How to Add Desktop Icons in Ubuntu Linux

This article describes the steps to add application icons on the desktop in Ubuntu Linux.

A typical Ubuntu desktop will come with a single (Personal) folder icon on the desktop after installation. Computers running Ubuntu usually have clean and simple desktops with no or very few icons.

Adding icons to the desktop on Ubuntu Linux is not so simple. There is also no easy way to add an icon from the Application overview to your desktop.

Mose applications that are installed on Ubuntu Linux will typically have their desktop icon files ending with an extension .desktop in the below directories:

• /usr/share/applications for APT applications
• /var/lib/snapd/desktop/applications for Snap packages

To get any application icon from the directories above on your desktop, you must find the .desktop file of the application and copy it to your “Desktop” folder in your home directory.

Add desktop icons to the desktop on Ubuntu Linux.

As described above, Ubuntu Linux doesn’t make it as easy as Windows to get an application icon on the desktop. No simple shortcuts or easy ways to do it.

If you start with Ubuntu, the steps below will help you add icons to your desktop.

First, you will need to find the application desktop icon. It will typically end with a .desktop extension.

Most application desktop icons are installed in the location below:

• /usr/share/applications for APT applications
• /var/lib/snapd/desktop/applications for Snap packages

To get an icon on the desktop, Files (or File Manager).

When the Files or File Manager opens, browse to either of the locations above to find the icon you want to copy to your Desktop folder.

For example, navigate to the application location and select the “Firefox. desktop” icon.

There are multiple ways to copy a file on Ubuntu Linux.

Please select the file you want to copy by clicking on it once. Right-click and pick Copy or press CTRL + C.

Once you have copied the desktop icon, go to your Home directory and select the Desktop folder.

Click the menu option, pick Paste to finish copying the file, or press CTRL + V. 

Finally, switch to your desktop, right-click the icon, and select Allow Launching on the context menu, as highlighted below.

It would be best to have a Firefox desktop icon in Ubuntu Linux. Do this for other application icons you want to show on the desktop.

That should do it!

Conclusion:

• Adding application icons to the desktop in Ubuntu Linux may not be as straightforward as in Windows, but it is achievable with a few simple steps.
• By navigating to the appropriate directories such as /usr/share/applications for APT applications or /var/lib/snapd/desktop/applications for Snap packages, users can find the .desktop file of the application they wish to add to the desktop.
• Once the icon file is located, it can be copied to the “Desktop” folder in the home directory, and the user can then easily access and launch the application from their desktop.
• The process involves using the File Manager to locate the desired icon, copying it, and pasting it into the Desktop folder. Then, users can right-click the icon on the desktop and select “Allow Launching” to enable easy access to the application.
• These steps will allow users to customize their Ubuntu Linux desktop by adding icons for their frequently used applications.