Home Ubuntu How to Create Desktop Shortcuts on Ubuntu

How to Create Desktop Shortcuts on Ubuntu

The standard software installation process in Ubuntu (and almost every major Linux distribution) is quite different from the one used in Microsoft Windows. While in MS Windows, the user downloads and runs an installer binary file, Ubuntu has a more easy to use packaging system; with a single command downloading and installing software.

The installed software in Ubuntu is present in a predefined location (/bin, /usr/bin, etc.) and its shortcuts are created on the dock accessed from the left top corner.

Unlike Windows, there is no direct way in Ubuntu to create a desktop shortcut while installing. This has been going on in even the latest versions of Ubuntu; as the majority of the Ubuntu user base mainly uses the Terminal.

Today, we will see how to Create Desktop Shortcuts in Ubuntu 20.10 and earlier.

Create Application Launcher File to Desktop

Launcher files for applications (which have extensions .desktop) are located at ‘/usr/share/applications’. So as a first step, we need to move the launcher file to the Desktop.

Using Terminal

$ cd /usr/share/applications
$ ls 
List Ubuntu Desktop Applications
List Ubuntu Desktop Applications

You can see all the '.desktop' files here.

Now, we have to copy the required file to the Desktop. Run the following command to copy it.

$ cp <filename> /home/<username>/Desktop

Replace <filename> with the required filename and <username> with the username of the logged-in user.

Create Desktop Shortcut in Ubuntu
Create Desktop Shortcut in Ubuntu

As verified, the Firefox launcher file has been copied to Desktop.

Using File Explorer

Open File Explorer from the left-hand Dock and Click on ‘Other Locations’.

Ubuntu File Manager
Ubuntu File Manager

Go to ‘Computer‘ –> ‘usr‘ –> ‘share‘ –> ‘applications‘.

Ubuntu Desktop Applications
Ubuntu Desktop Applications

Right-click on the required file, and click ‘Copy To‘. Select Desktop from the left side pane and press ‘Select‘.

Copy App Shortcut to Desktop
Copy App Shortcut to Desktop
Verify Shortcut on Desktop
Verify Shortcut on Desktop

As seen above, the file has been copied to the Desktop.

Allow Execution of Shortcut

Although the shortcut file has been copied to the desktop, it is still not allowed to be executed. We will now enable it for execution with a simple step.

Right Click on the shortcut file, and click ‘Allow Launching‘.

Allow Launching of App
Allow Launching of App
Firefox Desktop Shortcut
Firefox Desktop Shortcut

Once you allow it for launching, you will see that the file icon changes to the actual icon of the Application; in this case Mozilla Firefox.

Double Click on the icon, or select it and press ‘Enter’ to verify if the application indeed launches with the shortcut.

Conclusion

We saw a quick and easy way to create desktop shortcuts in Ubuntu. Although it’s not as simple in Ubuntu, as it is in Windows to create desktop shortcuts, in the end, it’s quite handy to create shortcuts for applications that are frequently used; like web browsers and music players.

If you have any feedback or questions, let us know in the comments below!

Ravi Saive
I am an Experienced GNU/Linux expert and a full-stack software developer with over a decade in the field of Linux and Open Source technologies. Founder of TecMint.com, LinuxShellTips.com, and Fossmint.com. Over 150+ million people visited my websites.

Each tutorial at UbuntuMint is created by a team of experienced writers so that it meets our high-quality standards.

Was this article helpful? Please add a comment to show your appreciation and support.

Got something to say? Join the discussion.

Thanks for choosing to leave a comment. Please keep in mind that all comments are moderated according to our comment policy, and your email address will NOT be published or shared. Please Do NOT use keywords in the name field. Let's have a personal and meaningful conversation.