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Asked: 2024-09-25T02:30:46+05:30 In:

How can I create a desktop shortcut on Ubuntu 20.04?

I’ve been trying to figure out how to create a desktop shortcut on Ubuntu 20.04, and I’m feeling a bit lost. So, here’s the situation: I’m using Ubuntu for a while now, and I really love it! But there are some things that I just can’t seem to get right, and this desktop shortcut thing is really bugging me.

I mean, it should be straightforward, right? But just when I think I’ve got it, something else pops up, and I’m not even sure where to start. I like having quick access to my favorite applications, but the thought of digging through menus every single time just feels so tedious. I’m always rushing to get things done when I’m using my laptop, and having those shortcuts would make life so much easier.

I found some posts online that talk about right-clicking applications and looking for a “create shortcut” option, but when I tried that with my text editor, nothing happened. It’s as if my system just laughed at me and said, “Nope, not today!” It’s like I’m missing some key step, and I really want this to work.

I’ve also seen a couple of different ways that involve using the terminal, but I must admit, I’m a bit intimidated by that whole command line business. I’m okay with some basic commands, but I definitely don’t want to mess anything up if I don’t have to.

So, is there an easy way to do this? Like, could you walk me through it? Or maybe share some weird little trick that you figured out along the way? I’d really appreciate any help you’ve got. I mean, I’m not a complete newbie, but this whole desktop shortcut thing has been way trickier than I expected. Just a little nudge in the right direction would be fantastic! Thanks in advance for any tips or advice you can share!

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    2 Answers



    1. Creating Desktop Shortcuts on Ubuntu 20.04

      How to Create a Desktop Shortcut on Ubuntu 20.04

      Creating a desktop shortcut in Ubuntu can be a bit confusing at first, but don’t worry! It’s not as complicated as it seems. Here’s a simple way to do it, so you won’t have to keep digging through menus for your favorite apps.

      Method 1: Using the GUI (Graphical User Interface)

      1. First, find the application you want to create a shortcut for. You can do this by searching in the Activities menu.
      2. Once you’ve found it, right-click on the application icon.
      3. If you see the option Add to Favorites, select that. This will add it to your dock, which is a quick way to access it.
      4. If you want a desktop shortcut, you have to dig a little deeper. Open your File Explorer and go to the .local/share/applications directory.
      5. Now, you should see a .desktop file for your application. Right-click on it and choose Copy.
      6. Next, navigate to your Desktop. Right-click on an empty space and select Paste. This will create a shortcut on your desktop.

      Method 2: Using the Terminal

      If you’re feeling a bit adventurous, you can also create shortcuts using the terminal! Here’s how:

      1. Open the terminal (you can find it in the activities menu by searching for “Terminal”).
      2. To create a new desktop shortcut, type the following command:
        3. touch ~/Desktop/myapp.desktop
      3. Now you need to open this file in a text editor, you can use gedit:
        4. gedit ~/Desktop/myapp.desktop
      4. In the file that opens, paste the following content:
        5. [Desktop Entry]
Name=MyApp
Exec=/path/to/your/app
Type=Application
Terminal=false
      5. Replace /path/to/your/app with the actual path to your application. Save the file and close the text editor.
      6. Finally, make the shortcut executable by running this command in the terminal:
        7. chmod +x ~/Desktop/myapp.desktop

      Final Thoughts

      That should do it! Whether you use the GUI or the terminal, you now have a desktop shortcut to your favorite application. No more digging through menus—all your essential apps are just a click away!

      Don’t hesitate to experiment a bit; you might even find some other shortcuts that work better for you. Good luck, and enjoy your time in Ubuntu!




    2. Creating Desktop Shortcuts on Ubuntu 20.04

      Creating a desktop shortcut in Ubuntu 20.04 is straightforward once you know the steps. First, navigate to the application you want to create a shortcut for. You can do this through the “Activities” overview or by locating it in the applications menu. Once you’ve found the application, click and drag the icon to your desktop. If this doesn’t work, you can manually create a desktop entry file. Open a terminal (you can do this by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T), and type the following command to create a new file: touch ~/Desktop/application-name.desktop, replacing application-name with the desired name for your shortcut. Then, you can use a text editor, like nano, to edit the file: nano ~/Desktop/application-name.desktop.

      In the text editor, add the following content to create the shortcut:

      [Desktop Entry]
Name=Your Application Name
Exec=your-application-command
Type=Application
Terminal=false
Icon=your-application-icon

      Make sure to replace Your Application Name, your-application-command, and your-application-icon with the appropriate values for the application you are creating a shortcut for. After saving the file, you may need to make it executable by running chmod +x ~/Desktop/application-name.desktop. Finally, you should now see the shortcut on your desktop, allowing you quick access without rifling through menus. If you have any concerns about using the terminal, just take it step by step and you’ll build up your confidence in no time!


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