oli♦
218k85550759
218k85550759
18
locate -i "*skrooge*.desktop". Though there's mainly three places unity will look for desktop files.~/.local/share/applications,/usr/local/share/applicationsand/usr/share/applications. If there are desktop files for the same command in multiple places, it'll use the left-most of the three I listed.
– geirha
Mar 30 '12 at 14:32
Showed up as/usr/share/applications/kde4/skrooge.desktop. Thanks. :)
– Koviko
Mar 30 '12 at 15:08
add a comment |
18
locate -i "*skrooge*.desktop". Though there's mainly three places unity will look for desktop files.~/.local/share/applications,/usr/local/share/applicationsand/usr/share/applications. If there are desktop files for the same command in multiple places, it'll use the left-most of the three I listed.
– geirha
Mar 30 '12 at 14:32
Showed up as/usr/share/applications/kde4/skrooge.desktop. Thanks. :)
– Koviko
Mar 30 '12 at 15:08
18
18
locate -i "*skrooge*.desktop". Though there's mainly three places unity will look for desktop files. ~/.local/share/applications, /usr/local/share/applications and /usr/share/applications. If there are desktop files for the same command in multiple places, it'll use the left-most of the three I listed.– geirha
Mar 30 '12 at 14:32
locate -i "*skrooge*.desktop". Though there's mainly three places unity will look for desktop files. ~/.local/share/applications, /usr/local/share/applications and /usr/share/applications. If there are desktop files for the same command in multiple places, it'll use the left-most of the three I listed.– geirha
Mar 30 '12 at 14:32
Showed up as
/usr/share/applications/kde4/skrooge.desktop. Thanks. :)– Koviko
Mar 30 '12 at 15:08
Showed up as
/usr/share/applications/kde4/skrooge.desktop. Thanks. :)– Koviko
Mar 30 '12 at 15:08
add a comment |
up vote
29
down vote
The system stores the .desktop files in /usr/share/applications/. Unfortunately, if you open that folder in nautilus the .desktop files appears with the icon specified in the file and with the file name called out within the file. You also won't be allowed to edit these files by clicking on them and selecting edit.
To edit these files, you need to open that folder within a terminal window. Doing an ls command will show all the .desktop files with their actual names. When you locate the .desktop you wish to change, run gksudo gedit {file-name}.desktop.
It's normal practice to keep any .desktop files you create or edit in your home folder ~/.local/share/applications.
edited Mar 31 '12 at 4:35
jokerdino♦
32.2k21118186
answered Mar 31 '12 at 4:18
fragos
2,61721522
Running from the terminal can be handier for some, but it is also possible to drag from nautilus into gedit or another text editor.
– Jon Hanna
May 1 '14 at 21:40
what's the point of the directory "~/.local/share/applications"? Files there don't seem to be used, not I cannot add them as "shortcut" to Unity.
– Malachiasz
Feb 8 '15 at 15:14
2
@Malachiasz Actually, the *.desktop files from~/.local/share/applicationsare reloaded when session restarts. So, log out and log back in. Note that these are specific to that user.
– akshay2000
Mar 21 '15 at 7:11
I also found this Q&A here on site useful: How to force Unity reload ~/.local/share/applications/
– hakre
Sep 18 '17 at 18:19
add a comment |
up vote
29
down vote
The system stores the .desktop files in /usr/share/applications/. Unfortunately, if you open that folder in nautilus the .desktop files appears with the icon specified in the file and with the file name called out within the file. You also won't be allowed to edit these files by clicking on them and selecting edit.
To edit these files, you need to open that folder within a terminal window. Doing an ls command will show all the .desktop files with their actual names. When you locate the .desktop you wish to change, run gksudo gedit {file-name}.desktop.
It's normal practice to keep any .desktop files you create or edit in your home folder ~/.local/share/applications.
edited Mar 31 '12 at 4:35
jokerdino♦
32.2k21118186
answered Mar 31 '12 at 4:18
fragos
2,61721522
Running from the terminal can be handier for some, but it is also possible to drag from nautilus into gedit or another text editor.
– Jon Hanna
May 1 '14 at 21:40
what's the point of the directory "~/.local/share/applications"? Files there don't seem to be used, not I cannot add them as "shortcut" to Unity.
– Malachiasz
Feb 8 '15 at 15:14
2
@Malachiasz Actually, the *.desktop files from~/.local/share/applicationsare reloaded when session restarts. So, log out and log back in. Note that these are specific to that user.
– akshay2000
Mar 21 '15 at 7:11
I also found this Q&A here on site useful: How to force Unity reload ~/.local/share/applications/
– hakre
Sep 18 '17 at 18:19
add a comment |
up vote
29
down vote
up vote
29
down vote
The system stores the .desktop files in /usr/share/applications/. Unfortunately, if you open that folder in nautilus the .desktop files appears with the icon specified in the file and with the file name called out within the file. You also won't be allowed to edit these files by clicking on them and selecting edit.
To edit these files, you need to open that folder within a terminal window. Doing an ls command will show all the .desktop files with their actual names. When you locate the .desktop you wish to change, run gksudo gedit {file-name}.desktop.
It's normal practice to keep any .desktop files you create or edit in your home folder ~/.local/share/applications.
edited Mar 31 '12 at 4:35
jokerdino♦
32.2k21118186
answered Mar 31 '12 at 4:18
fragos
2,61721522
The system stores the .desktop files in /usr/share/applications/. Unfortunately, if you open that folder in nautilus the .desktop files appears with the icon specified in the file and with the file name called out within the file. You also won't be allowed to edit these files by clicking on them and selecting edit.
To edit these files, you need to open that folder within a terminal window. Doing an ls command will show all the .desktop files with their actual names. When you locate the .desktop you wish to change, run gksudo gedit {file-name}.desktop.
It's normal practice to keep any .desktop files you create or edit in your home folder ~/.local/share/applications.
edited Mar 31 '12 at 4:35
jokerdino♦
32.2k21118186
answered Mar 31 '12 at 4:18
fragos
2,61721522
edited Mar 31 '12 at 4:35
jokerdino♦
32.2k21118186
edited Mar 31 '12 at 4:35
jokerdino♦
32.2k21118186
edited Mar 31 '12 at 4:35
jokerdino♦
32.2k21118186
32.2k21118186
answered Mar 31 '12 at 4:18
fragos
2,61721522
answered Mar 31 '12 at 4:18
fragos
2,61721522
answered Mar 31 '12 at 4:18
fragos
2,61721522
2,61721522
Running from the terminal can be handier for some, but it is also possible to drag from nautilus into gedit or another text editor.
– Jon Hanna
May 1 '14 at 21:40
what's the point of the directory "~/.local/share/applications"? Files there don't seem to be used, not I cannot add them as "shortcut" to Unity.
– Malachiasz
Feb 8 '15 at 15:14
2
@Malachiasz Actually, the *.desktop files from~/.local/share/applicationsare reloaded when session restarts. So, log out and log back in. Note that these are specific to that user.
– akshay2000
Mar 21 '15 at 7:11
I also found this Q&A here on site useful: How to force Unity reload ~/.local/share/applications/
– hakre
Sep 18 '17 at 18:19
add a comment |
Running from the terminal can be handier for some, but it is also possible to drag from nautilus into gedit or another text editor.
– Jon Hanna
May 1 '14 at 21:40
what's the point of the directory "~/.local/share/applications"? Files there don't seem to be used, not I cannot add them as "shortcut" to Unity.
– Malachiasz
Feb 8 '15 at 15:14
2
@Malachiasz Actually, the *.desktop files from~/.local/share/applicationsare reloaded when session restarts. So, log out and log back in. Note that these are specific to that user.
– akshay2000
Mar 21 '15 at 7:11
I also found this Q&A here on site useful: How to force Unity reload ~/.local/share/applications/
– hakre
Sep 18 '17 at 18:19
Running from the terminal can be handier for some, but it is also possible to drag from nautilus into gedit or another text editor.
– Jon Hanna
May 1 '14 at 21:40
Running from the terminal can be handier for some, but it is also possible to drag from nautilus into gedit or another text editor.
– Jon Hanna
May 1 '14 at 21:40
what's the point of the directory "~/.local/share/applications"? Files there don't seem to be used, not I cannot add them as "shortcut" to Unity.
– Malachiasz
Feb 8 '15 at 15:14
what's the point of the directory "~/.local/share/applications"? Files there don't seem to be used, not I cannot add them as "shortcut" to Unity.
– Malachiasz
Feb 8 '15 at 15:14
2
2
@Malachiasz Actually, the *.desktop files from
~/.local/share/applications are reloaded when session restarts. So, log out and log back in. Note that these are specific to that user.– akshay2000
Mar 21 '15 at 7:11
@Malachiasz Actually, the *.desktop files from
~/.local/share/applications are reloaded when session restarts. So, log out and log back in. Note that these are specific to that user.– akshay2000
Mar 21 '15 at 7:11
I also found this Q&A here on site useful: How to force Unity reload ~/.local/share/applications/
– hakre
Sep 18 '17 at 18:19
I also found this Q&A here on site useful: How to force Unity reload ~/.local/share/applications/
– hakre
Sep 18 '17 at 18:19
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
Some additional details valid too for the other answers:
By default, the .desktop files should be in /usr/share/applications
If you want, you could copy them over to ~/.local/share/applications and edit them there without needing sudo.
Leave the edited copy in ~/.local/share/applications. It will override the copy in /usr/share/applications
Note that the modifications you make to the .desktop file in ~/.local/share/applications will persist until you change them.
Any changes you make to the .desktop file in /usr/share/applications will be automatically lost when the application updates.
Extracted from here
answered Nov 21 at 15:50
Sopalajo de Arrierez
3432718
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
Some additional details valid too for the other answers:
By default, the .desktop files should be in /usr/share/applications
If you want, you could copy them over to ~/.local/share/applications and edit them there without needing sudo.
Leave the edited copy in ~/.local/share/applications. It will override the copy in /usr/share/applications
Note that the modifications you make to the .desktop file in ~/.local/share/applications will persist until you change them.
Any changes you make to the .desktop file in /usr/share/applications will be automatically lost when the application updates.
Extracted from here
answered Nov 21 at 15:50
Sopalajo de Arrierez
3432718
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
Some additional details valid too for the other answers:
By default, the .desktop files should be in /usr/share/applications
If you want, you could copy them over to ~/.local/share/applications and edit them there without needing sudo.
Leave the edited copy in ~/.local/share/applications. It will override the copy in /usr/share/applications
Note that the modifications you make to the .desktop file in ~/.local/share/applications will persist until you change them.
Any changes you make to the .desktop file in /usr/share/applications will be automatically lost when the application updates.
Extracted from here
answered Nov 21 at 15:50
Sopalajo de Arrierez
3432718
Some additional details valid too for the other answers:
By default, the .desktop files should be in /usr/share/applications
If you want, you could copy them over to ~/.local/share/applications and edit them there without needing sudo.
Leave the edited copy in ~/.local/share/applications. It will override the copy in /usr/share/applications
Note that the modifications you make to the .desktop file in ~/.local/share/applications will persist until you change them.
Any changes you make to the .desktop file in /usr/share/applications will be automatically lost when the application updates.
Extracted from here
answered Nov 21 at 15:50
Sopalajo de Arrierez
3432718
answered Nov 21 at 15:50
Sopalajo de Arrierez
3432718
answered Nov 21 at 15:50
Sopalajo de Arrierez
3432718
answered Nov 21 at 15:50
Sopalajo de Arrierez
3432718
3432718
add a comment |
add a comment |
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