How to create shortcuts to application on the desktop on Linux Mint 18 or up?

Solution 1:

There are multiple ways to do this:

Method 1 (directories)

Go to the folder you want, right Click and select Make Link, then drag and drop it on the Desktop

Method 2

Find your application through the Linux Mint menu, right Click and press Add to Desktop

Method 3

Right click on the Desktop and press Create Launcher

The pop up window will ask you to either enter a terminal command that will launch it, or browse through the directories.

Method 4

Create a symlink

Note: To successfully create a symlink you have to provide the full path, otherwise you could get a broken link. Generally a symlink syntax is ln -s SOURCE DESTINATION.

You do not need to specify a filename in the DESTINATION, just where you need to place it

Solution 2:

Or, even easier, just hold Ctrl+Alt+Shift and drag and drop your file/executable.

Unless they changed that from 17.3 to 18.x, but doubt it.

Solution 3:

1. Launch Nautilus (the file manager).
2. In Nautilus, click on Computer.
3. From there, navigate to /usr/share/applications.
4. Find the icon of the program you want a shortcut for, click on it, and type Ctrl+C to copy.
5. In Nautilus, click on Desktop in the left pane.
6. Type Ctrl+V to copy the shortcut to the desktop.
7. Right-click your new shortcut, click Properties, click on the Permissions tab, and make sure that the Allow executing file as program box is ticked.
8. X out of the Properties dialog and also out of Nautilus.

Enjoy your new desktop shortcut!

Solution 4:

from Linuxmint forum Creating shortcuts

In the file manager (Nemo) open the View menu > Extra Pane. Open the Desktop folder in one pane, and the source folder in the other pane. Click on the folder or file you want to symlink. Hold down SHIFT-CTRL and drag the folder to the other pane. A symlink will be magically created.

Solution 5:

On Linux Mint 19, Linux Mint 20.