How to create a desktop shortcut on Ubuntu 20.04

This tutorial is for how to create a desktop shortcut on Ubuntu 20.04 using the default GNOME user interface.

Create a desktop shortcut on Ubuntu 20.04 step-by-step instructions

Create a desktop application shortcut launcher manually

The desktop shortcut is not available in the /usr/share/applications/ directory directory. you have to create the Desktop launcher manually. In this example, we will create a Desktop application shortcut for the Skype application.

Step 1: Create a shortcut.

Get full path to the executable binary of any program using the which command :

$ which skypeforlinux
Output: /snap/bin/skypeforlinux

# snap
Path Application Icon: /snap/skype/101/meta/gui/skypeforlinux.png 
Application name: Skype
Path to executable binary: /snap/bin/skypeforlinux --secondary

OR

$ which skypeforlinux
Output: /usr/bin/skypeforlinux

# usr
Path Application Icon: /usr/share/icons/hicolor/1024x1024/apps/skypeforlinux.png
Application name: Skype
Path to executable binary: /usr/bin/skypeforlinux --secondary

Step 2: We have all the necessary information, create a new file Skype.desktop.

$ gedit /home/devnote/Desktop/Skype.desktop

# Skype.desktop
#!/usr/bin/env xdg-open
[Desktop Entry]
Version=1.0
Type=Application
Terminal=false
Exec=/usr/bin/skypeforlinux --secondary
Name=Skype
Comment=Skype
Icon=/usr/share/icons/hicolor/1024x1024/apps/skypeforlinux.png

Step 3: Allow Launching

Now right-click on the new desktop file and select Allow Launching.

Your new custom desktop shortcut is ready.