# How can I add an application in budgie menu?

**URL:** <https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/how-can-i-add-an-application-in-budgie-menu/2207>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [June 29, 2019, 11:49pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/how-can-i-add-an-application-in-budgie-menu/2207 "2019-06-29T23:49:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![aquasp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/82dd89/32.png) [@aquasp](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/aquasp)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2019, 11:49pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/how-can-i-add-an-application-in-budgie-menu/2207/1 "2019-06-29T23:49:20Z")

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Hi! I am trying to create a .desktop shortcut and put it in /usr/share/applications to make it appear in menu. I don’t know if I created it wrong. Is this the correct way to add an app?

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**Author:** ![ruwe](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/ruwe/32/2155_2.png) [@ruwe](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/ruwe)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2019, 1:47am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/how-can-i-add-an-application-in-budgie-menu/2207/2 "2019-06-30T01:47:50Z")

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Here is small guide/ code sample. I hope it helps.

First, specify the file name, like : **my\_app.desktop**

The following code goes into the file:

**[Desktop Entry]**  
Type=Application  
Name=my\_app  
Comment=(what the app does)  
Icon=/…/…/my\_app.png (full path or generic name, like : **firefox** )  
Exec=command to run the app (or full path)  
Categories=Utility;

The file can go in this directory : /home/…/.local/share/applications

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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:** [June 30, 2019, 1:01pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/how-can-i-add-an-application-in-budgie-menu/2207/3 "2019-06-30T13:01:35Z")

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regarding the content of a .desktop file :

⋅ [https://specifications.freedesktop.org/desktop-entry-spec/desktop-entry-spec-latest.html#localized-keys](https://specifications.freedesktop.org/desktop-entry-spec/desktop-entry-spec-latest.html#localized-keys)  
⋅ [https://developer.gnome.org/desktop-entry-spec/](https://developer.gnome.org/desktop-entry-spec/)

**Now why would you _need_ to manually create such a launcher ?** When you install any app’ its launcher should automatically appear in your Budgie Menu…

Menu looks for launchers first in :  
/usr/share/applications  
then in :  
~/.local/share/applications  
launchers with same name found in ~ will replace those find in /

So check if your app’ is in the first place. If yes check its desktop file, maybe it’s meant to not show in Budgie or Gnome ?

Or is this app an AppImage / FlatPak / Snap ???

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**Author:** ![puffettacicciottella](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/puffettacicciottella/32/4525_2.png) [@puffettacicciottella](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/puffettacicciottella)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2019, 1:32pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/how-can-i-add-an-application-in-budgie-menu/2207/4 "2019-07-04T13:32:16Z")

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> [@Coeur-Noir](#):
>
> **Now why would you _need_ to manually create such a launcher ?**

Maybe because is a binary created, developed and compiled by himself? It happens to me to create binaries in Gambas or Lazarus and run them as they are (no will to build a deb or other installer).

Sil

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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 5, 2019, 8:48am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/how-can-i-add-an-application-in-budgie-menu/2207/5 "2019-07-05T08:48:27Z")

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Yes indeed that would make a valid reason for manually crafting a desktop file.

But for the moment we don’t know the context of that need.

Maybe that desktop file already exists on the system but is meant to not show in Gnome/Budgie ?

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**Author:** ![ruwe](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/ruwe/32/2155_2.png) [@ruwe](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/ruwe)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 2019, 1:01pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/how-can-i-add-an-application-in-budgie-menu/2207/6 "2019-07-07T13:01:16Z")

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One can also create a whatever application in maybe Java or Python and want to launch that app from the menu. Happened to me and I created a \*.desktop file for this purpose.

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**Author:** ![aquasp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/82dd89/32.png) [@aquasp](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/aquasp)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 12:47am UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/how-can-i-add-an-application-in-budgie-menu/2207/7 "2020-01-30T00:47:44Z")

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I learned a lot about .desktop apps and now evething is possible haha.