The Elementary OS desktop surroundings is designed to be good trying and purposeful. For probably the most half, it really works. Nevertheless, there are particular options that the developer turns off that many customers might not be comfy with, like desktop icons. So, in this information, we’ll present you the way to re-enable desktop icons in Elementary OS.
Observe: this method works greatest with the newest Elementary OS Juno. If you’re utilizing an older launch, please improve your system earlier than persevering with.
Set up Desktop Folder
Presently, there is no such thing as a approach to dig into the Elementary OS code and alter some issues round to re-enable desktop icons. The one approach to get desktop icon performance again in Elementary OS is to set up an app referred to as Desktop Folder.
There are two methods to get entry to the Desktop Folder software on Elementary OS. Customers can construct the software program from supply, or, set up it instantly from the AppCenter retailer in the event that they don’t need to obtain the supply code and compile it.
Desktop Folder in AppCenter
Desktop Folder is in the AppCenter software program retailer on Elementary OS and is freed from cost to obtain. To get the app put in, begin by opening up AppCenter by clicking on the AppCenter icon in the dock, or, by trying to find it in the Functions menu.
After opening up the AppCenter retailer, search for the search field, and click on on it with the mouse. Then, kind in “Desktop Folder,” and press the Enter key to search AppCenter for the app.
When the search outcomes load, you’ll see a ton of various app outcomes, with Desktop Folder on the high. Click on on it to load the Desktop Folder app web page in AppCenter.
On the Desktop Folder app web page in AppCenter, find the blue “Free” button and click on it with the mouse. Deciding on this button will provoke the set up course of, beginning with the password immediate. Enter your password, and Desktop Folder will set up on the system.
Construct from supply
Desktop Folder is out there on GitHub and might be compiled from supply in case you favor it. To compile the software program, begin by opening up a terminal window and putting in the entire obligatory build-time dependencies. To open a terminal, press Ctrl + Alt + T or Ctrl + Shift + T on the keyboard.
sudo apt set up meson valac libgee-0.8-dev libcairo2-dev libjson-glib-dev libgdk-pixbuf2.0-dev libwnck-3-dev libgtksourceview-3.0-dev libjson-glib-dev intltool git
As soon as the entire dependencies are put in on Elementary OS by the terminal window, use the git clone command to obtain the Desktop Folder supply code to your pc.
git clone
When the Desktop Folder supply code is completed downloading, it’s time to transfer the terminal session into the supply code listing. Utilizing the CD command, enter “desktopfolder.”
cd desktopfolder
Inside the “desktopfolder,” use the meson construct command to generate a construct surroundings.
meson construct
When the software program compilation is full, use the CD command to transfer the terminal into the “build” folder.
cd construct
With the meson configure command, configure the supply code.
meson configure -D prefix=/usr
Utilizing the ninja command, compile the Desktop Folder code. Please hold in thoughts that compilation could take a very long time, relying on how briskly your Elementary OS PC is.
ninja
When the code for Desktop Folder has been compiled, set up the software program on the system utilizing the ninja set up command.
sudo ninja set up
Desktop Folder, as soon as constructed, can immediately be launched by writing the next command in a terminal window.
com.github.spheras.desktopfolder
Re-enable desktop icons on Elementary OS
Re-enabling the desktop icons on Elementary OS means establishing the Desktop Folder to begin up at login routinely. To configure the Desktop Folder app to routinely launch while you flip in your PC, begin by clicking on “Applications” to carry up the app launcher.
Within the app launcher, kind in “startup.” Look by the search outcomes for “Startup” and launch it to load up Elementary OS’s software auto-start part.
Inside the Startup space, look to the underside left-hand part of the app for the + signal and click on on it with the mouse.
Clicking the + image will reveal a search field and a listing of purposes. Look by the record for “Desktop Folder” and choose it. Alternatively, kind “Desktop Folder” in the search field to add it to the Startup record.
Alternatively, in case you favor to use the command-line, launch a terminal window with Ctrl + Alt + T or Ctrl + Shift + T, and use the next CP command to place Desktop Folder into the “autostart” folder.
cp /usr/share/purposes/com.github.spheras.desktopfolder.desktop ~/.config/autostart/
sudo chmod +x com.github.spheras.desktopfolder.desktop
As soon as Desktop Folder is setup to load on login, reboot your PC. Whenever you log again in, you’ll have desktop icons on the Elementary OS desktop!
