Changing Program Icons in Linux: A Step-by-Step Guide

3 min readOct 3, 2024

Linux offers a high degree of customization, allowing users to personalize their desktop environment to suit their preferences. One common way to enhance your user experience is by changing the icons or logos of programs. Whether you want to give your desktop a fresh look or simply prefer a different icon, this guide will walk you through the process.

Why Change Program Icons?

Customizing icons can improve your workflow and make your desktop more visually appealing. Here are a few reasons to consider changing your program icons:

Personalization: Make your desktop environment uniquely yours.
Visual Clarity: Use icons that better represent the function of the application.
Thematic Consistency: Maintain a consistent theme across your desktop for aesthetic appeal.

Understanding Icon Formats

Before we begin, it’s essential to understand the different formats used for icons in Linux. The most common formats include:

PNG: A widely-used format that supports transparency.
SVG: A scalable vector graphics format, ideal for resizing without losing quality.
XPM: A format specifically for icons in X Window System.

Steps to Change Program Icons

Step 1: Locate the Application’s Icon

Most Linux applications store their icons in a specific directory, typically within the /usr/share/icons/ or ~/.local/share/icons/ directories. You can usually find the icon file associated with an application by:

Finding the Desktop Entry File: Desktop entry files (.desktop) are typically located in /usr/share/applications/ or ~/.local/share/applications/. These files define how the application appears in your menu and often include a reference to the icon.
Opening the Desktop Entry File: Use a text editor to open the .desktop file of the application. Look for the line that starts with Icon=, which will give you the name of the icon file.

nano ~/.local/share/applications/example.desktop

For example, if you see Icon=example, the icon file is likely named example.png or example.svg.

Step 2: Prepare Your New Icon

Select an Icon: Choose or create a new icon in the appropriate format (preferably PNG or SVG).
Rename Your Icon: Rename the new icon to match the original icon’s name (for example, example.png).
Backup the Original Icon: Before replacing the icon, it’s a good idea to make a backup of the original icon in case you want to revert back.

cp /usr/share/icons/example.png /usr/share/icons/example_backup.png

Step 3: Replace the Icon

Copy the New Icon: Place your new icon in the appropriate directory. For system-wide changes, use /usr/share/icons/. For user-specific changes, use ~/.local/share/icons/.

sudo cp new_icon.png /usr/share/icons/example.png

Or for user-specific:

cp new_icon.png ~/.local/share/icons/example.png

Step 4: Update the Icon Cache

After replacing the icon, you may need to update the icon cache to see the changes immediately.

sudo gtk-update-icon-cache /usr/share/icons/

Or, if you changed it in your local directory:

gtk-update-icon-cache ~/.local/share/icons/

Step 5: Refresh Your Desktop Environment

Depending on your desktop environment (GNOME, KDE, XFCE, etc.), you may need to restart it or log out and back in for the changes to take effect. You can also try refreshing the desktop by running the following command:

xdg-desktop-menu forceupdate

Conclusion

Changing program icons in Linux is a simple yet effective way to customize your desktop environment. By following these steps, you can replace the icons of any program with images that resonate more with your personal style or workflow.