# .deb packages open via zip file manager by default

**URL:** <https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/deb-packages-open-via-zip-file-manager-by-default/3963>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [July 22, 2020, 10:21am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/deb-packages-open-via-zip-file-manager-by-default/3963 "2020-07-22T10:21:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![zilexa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/bbe5ce/32.png) [@zilexa](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/zilexa)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2020, 10:21am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/deb-packages-open-via-zip-file-manager-by-default/3963/1 "2020-07-22T10:21:09Z")

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This is quite annoying, especially for non-pro users who are unable to install software downloaded from the internet. I don’t remember this being the case with 19.04.

Is there a way to change this via a bash script, the default app to open certain extensions?  
For .deb it should be Software… for .txt, .conf, .sh etc I want it to be Pluma.

Looking for a way to do it via bash script so I can do it for all devices easily.

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**Author:** ![Coeur-Noir](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/coeur-noir/32/4515_2.png) [@Coeur-Noir](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/Coeur-Noir)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2020, 11:32pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/deb-packages-open-via-zip-file-manager-by-default/3963/2 "2020-07-22T23:32:35Z")

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User’s side, it’s stored in `~/.config/mimeapps.list`

I also thought by default .deb packages were supposed to launch « software » but you are right, it’s archive-manager on UBudgie 20.04

You may restore that association by right-clicking on a .deb file, properties, « open with » tab.  
There « software installer » is proposed as recommended.

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**Author:** ![zilexa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/bbe5ce/32.png) [@zilexa](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/zilexa)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2020, 7:35am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/deb-packages-open-via-zip-file-manager-by-default/3963/3 "2020-07-23T07:35:05Z")

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There are more little things like this… I hope they will be fixed via an update before 20.10.

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**Author:** ![Coeur-Noir](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/coeur-noir/32/4515_2.png) [@Coeur-Noir](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/Coeur-Noir)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 5:53pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/deb-packages-open-via-zip-file-manager-by-default/3963/4 "2020-07-24T17:53:01Z")

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> [@zilexa](#):
>
> especially for non-pro users who are unable to install software downloaded from the internet.

Well we could argue about that : non-pro users should never install software downloaded from internet while using a Linux distribution. That’s what official repositories from such distributions are for.

Non pro-users in need of new software should use :  
⋅ first, any dedicated app-store provided by their distribution ( software, discover… )  
⋅ or, package manager such as synaptic, gnome-package-kit, muon…

Then when they become geek, they might look for :  
⋅ ppa ( for Ubuntu and its derivatives )  
⋅ things downloaded here and there over internet at their own risks.

I wouldn’t advice snap, flatpak, or AppImage for non-pro users, as they still require too much manual attentions for viable and comfortable settings.

( I use all of them and they don’t ease life - only advantage is version freshness ).

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**Author:** ![jesssullivan](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/jesssullivan/32/2625_2.png) [@jesssullivan](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/jesssullivan)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 8:03pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/deb-packages-open-via-zip-file-manager-by-default/3963/5 "2020-07-24T20:03:20Z")

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neat tip for mimeapps.list, thanks.

@zilexa what more than `dpkg -i *.deb` would you want in a bash script?

xD

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**Author:** ![fossfreedom](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/fossfreedom/32/1405_2.png) [@fossfreedom](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/fossfreedom)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 8:05pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/deb-packages-open-via-zip-file-manager-by-default/3963/6 "2020-07-24T20:05:12Z")

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> [@jesssullivan](#):
>
> `dpkg -i *.deb`

another tip

```
sudo apt install ./*.deb

```

This will install the deb - together with any dependencies automatically

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**Author:** ![jesssullivan](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/jesssullivan/32/2625_2.png) [@jesssullivan](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/jesssullivan)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 8:17pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/deb-packages-open-via-zip-file-manager-by-default/3963/7 "2020-07-24T20:17:51Z")

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Or, perhaps dpkg followed by `apt-get install -f` to deal with any missing depends- this way one can avoid creating a local apt repo.

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**Author:** ![Coeur-Noir](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/coeur-noir/32/4515_2.png) [@Coeur-Noir](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/Coeur-Noir)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 9:15pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/deb-packages-open-via-zip-file-manager-by-default/3963/8 "2020-07-24T21:15:18Z")

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Well the first question remains open : why clicking on a .deb does not launch an installer by default ? Or a package manager, if installed ? Or the current app-store-thing ?

Is this intended to prevent people from manually installing .deb packages ?

( _apt-get_ can be replaced by shorter _apt_ ).

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**Author:** ![fossfreedom](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/fossfreedom/32/1405_2.png) [@fossfreedom](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/fossfreedom)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2020, 9:43pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/deb-packages-open-via-zip-file-manager-by-default/3963/9 "2020-07-24T21:43:31Z")

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> [@Coeur-Noir](#):
>
> why clicking on a .deb does not launch an installer by default ?

well its a bug. For some reason gnome-fileroller has hijacked the .deb mimetype. Why gnome-fileroller did that is a very good question.

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**Author:** ![Coeur-Noir](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/coeur-noir/32/4515_2.png) [@Coeur-Noir](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/Coeur-Noir)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 3:56pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/deb-packages-open-via-zip-file-manager-by-default/3963/10 "2020-07-25T15:56:45Z")

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Well… half a bug : a .deb _is_ an archive so it may be opened with fileroller. The bug is why fileroller first, and installer only recommended as a secondary option.

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**Author:** ![jesssullivan](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/jesssullivan/32/2625_2.png) [@jesssullivan](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/jesssullivan)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 4:05pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/deb-packages-open-via-zip-file-manager-by-default/3963/11 "2020-07-25T16:05:15Z")

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well, following along the note from @Coeur-Noir adding the type manually totally does the trick, worked right away- just do a:  
`echo "application/x-debian-package=gnome-software-local-file.desktop;" >> ~/.config/mimeapps.list`  
👍

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**Author:** ![fossfreedom](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/fossfreedom/32/1405_2.png) [@fossfreedom](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/fossfreedom)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2020, 4:07pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/deb-packages-open-via-zip-file-manager-by-default/3963/12 "2020-07-25T16:07:03Z")

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True true

The graphical way is to right click the deb in nemo, open in another app, choose gnome software and ensure you tick the option to make it the default.

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**Author:** ![Hellxz](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/hellxz/32/2377_2.png) [@Hellxz](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/Hellxz)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2020, 1:11pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/deb-packages-open-via-zip-file-manager-by-default/3963/13 "2020-07-27T13:11:21Z")

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You may install `gdebi ` first, then right click .deb package open with gdebi installer

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**Author:** ![Coeur-Noir](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/coeur-noir/32/4515_2.png) [@Coeur-Noir](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/Coeur-Noir)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2020, 7:12pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/deb-packages-open-via-zip-file-manager-by-default/3963/14 "2020-07-28T19:12:37Z")

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Ok, at least it’s a common issue in Ubuntu, not Budgie specific → [https://itsfoss.com/cant-install-deb-file-ubuntu/](https://itsfoss.com/cant-install-deb-file-ubuntu/)

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**Author:** ![zilexa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/bbe5ce/32.png) [@zilexa](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/zilexa)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2020, 8:21pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/deb-packages-open-via-zip-file-manager-by-default/3963/15 "2020-07-28T20:21:14Z")

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But will it be fixed in Budgie 20.04.1 next month?

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**Author:** ![fossfreedom](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/fossfreedom/32/1405_2.png) [@fossfreedom](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/fossfreedom)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2020, 8:54pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/deb-packages-open-via-zip-file-manager-by-default/3963/16 "2020-07-28T20:54:49Z")

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Things dont get fixed unless someone raises a bug report against gnome-fileroller on launchpad

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**Author:** ![jesssullivan](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/jesssullivan/32/2625_2.png) [@jesssullivan](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/jesssullivan)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2020, 9:28pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/deb-packages-open-via-zip-file-manager-by-default/3963/17 "2020-07-28T21:28:06Z")

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@Hellxz  
No need to install anything new, right click any .deb —\> “open in software installer” on Budgie works as distributed

@zilexa  
Aside from a future update in fileroller, adding the mimetype explicitly corrects the default behavior (without needing to right click)

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**Author:** ![Coeur-Noir](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/coeur-noir/32/4515_2.png) [@Coeur-Noir](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/Coeur-Noir)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2020, 10:07pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/deb-packages-open-via-zip-file-manager-by-default/3963/18 "2020-07-28T22:07:05Z")

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There is no such thing as gnome-fileroller [https://packages.ubuntu.com/search?keywords=gnome-fileroller&searchon=names&suite=all&section=all](https://packages.ubuntu.com/search?keywords=gnome-fileroller&searchon=names&suite=all&section=all)

Here you are [https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/file-roller/+bug/1889317](https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/file-roller/+bug/1889317)

_( Guys, the idea is to mark yourself as affected on the report )_

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**Author:** ![bashfulrobot](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/bashfulrobot/32/3_2.png) [@bashfulrobot](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/bashfulrobot)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2020, 10:54pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/deb-packages-open-via-zip-file-manager-by-default/3963/19 "2020-07-28T22:54:04Z")

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You can just:

- go to the `deb` file, right-click it and select `properties`
- go to the `open with` tab
- select `software install` in the list and press the `set as default` button.

Now it will always use that application on double-click, etc.

This is a drive-by post before my next meeting. Sorry if it is duplicated or I am missing something detailed above.

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**Author:** ![Coeur-Noir](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/coeur-noir/32/4515_2.png) [@Coeur-Noir](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/Coeur-Noir)\
**Post date:** [July 29, 2020, 10:17am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/deb-packages-open-via-zip-file-manager-by-default/3963/20 "2020-07-29T10:17:11Z")

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Mmmm…

So duplicate / already reported.

Answer is it’s either :

- fixed in desktop-file-utils
- or to be fixed Budgie’s side.

[Next page](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/deb-packages-open-via-zip-file-manager-by-default/3963.md?page=2)