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I am using elementary OS freya.

How can I change icon of a specific application in elementary OS.

Is it possible ?

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2 Answers 2

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GUI method to change icon of an application:(Using nautilus and Main menu)

Method 1 : Using alacarte

  1. Install Main menu (AKA alacarte)

    sudo apt-get install alacarte
    

Imgur

  1. Open Main menu

  2. Click on a program and select properties.

  3. Click on app icon.

  4. Browse for new icon and select open.

  5. Close program properties

  6. close Main menu

Method 2: Using nautilus

  1. First we need to install nautilus

    sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gnome3-team/gnome3
    sudo apt-get update
    sudo apt-get install nautilus
    
  2. Now open terminal and run:

    sudo nautilus
    

    It will open your home directory.

  3. Now navigate to usr/share/applications/<what_ever_app>

  4. Right click on the app --> select properties -->

    Now click on app icon --> Now navigate to the location of required icon and select, then close.

    For example: I will change icon for camera

    Click on camera icon


Imgur


I have a pic in Downloads folder. So navigate to that folder and change.

After,


Imgur


Imgur


EDIT:

Why should we use root :

If you don't use root there will be lock to icon,

Imgur

source for method 1

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  • 1
    This makes no sense. You should copy the file from /usr/share/applications into .local/share/applications then edit it there so you don't need root access and you're NOT modifying distro-provided files. Nov 7, 2015 at 18:59
  • @YetAnotherUser Welcome to elementary OS- Excellent, your advice is more useful. Please post it as answer instead of comment. There will be many possible solutions for a problem.
    – Ravan
    Nov 8, 2015 at 1:30
  • @YetAnotherUser please avoid duplicate comments, your comment is suitable at another post (my opinion). Here I am using GUI method, in this case root access is to auto modify icon size.
    – Ravan
    Nov 8, 2015 at 1:33
  • yes but your method doesn't require root access if you copy the desktop file into .local then follow the steps on the copied file. Nov 8, 2015 at 3:07
  • For GUI method need root acess otherwise the icon will have "lock"
    – Ravan
    Nov 8, 2015 at 3:15
2

To Change specific App icon:

  1. I suppose, the icon which you want to place is ~/Downloads/[image.png]

  2. Open terminal and run the commands:

    nano /usr/share/applications/[appname].desktop
    

Note : If you don't know exact app name, use ls -l

  1. Now replace Icon=[path] with Icon=/home/[username]/Downloads/[image].png

Now save and exist.

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  • 1
    This makes no sense. You should copy the file from /usr/share/applications into .local/share/applications then edit it there so you don't need root access and you're NOT modifying distro-provided files. Nov 7, 2015 at 18:59
  • @YetAnotherUser Welcome to elementary OS-"makes no sense"-- why? If you have answer, please use "Post your answer" button instead of "Add comment". btw "should copy"--why? Why should I copy? with out copying I changed icon.
    – Ravan
    Nov 8, 2015 at 1:28
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    nicely explained!!
    – dhanushkac
    Nov 8, 2015 at 10:56
  • /usr/share/applications/ folder requires sudo.
    – daGo
    Apr 9, 2019 at 11:40

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