How to Add Desktop Icons in Ubuntu Linux
Ubuntu 22.04 and newer versions hide all desktop shortcuts by default, leaving your screen completely blank when you first set up the system. Desktop icons let you open your favorite apps, folders, and files directly from the main screen with a single click instead of digging through the file manager.
You can bring back your missing icons in a few clicks using the built-in Settings app or the GNOME Extensions tool, without typing any commands in the terminal.
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
You can add desktop icons in Ubuntu to quickly launch apps, open files, and access shortcuts right from your main screen. A fresh Ubuntu installation often hides most items on your desktop by default, showing only the Home folder. Setting up desktop shortcuts brings back traditional file access and helps you organize your daily workflow without hunting through system menus.
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
You create desktop shortcuts in Ubuntu by copying a .desktop file (a plain text configuration file that tells the system how to launch a program) to your desktop folder. Standard applications store these files in /usr/share/applications, while Snap packages keep them in /var/lib/snapd/desktop/applications. Finding and copying the right file lets you place any installed program directly on your screen.
- /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
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.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
[…] 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 […]