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Renaming ".desktop"-Files #523
Description
There is some inconsistency in file renaming regarding .desktop files.
When i rename a DESKTOP-File the filename extension ".desktop" gets added.
if i rename xyz.desktop to abc.desktop and hit enter the filename becomes to
abc.desktop.desktop
Please change this behaviour, it is really anoying
Activity
gauravjuvekar commentedon Jan 29, 2014
Actually, when creating a new abc.desktop file by right-click->Create new document-> empty document, a (blank )text file with filename "abc.desktop" and no extension gets created. When renaming it, the extension ".desktop" is added and
gets added to the file.
cjvolkert commentedon Jan 30, 2014
When I'm creating a .desktop file by terminal with "gedit test.desktop &" and save this file with some text I can't rename the file at all. But when I'm saving the file empty renaming is possible.
highwindmx commentedon Mar 28, 2014
I have a related issue, not only can't rename but there is even no way to review the name of this desktop file in nemo
Just take a look at above.
I think may be the method of editing desktop file should be improved in nemo.
Thank
xenopeek commentedon Oct 8, 2016
Bug reproduced with Nemo 3.0.6 on Linux Mint 18 Cinnamon. When renaming a .desktop file, the .desktop extension is always added. So if you don't delete it when renaming the file the extension becomes ".desktop.desktop". It will add ".desktop" to the end each time you rename the file.
DigitalArchon commentedon Dec 2, 2025
I just ran into this now, it still seems to be an issue despite being closed many years ago. You can't get rid of the .desktop when renaming a file once it has that extension, it just puts it right back.
nemo-file.c: Only append .desktop to desktop files when they actually
AngelSherry commentedon Nov 10, 2026
Ten years later, it’s impressive how well this "fix" aged.
Because
nemo_file_rename()still assumes any file withapplication/x-desktopis an icon label waiting to be rewritten rather than an actual file on disk, trying to disable an autostart entry by renamingfoo.desktoptofoo.desktop~(or.bak) still results in Nemo helpfully stapling.desktopright back on (foo.desktop~.desktop).Even better: before mangling the extension,
nemo_link_local_set_text()unconditionally follows symlinks and injectsName[<locale>]=foo.desktop~into the target.desktopfile (e.g., under~/.local/share/applications/), silently corrupting the launcher menu entry as a bonus.A file manager shouldn't forbid users from changing a file extension just because it couldn't tell a trusted desktop shortcut apart from a regular file.