How to Insert App Shortcuts to Desktop on Ubuntu – Guide
Files with the .desktop extension are desktop entries for applications. When placing .desktop files in /usr/share/applications (system-wide) or .local/share/applications (current users only), Linux will recognize them and show the application icons to launch in the Start menu. A .desktop file defines the name and icon that will appear on the Start menu, the executable command used to run the application, and the type of file with which it can be opened. Most applications have their own .desktop file in the system directory or in the user’s local folder. And the user can manually create it for an app that doesn’t have one.
To add a desktop shortcut to an Ubuntu or other Linux distribution, first open the Terminal window and type the following command: sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-desktop/ppa This will add the Ubuntu desktop shortcut repository to your system. Then type the following command to add a desktop shortcut for your favorite app: ln -s /usr/share/applications/com.apple.desktop /usr/share/icons/ubuntu
Adding Desktop Shortcut in Ubuntu
Ubuntu Launcher is a popular launcher for Ubuntu that allows you to add desktop shortcuts to your launcher. If you use a program frequently, you can add it to the launcher. But some people prefer launchers that allow them to have app shortcuts instead of just desktop shortcuts.
Locate the applications .desktop files
Computer
From here, go to the usr directory -> share -> applications. You will see icons of various Ubuntu applications that you have installed here. Even if you don’t see the icons, you should see .desktop files that are named application.desktop. ..
Copy the .desktop file to the desktop
Now all you have to do is find the app icon on your desktop and drag it onto the desktop. If you can’t find the app icon, you can copy it or paste it to the desktop.
Run the desktop file
When you open the application, you will see a text file icon on the desktop instead of the application logo. Don’t worry, things will be different in a moment. ..
In Ubuntu, you can right-click on the .desktop file and click on “Properties”. Here, give the file execute permission.
You can right-click on the file to open it in a new window or application. If the file is a shortcut, you will see an option to allow launch. Selecting this option will make the file an application shortcut.
In Ubuntu 18.04, things have changed a bit. You no longer need to double click on files to launch them. Instead, you can use the Unity launcher by clicking on the Unity icon in the top left corner of the screen.
Final note
How to Insert App Shortcuts to Desktop on Ubuntu In this guide, we will show you how to insert app shortcuts to desktop on Ubuntu. We will start by creating a new file called “appshortcuts.desktop” in the same directory as our “~/.config/autostart/” file. We will first need to add the following lines into our “appshortcuts.desktop” file: [Desktop Entry] Name=App Shortcuts Type=Application Exec=/usr/bin/gnome-shell-extension-launch AppName=Launch GNOME Shell Extension Exec=/usr/bin/gtk-x11-xorg-x11 -window-size 100% -geometry 1024x768 -monitor 1920x1080 Icon=gtk_shell_extension_1 Comment=GNOME Shell Extension for app shortcuts Exec=/usr/bin/gtkmm-toolbaraddons –disable-menuentry –disable-migration –disable–update –ignore–searchlight –enable–customize Comment=GTKmm Toolbar Addons for app shortcuts Exec=/usr/bin/gtkspelladdons –enable–customize Comment=GtkSpelling Addons for app shortcuts Exec=/usr/bin/gnomevfsutils –mountpoint /sys/$(type udevid)/$(name $1)/$(type ext4) $0 $1
