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How to show file icons by default application in GNOME? (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 week ago by mypasswordis1234@lemmy.world to c/linux@lemmy.ml
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Hi everyone,

I’m using Fedora Linux 43 with GNOME 49. By default, GNOME shows file icons based on the file type, not the application that opens them.

What I’d like to achieve is for file icons to show the icon of the program that is set as the default to open the file—similar to how it works in Windows.

For example, in my screenshot, I have three files that are all opened by the same program by default (VSCodium in this case), but each one has a different icon based on its file type. I’d like them all to show the icon of the program instead.

Is there a way to show file icons based on the default app?

Thanks in advance!

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[-] Covenant@sh.itjust.works 4 points 6 days ago

Would be a nice default.

[-] flameleaf@lemmy.ml 2 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

This isn't a GNOME-specific thing as other DEs also display files by their file type. It's all defined by the icon theme.

I'm not sure if there exists an icon theme that replaces the unique filetype icons with specific application icons, but if such a thing does exist, that could be a solution.

You could also edit the icon theme you're using yourself too, if you're feeling adventurous. Using the Papirus icon theme, on my system the image representing a python text file is located in /usr/share/icons/Papirus/64x64/mimetypes/text-x-python.svg. I could replace that image with anything. I'm not sure why I'd want to do that, but if you really want to replace all these images with an image of VSCodium no one's gonna stop you.

Maybe there's a script that does this automatically? If such a thing exists, it'll probably follow the steps I just mentioned.

[-] HelloRoot@lemy.lol 10 points 1 week ago

I'm pretty sure thats not possible wifhout some custon extension or script.

[-] mvirts@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

Agreed, you can probably get away with an extension that updates the file icons when the default app changes, and syncs all of them when you press a button somewhere or install it.

this post was submitted on 05 Dec 2025
25 points (87.9% liked)

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