How to Add Desktop Icons in Ubuntu Linux
Adding desktop icons in Ubuntu Linux lets you place shortcuts for your favorite applications directly on the desktop for quick access.
This is handy for programs you use often, so you don’t have to hunt through menus.
For example, you can put a shortcut for Firefox or your file manager right where you can see it when you boot up your computer.
To add desktop icons in Ubuntu, find the application’s .desktop file in /usr/share/applications or /var/lib/snapd/desktop/applications. Copy this file to your Desktop folder and then right-click the new icon and select “Allow Launching.
Introduction
Adding desktop icons in Ubuntu Linux lets you quickly open your favorite applications. While pinning apps to the dock provides common quick access, desktop icons remain useful for specific programs. For example, a typical Ubuntu 22.04 desktop starts with only the Home folder visible.
By default, a typical Ubuntu desktop presents a clean look, often showing only the Personal folder. Note that pinning apps to the dock is the preferred, more stable method for quick access in modern Ubuntu, but you can still add desktop icons if you prefer.
Copying .desktop files
To add desktop icons in Ubuntu, you’ll copy a program’s .desktop file, which is a small text file that tells your computer how to open the app. These special files are usually found in two main folders: /usr/share/applications for standard apps and /var/lib/snapd/desktop/applications for apps installed using Snap. You can often drag an icon directly to the desktop from the ‘Show Applications’ menu.
- /usr/share/applications (for standard apps)
- /var/lib/snapd/desktop/applications (for Snap apps)
To add an icon, you can use the ‘Show Applications’ menu. You can often drag an icon directly to the desktop. If dragging doesn’t work, try the ‘Add to Desktop’ feature from the DING extension, if it’s available. Otherwise, open your Files or File Manager to manually copy the file from the folders listed above into your “Desktop” folder.
To copy a file in Ubuntu Linux, click it once to select it. Then, right-click and choose ‘Copy’ from the menu, or press Ctrl+C. This copies the file’s data to your computer’s clipboard.
Go to your Home directory and open the Desktop folder.
Right-click in the folder and select Paste, or press Ctrl+V.
Allow Launching
After copying a file to your desktop in Ubuntu, you must right-click it and select ‘Allow Launching’ to make it runnable.
The icon is now ready to use.
Conclusion
Desktop icons in Ubuntu Linux are achievable, even with the dock being the primary app access method in 2026. You can place your most-used applications directly on the desktop by using the DING extension and enabling the "Allow Launching" security setting.
How to add desktop icon in Linux?
To add a desktop icon in Linux, find the program you want in your applications menu and drag its icon directly to your desktop.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
[…] will come with a single (Personal) folder icon on the desktop after installation. However, you can add additional icons on the desktop, although it’s not the easiest thing to […]