I would like to have files of a chosen type (by their extension) to open with some specific programs. Which configuration files do I need to edit?
I've tried some in /usr/share/appplications/default.list
but it doesn't work.
1 Answer
Have a look at the file $HOME/.local/share/applications/defaults.list
There is a section [Default Applications]
to specify the programs for particular mime types. You can add for example:
application/x-debian-package=gdebi.desktop
The .desktop
files can be found in /usr/share/applications/
or you can create your own files under $HOME/.local/share/applications/
. To find out the mime type of the files, run
file --mime-type <some_file>
Alternatively, in KDE one can accomplish the same in GUI in File Associations inside System Settings.
To register a MIME type for an extension see freedesktop.org - AddingMIMETutor and stackoverflow - Register file extensions / mime types in Linux.
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I have modified the mime type `MimeType=image/x-exr;image/tiff;image/png;image/jpeg;image/dpx;' in the .desktop file.– igor012Jun 20, 2012 at 14:47
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1On my version
Fedora release 18 (Spherical Cow)
running xfce, the file was named mimeapps.list, not defaults.list. JTYSK– nookAug 4, 2013 at 21:22 -
This can be used to set the application based on MIME type, but what about file extension (as per the original question)? For instance, Processing sketches have the MIME type text/plain ("plain text document"), but they can be told apart by their .pde extension. I'd like to set them to open in Processing, but have not been able to do so without affecting .txt's and others as well.– appasMay 19, 2015 at 16:55
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1@appas First you register the file extension to a MIME type. Then you assign an application to the MIME type as depicted in this answer.– MarcoMay 19, 2015 at 17:11
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You can also find the custom "Open with" .desktop (Desktop Entry) files in this local applications folder - they're automatically created here. Some of the options inside the file can be edited with the "File Properties" GUI from the file manager.– EdwardNov 17, 2017 at 22:30