# Install desktop-file-utils with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper

Command-line utilities for working with desktop entries. Version 0.28 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. Also installable with debian: sudo apt install desktop-file-utils.

## Install

```sh
sudo av install brew:desktop-file-utils
```

Additional install commands:

### macOS

- Homebrew (100%):

```sh
brew install desktop-file-utils
```

  Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata

- MacPorts (94%):

```sh
sudo port install desktop-file-utils
```

  Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: gnome/desktop-file-utils/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1

### Linux

- apk (92%):

```sh
sudo apk add desktop-file-utils
```

  Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: desktop-file-utils from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz

- Debian apt (92%):

```sh
sudo apt install desktop-file-utils
```

  Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: desktop-file-utils from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz

- dnf (92%):

```sh
sudo dnf install desktop-file-utils
```

  Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: desktop-file-utils from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/07190dc5ae9f35ae73866675fed6d95fe6e8d9fe22c9d7cdf85862cb2ed24a4c-primary.xml.zst

- Nix (92%):

```sh
nix profile install nixpkgs#desktop-file-utils
```

  Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/de/desktop-file-utils/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1

- pacman (92%):

```sh
sudo pacman -S desktop-file-utils
```

  Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: desktop-file-utils from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz

- zypper (92%):

```sh
sudo zypper install desktop-file-utils
```

  Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: desktop-file-utils from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/50b07339cb64c8ed4091bdbabddadc1ff5737b090e478818a195b40d8a3292861a879139b4a3987c31109699fde9fbf4a716367ddf4eef77da75f96e3193d6ed-primary.xml.zst

## Package facts

- **Package key:** brew:desktop-file-utils
- **Package manager:** Homebrew
- **Version:** 0.28
- **Source summary:** Command-line utilities for working with desktop entries
- **Homepage:** <https://wiki.freedesktop.org/www/Software/desktop-file-utils/>
- **Generated:** 2026-08-03T19:37:03+00:00

## Executables

- desktop-file-edit (alias)
- desktop-file-install (alias)
- desktop-file-validate (alias)
- update-desktop-database (alias)

## Install behavior

- Bottle: not available

## Freshness

- Page generated: 2026-08-03
- Package-manager version: 0.28
## Project history and usage

desktop-file-utils is a freedesktop.org utility collection for working with desktop entry files. Its commands validate .desktop files, install or edit them, and update the MIME-type cache derived from desktop entries.

### Project history

The release archive starts with version 0.1 in September 2003, and the NEWS file describes that initial release as containing desktop-file-validate and desktop-file-install. Over time the project added update-desktop-database, support for newer desktop-entry specification versions, Meson builds, and a wider set of recognized desktop environments.

### Adoption history

desktop-file-utils became part of the practical plumbing of Linux desktop packaging because application packages ship .desktop launchers and MIME handlers that need validation and cache updates. The freedesktop.org page documents development in the xdg/desktop-file-utils GitLab repository and release tarballs on freedesktop.org.

### How it is used

Packagers and desktop maintainers use desktop-file-validate to catch desktop-entry specification violations, desktop-file-install and desktop-file-edit to install or modify entries, and update-desktop-database to rebuild the cache of MIME types handled by desktop files.

### Why package nerds care

For package nerds, desktop-file-utils is classic Linux desktop infrastructure: it rarely appears in screenshots, but it enforces the metadata that makes launchers, menus, MIME associations, and desktop integration work consistently across distributions.

### Timeline

- 2003: Version 0.1 initial release contained desktop-file-validate and desktop-file-install.
- 2004: Version 0.7 added update-desktop-database.
- 2020: Version 0.25 added Meson build support and deprecated Autotools.
- 2023: Version 0.27 removed Autotools support and added desktop spec 1.5 support.
- 2024: Version 0.28 was released.

### Related projects

- Related freedesktop.org standards include the Desktop Entry Specification and the broader XDG desktop integration specifications.

### Sources

- <https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/desktop-file-utils>
- <https://www.freedesktop.org/software/desktop-file-utils/releases/>
- <https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/xdg/desktop-file-utils/-/raw/master/NEWS>


## Security Notes

broad file, network, media, or database tool signal.

- **Geiger risk:** blue / medium
- broad file, network, media, or database tool signal

## Other Package-Manager Records

- Debian apt - desktop-file-utils - 0.28-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: desktop-file-utils from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Utilities for .desktop files | https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/desktop-file-utils
- Nix - desktop-file-utils: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/de/desktop-file-utils/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1
- Ubuntu apt - desktop-file-utils - 0.27-2build1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: desktop-file-utils from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/main/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Utilities for .desktop files | https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/desktop-file-utils
- apk - desktop-file-utils - 0.28-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: desktop-file-utils from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Command line utilities for working with desktop entries | https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/desktop-file-utils
- apk - desktop-file-utils-doc - 0.28-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: desktop-file-utils-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Command line utilities for working with desktop entries (documentation) | https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/desktop-file-utils
- apk - desktop-file-utils-emacs - 0.28-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: desktop-file-utils-emacs from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | Emacs mode for desktop-file-utils | https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/desktop-file-utils
- dnf - desktop-file-utils - 0.28-8.fc45: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: desktop-file-utils from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/07190dc5ae9f35ae73866675fed6d95fe6e8d9fe22c9d7cdf85862cb2ed24a4c-primary.xml.zst | Utilities for manipulating .desktop files | https://www.freedesktop.org/software/desktop-file-utils
- pacman - desktop-file-utils - 0.28-1: normalized package name match | Arch Linux sync databases: desktop-file-utils from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz | Command line utilities for working with desktop entries | https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/desktop-file-utils
- zypper - desktop-file-utils - 0.28-3.4: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: desktop-file-utils from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/50b07339cb64c8ed4091bdbabddadc1ff5737b090e478818a195b40d8a3292861a879139b4a3987c31109699fde9fbf4a716367ddf4eef77da75f96e3193d6ed-primary.xml.zst | Utilities for Manipulating Desktop Files | https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/desktop-file-utils
- MacPorts - desktop-file-utils: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: gnome/desktop-file-utils/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1


## Combined YAML source

View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/desktop-file-utils.yml](https://github.com/mxcl/pkgdb/blob/main/combined/desktop-file-utils.yml)


## Sources

- pkg.so package database
- Geiger risk classifier
- curated package history
- pkgdb category and tag curation
- external package-manager database matches
- cross-ecosystem install command graph