What is a .DESKTOP file?
A .desktop file is a Linux application launcher, defining an app’s name, icon and command.
- Did you know
- Desktop entries are how Linux menus and shortcuts know about installed apps.
- The format is governed by freedesktop.org’s Desktop Entry Specification, shared by both the GNOME and KDE desktops.
- Each entry uses a simple INI-style layout under a “[Desktop Entry]” group, listing keys such as Name, Exec and Icon.
- What Analyser reads
- Inspect OS and system files: OPML subscription lists, RSS/Atom feeds, Linux .desktop launchers and systemd .service units, Apple .crash reports, Android .ab backups, Windows Task Scheduler .job, Group Policy Registry.pol, and .scr screensaver PE headers, plus identification of .DS_Store, Thumbs.db, dSYM/DWARF and shim .sdb. Scene .nfo ASCII art now opens in a CP437 viewer - see Text art above.
- Depth of analysis
- .DESKTOP is an identification-grade format: Analyser recognises it from its bytes and decodes the header metadata it carries, rather than opening it in a full viewer. Formats that do get a full viewer are marked "Full" on the formats page.
- Open a .DESKTOP file
- Drag a .DESKTOP file onto the Analyser home page (or tap to pick one). It is identified entirely in your browser - nothing is uploaded, there is no account, and it works offline once installed.