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Asked: 2024-09-25T19:35:11+05:30 In:

What steps should I follow to set a desktop file as trusted in Ubuntu 18.04?

I’ve been trying to customize my desktop environment in Ubuntu 18.04, and I stumbled upon a .desktop file that I want to use for an app I really like. The thing is, whenever I try to open the file, it doesn’t launch. Instead, I get this warning about the file being untrusted. That’s super frustrating, right? I get that it’s probably a security feature, but I really need to figure this out.

So, I looked around for solutions online, and it seems like there are a few different steps I could take to set this desktop file as trusted. Some people mentioned using the file properties dialog, while others suggested using the terminal with some commands. But honestly, I’m a bit overwhelmed and not entirely sure where to start.

Has anyone here dealt with this issue before? What exactly do I need to do? I want to avoid messing up my system or making things more complicated. Do I need to right-click on the file and go to some specific option in the properties? Or would it be better to dive into the terminal and use some commands? If it’s the terminal route, I hope there are clear instructions because I don’t want to accidentally disable any important security settings.

Also, if you have any tips on making sure the desktop file works correctly after I set it as trusted, that would be a bonus! I just want everything to run smoothly, and I’m hoping to avoid any headaches.

It would be awesome to get a step-by-step breakdown from someone who’s been through this. I’m not a complete newbie, but I could use a little guidance here. If anyone could chime in with some advice or share their experiences, I’d really appreciate it! Thanks in advance!

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    2 Answers


    1. To deal with the untrusted .desktop file in Ubuntu 18.04, you can take a couple of straightforward approaches. The easiest method is through the GUI: right-click on the .desktop file, select ‘Properties’, and then navigate to the ‘Permissions’ tab. Here, you should see an option labeled ‘Allow executing file as a program’; check this box to set the file as executable. After you make this change, the .desktop file should be considered trusted, and you should be able to launch the application without seeing the warning again. This method is user-friendly and ensures that you don’t inadvertently execute complicated terminal commands that might compromise your system’s security.

      If you prefer using the terminal, you can achieve the same result with a couple of simple commands. Open a terminal and navigate to the directory containing your .desktop file. You can use the following command: chmod +x yourfile.desktop, replacing ‘yourfile.desktop’ with the actual file name. This command marks the file as executable. Additionally, to mark the file as trusted, you could use the command: gio set yourfile.desktop metadata::trusted true. After running these commands, your .desktop file should work correctly. To ensure it launches smoothly, make sure the Exec line in the .desktop file points to the correct executable path of the application you want to run. Always double-check the syntax and paths in the .desktop file to avoid any errors during execution.


    2. How to Trust a .desktop File in Ubuntu 18.04

      Getting that untrusted warning can be super annoying, but it’s not too tricky to fix. Here’s what you can do to trust that .desktop file and get your app up and running.

      Option 1: Using File Properties Dialog

      1. Locate the .desktop file in your file manager.
      2. Right-click on it and select Properties.
      3. Go to the Permissions tab.
      4. Look for a checkbox that says Allow executing file as program and check it.
      5. Next, check for a section about trusting the file—sometimes there’s an option saying This file is untrusted. If you see it, there’ll be a button to mark it as trusted.
      6. Close the properties window.
      7. You should now be able to run the .desktop file by double-clicking it.

      Option 2: Using the Terminal

      If you’re feeling brave enough to use the terminal, here’s how:

      1. Open up a terminal (you can press Ctrl + Alt + T to do this).
      2. Type the following command, replacing path/to/your/file.desktop with the actual path to your .desktop file:
        3. chmod +x path/to/your/file.desktop
      3. Next, make the file trusted with this command:
        4. gio set path/to/your/file.desktop "metadata::trusted" true
      4. Now you should be good to go. Try launching it again!

      Extra Tips

      After marking it as trusted, it’s a good idea to check the contents of the .desktop file to ensure everything looks correct. Open it with a text editor and make sure there’s a line like this:

      [Desktop Entry]

      And check that all the paths and commands listed are accurate. If the executable path isn’t correct, your app won’t launch even if the file is trusted.

      That’s pretty much it! Following either method should take care of the warning and let you run your app without hassle. If anything feels off or you run into more issues, don’t hesitate to ask for help!

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