.DESKTOP File Extension
Desktop Entry File
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What is a DESKTOP file?
A DESKTOP file is a plain-text configuration file used by Linux and other Unix-like operating systems to define how an application appears and launches in graphical desktop environments. It specifies details such as the application's name, description, icon, and the command used to run the program. DESKTOP files follow the freedesktop.org Desktop Entry Specification, which allows different desktop environments to interpret them in a consistent way.
More Information
DESKTOP files are commonly used by desktop environments such as GNOME, KDE Plasma, and Xfce to build application menus, create desktop shortcuts, and manage launchers. Software packages usually install DESKTOP files automatically, so applications appear in menus without user action.
Linux desktop users, system administrators, and developers who need to customize or create application launch entries are the typical users of DESKTOP files. When used as desktop shortcuts, these files serve a role similar to Windows .LNK files, but they use a standardized, text-based format instead of a binary one.
How to open a DESKTOP file
You can open DESKTOP files with any text editor, such as GNOME Text Editor and Vim. Editing a DESKTOP file allows you to change how an application is displayed or launched, such as modifying the executable command or icon path. When a DESKTOP file is marked as executable, clicking it in a file manager launches the associated application instead of opening the file for editing.