XDG-PREFS(1)

📦 version 1.12, in nixos 26.05, nixpkgs unstable

✨ NAME ✨

xdg-prefs(1) — it's from the User Commands section, and it does exactly this: locate and set preferred desktop applications. Bestie, it's giving "desktop default vibes" and it's honestly iconic 💅.

🦋 SYNOPSIS 🦋

xdg-prefs [options] {-p,--pref} [--] APPID [TYPE [...]]

xdg-prefs [options] {-e,--exec} [--] TYPE

xdg-prefs [options] {-l,--list} [--] TYPE [...]

🌸 DESCRIPTION 🌸

Okay so xdg-prefs has exactly two modes, no cap: (1) it locates preferred applications by category or mime type, and (2) it sets preferred applications by category or mime type. That's the whole main-character plot 🎀.

💖 ARGUMENTS 💖

The program accepts these arguments, bestie:

🫶 APPID

This is the application identifier of an XDG desktop application you want to locate. The application identifier, APPID, can be one of these:

the name of a desktop entry file without the .desktop suffix (e.g. "gvim"); the name may contain a "/" if it is specified relative to a user or system application directory, in which case it must not start with a "/" or ".".
the name of a desktop entry file with the .desktop suffix (e.g. "gvim.desktop"); the same restrictions as (1), above, apply; or,
the full path (absolute or relative) and filename of a desktop entry file (e.g. "/usr/share/applications/gvim.desktop"); the full path must contain at least one "/" and start with either a "/" or a ".".

Providing a non-option application identifier argument is mandatory when the --pref option is specified. Like, not optional. Periodt.

🧚 TYPE

This is the type of application for which to show or set APPID as the preferred application. The application type, TYPE, can be one of these:

A recognized XDG category name (e.g. "TextEditor"). For recognized XDG category names, see XDG CATEGORIES down below 👑
A mime (content) type (e.g. "text/plain"). All mime types have a "/" in their names and are thus distinguished from XDG categories. The content type cannot contain wild cards (i.e. it cannot contain "*").

✨ OPTIONS ✨

The options that are detailed below are recognized by xdg-prefs. xdg-prefs uses getopt_long_only(3), so unambiguous abbreviations of long options and long options with a single dash are also supported. Cute, flexible, slay 💅.

🎀 COMMAND OPTIONS 🎀

One of the following command options must be specified to set the command mode:

-p, --pref [--] APPID[;...] [TYPE [...]] — Specifies that APPID is to be used as the default or preferred application for TYPE. When additional application identifiers, APPID, are specified, separated by semicolons (";"), the application identifiers specify the order of preference of applications for the mime types or categories, TYPE.

When no mime types nor categories are specified, the mime types and categories for which to set the application identifier will be taken from the application's .desktop file.

When multiple mime types or categories are specified, the applications will be set against each mime type and category specified. Like, every single one. No skipping 🫶.

-e, --exec [--] TYPE — Execute the preferred application corresponding to the specified mime type or category, TYPE. It is an error when no usable application has been assigned to the specified TYPE. That's the vibe check failing, bestie 😭.
-l, --list [--] TYPE [...] — List the preferred applications (by application identifier) corresponding to the specified mime types or categories, TYPE.
-h, --help, -H, -?, --? — Prints usage information to standard output and exits.
-V, --version — Prints detailed version information and exits.
-C, --copying — Prints detailed copying permissions and exits.

🌈 GENERAL OPTIONS 🌈

The following general options are recognized:

-r, --recommend — When listing, launching or setting preferred applications, use the recommended application instead of the default application for the given type.
-f, --fallback — When listing or launching preferred applications, use the fallback application instead of the default or recommended application for the given type.
-t, --textonly — When listing, launching or setting preferred applications, only list, launch or set applications that run in a terminal. Note that this is the default behaviour when the DISPLAY environment variable is not set.
--P, --pointer — Passes the --pointer option to xdg-launch(1) when launching the application.
--K, --keyboard — Passes the --keyboard option to xdg-launch(1) when launching the application.

👑 XDG CATEGORIES 👑

In the category listings below, the more specific category is listed first and then the more general categories are listed following a semicolon. Quick heads-up so you don't get confused, bestie 💜.

The following XDG categories are recognized and tracked by the program:

"Building;Development" — A tool to build applications. One mime type is application/x-cmakecache, but it is application specific, so xdg-prefs only tracks these applications by category.
"Debugger;Development" — A tool to debug applications. No known mime type. These applications are only tracked by category.
"IDE;Development" — Integrated Development Environment (IDE) application. Some mime types are text/x-chdr, text/x-csrc, text/x-c++hdr, text/x-c++src, text/x-java, text/x-dsrc, text/x-pascal, text/x-perl, text/x-python. These applications have a wide range of mime types, so they are only tracked by category.
"GUIDesigner;Development" — A GUI designer application. Some mime types are application/x-designer, application/x-fluid; however, these mime types are application specific so they are only tracked by category.
"Profiling;Development" — A profiling tool. No commonly known tools or mime types. These applications are only tracked by category.
"RevisionControl;Development" — Applications like cvs or subversion. No commonly known mime types. Some examples are bzr-explorer.desktop and there should be a gitk.desktop. These applications are only tracked by category.
"Translation;Development" — A translation tool. Only tool I know of is linguist.desktop with mime types text/vnd.trolltech.linguist and application/x-linguist; however, these mime types are application specific, so they are only tracked by category.
"Calendar;Office" — Calendar application. Only application I know that is marked like this is etm.desktop with no mime types.
"ContactManager;Office" — Address books, contact lists, LDIF file manipulation. No commonly known applications or mime types. But surely an LDIF file would do.
"Database;Office", "Database;Development", "Database;AudioVideo" — Application to manage a database. Applications are base.desktop with mime types application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.database and application/vnd.sun.xml.base; and gmdb.desktop, with mime types application/vnd.ms-access, application/x-msaccess, application/msaccess, application/vnd.msaccess, application/mdb, application/x-mdb.
"Dictionary;Office", "Dictionary;TextTools" — A dictionary. No commonly known applications or mime types.
"Chart;Office" — Chart application. No commonly known applications or mime types.
"Email;Office", "Email;Network" — Email application. Many applications with mime types x-scheme-handler/mailto and message/rfc822.
"FlowChart;Office" — A flowchart application. Applications dia.desktop with mime types application/x-dia-diagram; and libreoffice-draw.desktop with mime types application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.graphics, application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.graphics-flat-xml, application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.graphics-template, application/vnd.sun.xml.draw, application/vnd.sun.xml.draw.template, application/vnd.visio, application/x-wpg, application/vnd.corel-draw, application/vnd.ms-publisher, image/x-freehand, application/clarisworks.
"PDA;Office" — Tool to manage your PDA. No commonly known applications or mime types.
"ProjectManagement;Office", "ProjectManagement;Development" — Project management application. No commonly known applications or mime types.
"Presentation;Office" — Presentation software. libreoffice-impress.desktop with mime types application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.presentation, application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.presentation-template, application/vnd.sun.xml.impress, application/vnd.sun.xml.impress.template, application/mspowerpoint, application/vnd.ms-powerpoint, application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.presentationml.presentation, application/vnd.ms-powerpoint.presentation.macroenabled.12, application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.presentationml.template, application/vnd.ms-powerpoint.template.macroenabled.12, application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.presentationml.slide, application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.presentationml.slideshow, application/vnd.ms-powerpoint.slideshow.macroEnabled.12, application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.presentation-flat-xml, application/x-iwork-keynote-sffkey. Perhaps the oasis and microsoft mime types are the most common.
"Spreadsheet;Office" — A spreadsheet. libreoffice-calc.desktop with mime types application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.spreadsheet, application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.spreadsheet-template, application/vnd.sun.xml.calc, application/vnd.sun.xml.calc.template, application/msexcel, application/vnd.ms-excel, application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet, application/vnd.ms-excel.sheet.macroenabled.12, application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.template, application/vnd.ms-excel.template.macroenabled.12, application/vnd.ms-excel.sheet.binary.macroenabled.12, text/csv, application/x-dbf, text/spreadsheet, application/csv, application/excel, application/tab-separated-values, application/vnd.lotus-1-2-3, application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.chart, application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.chart-template, application/x-dbase, application/x-dos_ms_excel, application/x-excel, application/x-msexcel, application/x-ms-excel, application/x-quattropro, application/x-123, text/comma-separated-values, text/tab-separated-values, text/x-comma-separated-values, text/x-csv, application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.spreadsheet-flat-xml, application/vnd.ms-works, application/clarisworks.

💜 `"WordProcessor;Office"`

A word processor, bestie. Like, the whole "I have to write an essay" vibe.

abiword.desktop — mime types: application/x-abiword, text/x-abiword, text/x-xml-abiword, text/plain, application/msword, application/rtf, application/vnd.plain, application/xhtml+xml, text/html, application/x-crossmark, application/docbook+xml, application/x-t602, application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.text, application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.text-template, application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.text-web, application/vnd.sun.xml.writer, application/vnd.stardivision.writer, text/vnd.wap.wml, application/wordperfect6, application/wordperfect5.1, application/vnd.wordperfect, application/x-abicollab
libreoffice-writer.desktop — mime types: application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.text, application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.text-template, application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.text-web, application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.text-master, application/vnd.sun.xml.writer, application/vnd.sun.xml.writer.template, application/vnd.sun.xml.writer.global, application/msword, application/vnd.ms-word, application/x-doc, application/x-hwp, application/rtf, text/rtf, application/vnd.wordperfect, application/wordperfect, application/vnd.lotus-wordpro, application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document, application/vnd.ms-word.document.macroenabled.12, application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.template, application/vnd.ms-word.template.macroenabled.12, application/vnd.ms-works, application/vnd.stardivision.writer-global, application/x-extension-txt, application/x-t602, text/plain, application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.text-flat-xml, application/x-fictionbook+xml, application/macwriteii, application/x-aportisdoc, application/prs.plucker, application/vnd.palm, application/clarisworks

🎨 `"2DGraphics;Graphics"`

A 2D based graphical application. Flat, gorgeous, iconic.

🦋 `"VectorGraphics;2DGraphics;Graphics"`

An app for viewing, creating, or processing vector graphics. Curves so smooth they ate 💅

evince-previewer.desktop — mime types: application/pdf, application/x-bzpdf, application/x-gzpdf, application/x-xzpdf, application/x-ext-pdf, application/postscript, application/x-bzpostscript, application/x-gzpostscript, image/x-eps, image/x-bzeps, image/x-gzeps, application/x-ext-ps, application/x-ext-eps, application/x-dvi, application/x-bzdvi, application/x-gzdvi, application/x-ext-dvi, image/vnd.djvu, image/vnd.djvu+multipage, application/x-ext-djv, application/x-ext-djvu, image/tiff, application/x-cbr, application/x-cbz, application/x-cb7, application/x-cbt, application/x-ext-cbr, application/x-ext-cbz, application/x-ext-cb7, application/x-ext-cbt, application/oxps, application/vnd.ms-xpsdocument
evince.desktop — same energy, same mime types: application/pdf, application/x-bzpdf, application/x-gzpdf, application/x-xzpdf, application/x-ext-pdf, application/postscript, application/x-bzpostscript, application/x-gzpostscript, image/x-eps, image/x-bzeps, image/x-gzeps, application/x-ext-ps, application/x-ext-eps, application/x-dvi, application/x-bzdvi, application/x-gzdvi, application/x-ext-dvi, image/vnd.djvu, image/vnd.djvu+multipage, application/x-ext-djv, application/x-ext-djvu, image/tiff, application/x-cbr, application/x-cbz, application/x-cb7, application/x-cbt, application/x-ext-cbr, application/x-ext-cbz, application/x-ext-cb7, application/x-ext-cbt, application/oxps, application/vnd.ms-xpsdocument
inkscape.desktop — mime types: image/svg+xml, image/svg+xml-compressed, application/vnd.corel-draw, application/pdf, application/postscript, image/x-eps, application/illustrator
libreoffice-draw.desktop — mime types: application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.graphics, application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.graphics-flat-xml, application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.graphics-template, application/vnd.sun.xml.draw, application/vnd.sun.xml.draw.template, application/vnd.visio, application/x-wpg, application/vnd.corel-draw, application/vnd.ms-publisher, image/x-freehand, application/clarisworks

🖼️ `"RasterGraphics;2DGraphics;Graphics"`

For viewing, creating, or processing raster (bitmap) graphics. Pixels, babe. Little square icons of joy 🎀

apache.en.desktop — mime types: image/bmp, image/gif, image/jpeg, image/jpg, image/png, image/tiff, image/x-bmp, image/x-pcx, image/x-tga, image/x-portable-pixmap, image/x-portable-bitmap, image/x-targa, image/x-portable-greymap, application/pcx, image/svg+xml, image/svg-xml
gtkam.desktop — no mime types
xsane.desktop — no mime types
qiv.desktop — mime types: image/bmp, image/gif, image/jpeg, image/jpg, image/pjpeg, image/png, image/tiff, image/x-bmp, image/x-gray, image/x-icb, image/x-ico, image/x-png, image/x-portable-anymap, image/x-portable-bitmap, image/x-portable-graymap, image/x-portable-pixmap, image/x-xbitmap, image/x-xpixmap, image/x-pcx, image/svg+xml, image/svg+xml-compressed, image/vnd.wap.wbmp
gpicview.desktop — mime types: image/bmp, image/gif, image/jpeg, image/jpg, image/png, image/tiff, image/x-bmp, image/x-pcx, image/x-tga, image/x-portable-pixmap, image/x-portable-bitmap, image/x-targa, image/x-portable-greymap, application/pcx, image/svg+xml, image/svg-xml
gpaint.desktop — no mime types
gthumb-import.desktop — mime types: x-content/image-dcf, x-content/image-picturecd
xzgv.desktop — no mime types
fedora-xsane.desktop — no mime types
gimp.desktop — mime types: image/bmp, image/g3fax, image/gif, image/x-fits, image/x-pcx, image/x-portable-anymap, image/x-portable-bitmap, image/x-portable-graymap, image/x-portable-pixmap, image/x-psd, image/x-sgi, image/x-tga, image/x-xbitmap, image/x-xwindowdump, image/x-xcf, image/x-compressed-xcf, image/x-gimp-gbr, image/x-gimp-pat, image/x-gimp-gih, image/tiff, image/jpeg, image/x-psp, application/postscript, image/png, image/x-icon, image/x-xpixmap, image/svg+xml, application/pdf, image/x-wmf, image/jp2, image/jpeg2000, image/jpx, image/x-xcursor
gthumb.desktop — mime types: image/bmp, image/g3fax, image/gif, image/x-fits, image/x-pcx, image/x-portable-anymap, image/x-portable-bitmap, image/x-portable-graymap, image/x-portable-pixmap, image/x-psd, image/x-sgi, image/x-tga, image/x-xbitmap, image/x-xwindowdump, image/x-xcf, image/x-compressed-xcf, image/x-gimp-gbr, image/x-gimp-pat, image/x-gimp-gih, image/tiff, image/jpeg, image/x-psp, application/postscript, image/png, image/x-icon, image/x-xpixmap, image/svg+xml, application/pdf, image/x-wmf, image/jp2, image/jpeg2000, image/jpx, image/x-xcursor

🧊 `"3DGraphics;Graphics"`

For viewing, creating, or processing 3-D graphics. Third dimension unlocked, no cap 🔥

blender-windowed.desktop — mime types: application/x-blender
drawxtl.desktop — no mime types
wings3d.desktop — no mime types
blender.desktop — mime types: application/blender, application/x-blender
g3dviewer.desktop — no mime types

🖨️ `"Scanning;Graphics"`

A tool to scan a file/text. Feeding paper into a machine in the year of our lord, we love to see it ✨

xsane.desktop — no mime types

🔍 `"OCR;Scanning;Graphics"`

Optical character recognition, aka turning a picture of words into actual words. Main character energy for your scanner.

xsane.desktop — no mime types

📸 `"Photography;Graphics"`

📸 `"Photography;Office"`

Camera tools, etc. Say cheese 💖

apache.en.desktop — mime types: image/bmp, image/gif, image/jpeg, image/jpg, image/png, image/tiff, image/x-bmp, image/x-pcx, image/x-tga, image/x-portable-pixmap, image/x-portable-bitmap, image/x-targa, image/x-portable-greymap, application/pcx, image/svg+xml, image/svg-xml
flphoto.desktop — mime types: application/x-flphoto
gtkam.desktop — no mime types
gpicview.desktop — mime types: image/bmp, image/gif, image/jpeg, image/jpg, image/png, image/tiff, image/x-bmp, image/x-pcx, image/x-tga, image/x-portable-pixmap, image/x-portable-bitmap, image/x-targa, image/x-portable-greymap, application/pcx, image/svg+xml, image/svg-xml
gthumb.desktop — mime types: image/bmp, image/jpeg, image/gif, image/png, image/tiff, image/x-bmp, image/x-ico, image/x-png, image/x-pcx, image/x-tga, image/xpm, image/svg+xml

📰 `"Publishing;Graphics"`

📰 `"Publishing;Office"`

Desktop publishing applications and colour management tools. Iconic category, honestly — except there are no commonly known applications or mime types. Empty. A vibe. 🙈

👀 `"Viewer;Graphics"`

👀 `"Viewer;Office"`

A tool to view e.g. a graphic or pdf file. Quick clarification bestie: "Viewer;Office" is primarily PDF viewers; "Viewer;Graphics" are primarily image viewers. Same family, different slay.

🔤 `"TextTools;Utility"`

A text tool utility. (A category, really.) That's it, that's the whole description, and honestly? Respect.

⚙️ `"DesktopSettings;Settings"`

A configuration tool for the GUI. Example applications are: lxsession-edit.desktop, qt4config.desktop, lxsession-default-apps.desktop, exo-preferred-applications.desktop, ControlPanel.desktop, thunar-volman-settings.desktop, mate-notification-properties.desktop, mate-window-properties.desktop, lxappearance.desktop, gtk-theme-switch2.desktop, obconf.desktop, tint2conf.desktop, mate-appearance-properties.desktop, libsmfm-pref-apps.desktop, thunar-settings.desktop, elementary_config.desktop, gtk-chtheme.desktop, pcmanfm-desktop-pref.desktop, stuurman-desktop-pref.desktop, libfm-pref-apps.desktop and gtk2_prefs.desktop. A whole little ecosystem of settings panels 🫶

🔧 `"HardwareSettings;Settings"`

A tool to manage hardware components, like sound cards, video cards or printers. Real talk: this is really a category and cannot have a preferred application by category. Example applications are: cups.desktop, ffadomixer.desktop, grandr.desktop, lxkb-config.desktop, lxrandr.desktop, mate-display-properties.desktop, mate-keyboard.desktop, mate-settings-mouse.desktop, redhat-system-config-printer.desktop, system-config-printer.desktop and xde-input.desktop. There are no commonly known mime types.

🖨️ `"Printing;HardwareSettings;Settings"`

A tool to manage printers. Applications are cups.desktop, redhat-system-config-printer.desktop and system-config-printer.desktop. There are no commonly known mime types, so preferred applications are tracked by category only — noted, booked, and filed away 📋

📦 `"PackageManager;Settings"`

A package manager application. Slay, install things.

xfp.desktop — mime types: application/x-deb, application/x-debian-package, application/x-rpm

☎️ `"Dialup;Network"`

A dial-up program. Retro. Wholesome. Slightly haunted by the sound of a modem 😭

mandriva-tightvnc.desktop — no mime types
"InstantMessaging;Network" — An instant messaging client, bestie 💬. empathy.desktop with no mime types; pidgin.desktop with no mime types. These applications are only tracked by category — periodt.
"Chat;Network" — A chat client. No commonly known applications or mime types — not a single iconic one to name 😭.
"IRCClient;Network" — An IRC (Internet Relay Chat) client. hexchat.desktop with mime types x-scheme-handler/irc and x-scheme-handler/ircs 🧚.
"Feed;Network" — RSS, podcast and other subscription based contents. No commonly known applications or mime types — we stay empty-handed on this one 🙈.
"FileTransfer;Network" — Tools like FTP or P2P programs. filezilla.desktop and gftp.desktop but no commonly known mime types. (But I don't have a bittorrent client installed.) 😭
"HamRadio;Network" — Tools like FTP or P2P programs. No commonly known applications or mime types — yes, that's what it says, and I'm not touching it 💀.
"News;Network" — A news reader or a news ticker. No commonly known applications or mime types — nothing iconic to report 🗞️.
"P2P;Network" — A P2P program. No commonly known applications or mime types — the void is voiding 💀.
"RemoteAccess;Network" — A tool to remotely manage your PC. remmina.desktop, telnet.desktop, mandriva-tightvnc.desktop, innovidata-opennx-wizard.desktop, bssh.desktop, x11vnc.desktop, ssvnc.desktop, putty.desktop, vncviewer.desktop, innovidata-opennx-admin.desktop, bvnc.desktop, innovidata-opennx.desktop, gdmflexiserver-xnest.desktop with no mime types.
"Telephony;Network" — Telephony via PC. ekiga.desktop with no mime types 📞.
"TelephonyTools;Utility" — Telephony tools, to dial a number, manage PBX, etc. No commonly known applications or mime types — the PBX girlies are quiet 🤫.
"VideoConference;Network" — Video conference software. No commonly known applications or mime types — no webcam moments logged 😭.
"WebBrowser;Network" — A web browser. chromium.desktop with mime types, text/html, text/xml, application/xhtml+xml, text/mml, x-scheme-handler/http, x-scheme-handler/https, dillo.desktop with no mime types, elinks.desktop with mime types, text/html, eric6_webbrowser.desktop with mime types, text/html, text/xml, application/xhtml+xml, x-scheme-handler/http, x-scheme-handler/https, firefox.desktop with mime types, text/html, text/xml, application/xhtml+xml, application/xml, application/rss+xml, application/rdf+xml, application/vnd.mozilla.xul+xml, text/mml, x-scheme-handler/http, x-scheme-handler/https, x-scheme-handler/ftp, javaws.desktop with mime types, application/x-java-jnlp-file, links.desktop with no mime types, lynx.desktop with no mime types, midori.desktop with mime types, text/html, application/xhtml+xml, x-scheme-handler/http, x-scheme-handler/https, x-scheme-handler/geo, image/svg+xml, midori-private.desktop with mime types, MozillaFirefox.desktop with mime types, text/html, text/xml, application/xhtml+xml, application/vnd.mozilla.xul+xml, text/mml, application/x-xpinstall, mozilla-firefox.desktop with mime types, text/html, text/xml, application/xhtml+xml, application/xml, application/rss+xml, application/rdf+xml, application/vnd.mozilla.xul+xml, text/mml, x-scheme-handler/http, x-scheme-handler/https 🌐.
"WebDevelopment;Network", "WebDevelopment;Development" — A tool for web developers. No commonly known applications or mime types 🛠️.
"Midi;Audio;AudioVideo" — An app related to MIDI. No commonly known applications or mime types — MIDI girlies where? 🎹
"Mixer;Audio;AudioVideo" — Just a mixer. alsamixer.desktop, alsavolume.desktop, aumix.desktop, ffadomixer.desktop, pavucontrol.desktop, pnmixer.desktop, with no mime types 🎚️.
"Sequencer;Audio;AudioVideo" — A sequencer. No commonly known applications or mime types — no sequencer besties found 🎛️.
"Tuner;Audio;AudioVideo" — A tuner. No commonly known applications or mime types — the tuner void 🎙️.
"TV;Audio;AudioVideo" — A TV application. Too many to list. Every video player — yes, every single one 📺.
"AudioVideoEditing;Audio", "AudioVideoEditing;Video", "AudioVideoEditing;AudioVideo" — Application to edit audio/video files. These entries are not putting themselves in the right categories — iconic mess, honestly 😭. audacity.desktop with mime types, application/ogg, audio/basic, audio/mpeg, audio/x-aiff, audio/x-mp3, audio/x-wav, application/x-audacity-project, kdenlive.desktop with mime types, application/x-kdenlive, openshot.desktop with mime types, application/vnd.openshot-project, org.kde.kdenlive.desktop with mime types, application/x-kdenlive, stopmotion.desktop with mime types, application/x-stopmotion.
"Player;Audio", "Player;Video", "Player;AudioVideo" — Application to play audio/video files. Too many to list. Every audio and video player — the whole playlist is here 🎶.
"Recorder;Audio", "Recorder;Video", "Recorder;AudioVideo" — Application to record audio/video files. org.gnome.Cheese.desktop with no mime types 🧀.
"DiscBurning;AudioVideo" — Application to burn a disc. brasero.desktop with mime types, application/x-cd-image, application/x-cdrdao-toc, application/x-cue, application/x-toc, audio/x-scpls, audio/x-ms-asx, audio/x-mp3-playlist, audio/x-mpegurl, application/x-brasero, x-content/audio-cdda, x-content/video-dvd, x-content/video-vcd, x-content/video-svcd, x-content/image-picturecd, simpleburn.desktop with no mime types, xfburn.desktop with mime types, application/x-cd-image 💿.
"Archiving;Utility" — A tool to archive/backup data. deja-dup.desktop with no mime types, deja-dup-monitor.desktop with no mime types, deja-dup-preferences.desktop with no mime types, file-roller.desktop with mime types, application/x-7z-compressed, application/x-7z-compressed-tar, application/x-ace, application/x-alz, application/x-ar, application/x-arj, application/x-bzip, application/x-bzip-compressed-tar, application/x-bzip1, application/x-bzip1-compressed-tar, application/x-cabinet, application/x-cbr, application/x-cbz, application/x-cd-image, application/x-compress, application/x-compressed-tar, application/x-cpio, application/x-deb, application/x-ear, application/x-ms-dos-executable, application/x-gtar, application/x-gzip, application/x-gzpostscript, application/x-java-archive, application/x-lha, application/x-lhz, application/x-lzip, application/x-lzip-compressed-tar, application/x-lzma, application/x-lzma-compressed-tar, application/x-lzop, application/x-lzop-compressed-tar, application/x-rar, application/x-rar-compressed, application/x-rpm, application/x-rzip, application/x-tar, application/x-tarz, application/x-stuffit, application/x-war, application/x-xz, application/x-xz-compressed-tar, application/x-zip, application/x-zip-compressed, application/x-zoo, application/zip, flburn.desktop with no mime types, gnome-file-roller.desktop with mime types, application/x-7z-compressed, application/x-7z-compressed-tar, application/x-ace, application/x-alz, application/x-ar, application/x-arj, application/x-bzip, application/x-bzip-compressed-tar, application/x-bzip1, application/x-bzip1-compressed-tar, application/x-cabinet, application/x-cbr, application/x-cbz, application/x-cd-image, application/x-compress, application/x-compressed-tar, application/x-cpio, application/x-deb, application/x-ear, application/x-ms-dos-executable, application/x-gtar, application/x-gzip, application/x-gzpostscript, application/x-java-archive, application/x-lha, application/x-lhz, application/x-lrzip, application/x-lrzip-compressed-tar, application/x-lzip, application/x-lzip-compressed-tar, application/x-lzma, application/x-lzma-compressed-tar, application/x-lzop, application/x-lzop-compressed-tar, application/x-ms-wim, application/x-rar, application/x-rar-compressed, application/x-rpm, application/x-rzip, application/x-tar, application/x-tarz, application/x-stuffit, application/x-war, application/x-xz, application/x-xz-compressed-tar, application/x-zip, application/x-zip-compressed, application/x-zoo, application/zip, roller.desktop with no mime types, xarchiver.desktop with mime types, application/x-arj, application/arj, application/x-bzip, application/x-bzip-compressed-tar, application/x-gzip, application/x-rar, application/x-rar-compressed, application/x-tar, application/x-zip, application/x-zip-compressed, application/zip, application/x-7z-compressed, application/x-compressed-tar, application/x-bzip2, application/x-bzip2-compressed-tar, application/x-lzma, application/x-lzma-compressed-tar, application/x-lzop, application/x-lzop-compressed-tar, application/x-xz, application/x-xz-compressed-tar, application/x-deb, application/x-rpm, xfburn.desktop with mime types, application/x-cd-image 🗜️.
"Compression;Archiving;Utility" — A tool to manage compressed data/archives. file-roller.desktop with mime types as above, gnome-file-roller.desktop with mime types as above — yes, "as above," no need to retype the whole saga 💅.
"FileManager;FileTools;System" — A file manager. caja.desktop with no mime types, emelfm2.desktop with mime types, inode/directory, inode/mount-point, enlightenment_filemanager.desktop with mime types, inode/directory, fluff.desktop with no mime types, mandriva-rox.desktop with no mime types, mc.desktop with no mime types, PathFinder.desktop with no mime types, pcmanfm.desktop with mime types, inode/directory, rox.desktop with no mime types, rox-filer.desktop with no mime types, spacefm.desktop with mime types, inode/directory, inode/mount-point, x-scheme-handler/ssh, x-scheme-handler/smb, x-scheme-handler/nfs, x-scheme-handler/ftp, stuurman.desktop with mime types, x-directory/normal, inode/directory, Thunar.desktop with no mime types, Thunar-folder-handler.desktop with mime types, x-directory/gnome-default-handler, x-directory/normal, inode/directory, vifm.desktop with mime types, inode/directory, xfe.desktop with mime types, text/plain 📁.
"TerminalEmulator;System" — A terminal emulator application. aterm.desktop, eterm.desktop, fedora-xterm.desktop, gksu.desktop, lxterminal.desktop, mageia-xterm.desktop, mandriva-xterm.desktop, pterm.desktop, roxterm.desktop, rpmforge-rxvt-unicode.desktop, terminal-as-root-(gksu).desktop, terminals.desktop, urxvtc.desktop, urxvt.desktop, urxvt-tabbed.desktop, uxterm.desktop, xterm.desktop, xterm-(unicode).desktop: all with no mime types 🖥️.
"Filesystem;System" — A file system tool. Applications are: gparted.desktop and Thunar-bulk-rename.desktop, with no mime types 💽.

🖥️ `"Monitor;System"` + `"Monitor;Network"`

A monitor app or applet — like, something whose whole personality is watching a resource or some activity 👀.

The applications are: boinc.desktop, boinc-manager.desktop, bonobo-browser.desktop, etherape.desktop, ettercap.desktop, gsmartcontrol.desktop, lxtask.desktop, manage-print-jobs.desktop, mandriva-xkill.desktop, print-applet.desktop, redhat-manage-print-jobs.desktop, redhat-print-applet.desktop, wireshark-gtk.desktop with mime types application/vnd.tcpdump.pcap, application/x-pcapng, application/x-snoop, application/x-iptrace, application/x-lanalyzer, application/x-nettl, application/x-radcom, application/x-etherpeek, application/x-visualnetworks, application/x-netinstobserver, application/x-5view and application/x-tektronix-rf5; xdg-assist.desktop, xdg-monitor.desktop, xload.desktop, xsensors.desktop, zenmap.desktop and zenmap-root.desktop.

Ngl this is really more of a category than a preferred-application type, bestie — the monitors are for all sorts of different purposes, so it's giving "big tent" energy 🎪

🔒 `"Security;System"` + `"Security;Settings"`

A security tool, periodt.

The applications are: ettercap.desktop with no mime types; and fwbuilder.desktop with mime type text/x-xml-fwbuilder.

Same situation — this is more of a category than a preferred application type 💅

♿ `"Accessibility;Settings"` + `"Accessibility;Utility"`

Accessibility stuff 🫶. The applications are dasher.desktop with no mime types.

🧮 `"Calculator;Utility"`

A calculator, obviously 🔢.

The applications are: calcoo.desktop, gcalctool.desktop, calculator.desktop, gnome-gcalctool.desktop and xcalc.desktop: all with no known mime types. These applications are tracked only by category.

⏰ `"Clock;Utility"`

A clock application or applet 🕐. The applications are: wmitime.desktop.

Strangely there are many more clock applications, but they do not have the appropriate categories set 😭. There are no known mime types. These applications are only tracked by category.

📝 `"TextEditor;Utility"`

A text editor ✍️. Buckle up bestie, this list is long:

adie.desktop with mime types application/x-shellscript, text/english, text/plain, text/x-c, text/x-c++, text/x-c++hdr, text/x-chdr, text/x-c++src, text/x-csrc, text/x-java, text/x-makefile, text/x-moc, text/x-pascal, text/x-tcl and text/x-tex
bvi.desktop with mime types application/octet-stream
bviplus.desktop with mime types application/octet-stream
fltk-editor.desktop
gedit.desktop with mime types application/x-shellscript, text/plain, text/x-c, text/x-c++, text/x-c++hdr, text/x-chdr, text/x-c++src, text/x-csrc, text/x-java, text/x-makefile, text/x-moc, text/x-pascal, text/x-tcl and text/x-tex
gvim.desktop with mime types application/x-shellscript, text/english, text/plain, text/x-c, text/x-c++, text/x-chdr, text/x-c++hdr, text/x-csrc, text/x-c++src, text/x-java, text/x-makefile, text/x-moc, text/x-pascal, text/x-tcl and text/x-tex
mcedit.desktop
nano.desktop
vi.desktop with mime types application/x-shellscript, text/english, text/plain, text/x-c, text/x-c++, text/x-chdr, text/x-c++hdr, text/x-csrc, text/x-c++src, text/x-java, text/x-makefile, text/x-moc, text/x-pascal, text/x-tcl and text/x-tex
vim.desktop with mime types application/x-shellscript, text/english, text/plain, text/x-c, text/x-c++, text/x-chdr, text/x-c++hdr, text/x-csrc, text/x-c++src, text/x-java, text/x-makefile, text/x-moc, text/x-pascal, text/x-tcl and text/x-tex
xedit.desktop and xfw.desktop with mime type text/plain

📚 `"Documentation"`

Help or documentation 🧐. The applications are: assistant.desktop with mime type application/x-assistant; mate-user-guide.desktop, TUV.desktop and yelp.desktop with mime types application/docbook+xml, x-scheme-handler/ghelp, x-scheme-handler/help, x-scheme-handler/info and x-scheme-handler/man.

Lowkey these applications are better tracked by mime type than by category (which is quite general) — like, the category is doing the absolute bare minimum here 💀

🌙 `"Screensaver"`

A screen saver — and launching this desktop entry should activate the screen saver ✨.

Strangely, this category is not associated with the many screen savers loaded on my Arch Linux system 😭. These must be tracked by category; however, correction of .desktop files to include this category is necessary.

📌 `"TrayIcon"`

An application that is primarily an icon for the "system tray" or "notification area" — and fr fr, apps that open a normal window and just happen to have a tray icon as well should not list this category 🚫.

Example applications are: alltray.desktop, cbatticon.desktop, dhcpcd-gtk.desktop, fbxkb.desktop, ftmenu.desktop, gatotray.desktop, moc-tray.desktop, peksystray.desktop, pnmixer.desktop, sbxkb.desktop, sd-applet.desktop, stalonetray.desktop, wmsystemtray.desktop, xdg-monitor.desktop and xdg-traymenu.desktop.

This is really a general category and there are no tracked preferred applications in this category 🫠

🧩 `"Applet"`

An applet that will run inside a panel or another such application — likely desktop specific, iykyk 🪟

🐟 `"DockApp"`

A WindowMaker style dock application. The example applications are absolute icons of the genre 👑

allin1.desktop, AlsaMixer.app.desktop, asclock.desktop, asclock-gtk.desktop, asclock-xlib.desktop, bubblemon.desktop, flipse.desktop, lal.desktop, peksystray.desktop, volume-app.desktop, wmacpi.desktop, wmappl.desktop, wmauda.desktop, wmbatteries.desktop, wmbattery.desktop, wmbiff.desktop, wmBinClock.desktop, wmblob.desktop, wmblueclock.desktop, wmbluecpu.desktop, wmbluegpu.desktop, wmbluemem.desktop, wmbubble.desktop, wmbutton.desktop, wmcalc.desktop, wmCalClock.desktop, wmCalClockKbd.desktop, wmcdplay.desktop, wmcliphist.desktop, wmclock.desktop, wmclockmon.desktop, wmcore.desktop, wmcpu.desktop, wmcpuload.desktop, wmcpumon.desktop, wmdiskmon.desktop, wmfire.desktop, wmforkplop.desktop, wmfrog.desktop, wmgtemp.desktop, wmifinfo.desktop, wmifs.desktop, wminet.desktop, wmitime.desktop, wmmail.desktop, wmmaiload.desktop, wmMand.desktop, wmmixer.desktop, wmMoonClock.desktop, wmnd.desktop, wmnet.desktop, wmsmixer.desktop, wmstickynotes.desktop, wmsysmon.desktop, wmsystemtray.desktop, wmsystray.desktop, wmtime.desktop, wmtimer.desktop, wmtop.desktop, wmtrash.desktop, wmudmount.desktop, wmwave.desktop, wmWeather.desktop, wmweather+.desktop, wmwifi.desktop and wmwork.desktop.

This is really a general category and preferred applications are not tracked in this category 🌈

🐚 `"Shell"`

A shell — and to be clear, an actual specific shell such as bash or tcsh, not a TerminalEmulator 🫡

The applications are: tkwish8.6.desktop.

The preferred shell should be set by other means — so don't come looking here for it 💅

✨ FILE FORMAT ✨

okay so bestie, there are literally two formats of file and you gotta know which one you're looking at:

Mime application file format — this one is compliant to the XDG mime application specification. fancy, official, the whole thing 💅
XDG category file format — this one is similar to the XDG mime application specification but it uses XDG categories instead of mime types. same vibe, different key 🎀

🎀 MIME APPLICATIONS

so for applications that are set by default, the XDG mime applications specification is what's used to store the default applications, the added associations and the removed associations. all three. she does it all 💖

Files are searched in this exact order, top to bottom, no skipping:

$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/$XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP-mimeapps.list — this one is desktop environment specific 🖥️ Only considered for defaults and not associations.
$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/mimeapps.list — considered for both defaults and associations.
$XDG_CONFIG_DIRS/$XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP-mimeapps.list — desktop environment specific again. Only considered for defaults and not associations.
$XDG_CONFIG_DIRS/mimeapps.list — considered for both defaults and associations.
$XDG_DATA_HOME/applications/$XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP-mimeapps.list — desktop environment specific. Only considered for defaults and not associations. ⚠️ This location is deprecated but available for backward compatibility.
$XDG_DATA_HOME/applications/mimeapps.list — considered for both defaults and associations. ⚠️ This location is deprecated but available for backward compatibility.
$XDG_DATA_DIRS/applications/$XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP-mimeapps.list — desktop environment specific. Only considered for defaults and not associations. ⚠️ This location is deprecated but available for backward compatibility.
$XDG_DATA_DIRS/applications/mimeapps.list — considered for both defaults and associations. ⚠️ This location is deprecated but available for backward compatibility.

lowkey important: notice how the $XDG_DATA_HOME and $XDG_DATA_DIRS ones are all flagged deprecated but available for backward compatibility? they still work, they're just the old spots. don't @ me, that's literally what the page says 🫶

🌸 EXAMPLE

Following is an example of the contents of a mimeapps.list file — and yes we're keeping it character for character because this is the moment:

[Added Associations]
application/pdf=zat.desktop;zathura.desktop;raktpdf.desktop;gvim.desktop;
application/x-ole-storage=libreoffice-startcenter.desktop;
application/x-desktop=gvim.desktop;
image/jpeg=xv.desktop;flphoto.desktop;gpicview.desktop;
image/png=gpicview.desktop;
application/octet-stream=bvi.desktop;wireshark.desktop;
text/html=firefox.desktop;
text/plain=vim.desktop;

[Default Applications]
x-scheme-handler/mailto=kde4-kmailservice.desktop
application/x-extension-eml=kde4-kmailservice.desktop
message/rfc822=kde4-kmailservice.desktop
application/octet-stream=bvi.desktop
text/plain=vim.desktop

🦋 XDG CATEGORIES

okay this is the part where things get cute. for preferences that are set by category, xdg-prefs maintains its own separate prefapps.list file 📋

It's similar in format to the mimeapps.list file of the XDG mime applications specification — with one exception: the XDG category is used in place of the mime type as a key in the various sections of the file. that's the whole twist, and it ate 💅

And just like the mimeapps.list files, the prefapps.list files are searched in this order:

$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/$XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP-prefapps.list — desktop environment specific. Only considered for defaults and not associations.
$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/prefapps.list — considered for both defaults and associations.
$XDG_CONFIG_DIRS/$XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP-prefapps.list — desktop environment specific. Only considered for defaults and not associations.
$XDG_CONFIG_DIRS/prefapps.list — considered for both defaults and associations.
$XDG_DATA_HOME/applications/$XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP-prefapps.list — desktop environment specific. Only considered for defaults and not associations. ⚠️ This location is deprecated but available for backward compatibility.
$XDG_DATA_HOME/applications/prefapps.list — considered for both defaults and associations. ⚠️ This location is deprecated but available for backward compatibility.
$XDG_DATA_DIRS/applications/$XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP-prefapps.list — desktop environment specific. Only considered for defaults and not associations. ⚠️ This location is deprecated but available for backward compatibility.
$XDG_DATA_DIRS/applications/prefapps.list — considered for both defaults and associations. ⚠️ This location is deprecated but available for backward compatibility.

Same deprecated-energy as the mime ones, same "still works tho" energy. iconic consistency 💀

🍓 EXAMPLE

Following is an example of the contents of a prefapps.list file... and bestie, that's genuinely all the page gives you here 😭 it introduces the example and then — nothing. no sample block. so like, the format is the same as mimeapps.list above but with XDG categories where the mime types go, and the manpage just trusts you to get it. main character confidence, honestly 👑

and that's the whole page, bestie!! 🎀✨ you officially know XDG-PREFS(1) better than 90% of the people using it. this icon is from xdg-launch version 1.12, dated 2022-01-28 — so yes she's been around a minute, and she still slays 💖🦋 periodt ✨

📦 where this page comes from

nixos 26.05: xdg-launch 1.12
nixpkgs unstable: xdg-launch 1.12
💖 girlified by deepseek-ai/DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash-1017 on 2026-11-04: a language model's rewrite of the original, under its terms

XDG-PREFS(1)

✨ NAME ✨

🦋 SYNOPSIS 🦋

🌸 DESCRIPTION 🌸

💖 ARGUMENTS 💖

🫶 APPID

🧚 TYPE

✨ OPTIONS ✨

🎀 COMMAND OPTIONS 🎀

🌈 GENERAL OPTIONS 🌈

👑 XDG CATEGORIES 👑

💜 "WordProcessor;Office"

🎨 "2DGraphics;Graphics"

🦋 "VectorGraphics;2DGraphics;Graphics"

🖼️ "RasterGraphics;2DGraphics;Graphics"

🧊 "3DGraphics;Graphics"

🖨️ "Scanning;Graphics"

🔍 "OCR;Scanning;Graphics"

📸 "Photography;Graphics"

📸 "Photography;Office"

📰 "Publishing;Graphics"

📰 "Publishing;Office"

👀 "Viewer;Graphics"

👀 "Viewer;Office"

🔤 "TextTools;Utility"

⚙️ "DesktopSettings;Settings"

🔧 "HardwareSettings;Settings"

🖨️ "Printing;HardwareSettings;Settings"

📦 "PackageManager;Settings"

☎️ "Dialup;Network"

🖥️ "Monitor;System" + "Monitor;Network"

🔒 "Security;System" + "Security;Settings"

♿ "Accessibility;Settings" + "Accessibility;Utility"

🧮 "Calculator;Utility"

⏰ "Clock;Utility"

📝 "TextEditor;Utility"

📚 "Documentation"

🌙 "Screensaver"

📌 "TrayIcon"

🧩 "Applet"

🐟 "DockApp"

🐚 "Shell"