---
# System prepended metadata

title: 'Assign AppImage (or any apps) App/Game to Application Menu (Pop!_OS, Linux)'
tags: [linux]

---

# Assign AppImage (or any apps) App/Game to Application Menu (Pop!_OS, Linux)


> Author: Junner
> Date: 15th sept. 2025


## Localation of .desktop Config

user:
```
~/.local/share/applications/
```

system:
```
/usr/local/share/applications
/usr/share/applications
```


## OSU!

I have an AppImage file, osu.AppImage. I want it appear in the application menu so I can search it anywhere.


You can put the AppImage anywhere you want. For me I put it in `~/Applications` for my apps.

```bash
mkdir ~/Applications
```

I also created a dir `~/Applications/icons` for app icons.

```bash
mkdir ~/Applications/icons
```

Create and edit `.desktop` file.
```bash
nano ~/.local/share/applications/osu.desktop
```

Write these to set AppImage location and icons, etc.

```
[Desktop Entry]
Name=osu!
Comment=Rhythm is just a click away!
Exec=/home/junner/Applications/osu.AppImage
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=Game;
Icon=/home/junner/Applications/icons/lazer.png
```

Update Menu
```bash
update-desktop-database ~/.local/share/applications/
```

Now we can see osu!

![image](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/B1vD-d4ogx.png)


## Matlab

The setting is a bit different.

I symlinked it first.
```bash
cd ~/Applications
ln -s /media/junner/vedal/PROGRAM/matlab_2025a/bin/matlab
```

And edited the desktop script.

```text
[Desktop Entry]
Name=matlab
Comment=Accelerating how engineers design, develop, and deliver real innovation
Exec=/home/junner/Applications/matlab -desktop
Terminal=False
Type=Application
Categories=Utilities;
Icon=/home/junner/Applications/icons/matlab.png
```

Here we need a param`-desktop` after the path. I don't know why. (I didn't study this.) Probably it is because `matlab` this file is a shell script?

