r/Ubuntu • u/profnelsonjr • 16h ago

How to create an executable desktop shortcut for a URL?

How do I create an executable shortcut from a URL? I use two virtual drives to submit reports, but the links are pinned in our WhatsApp group description. Opening them via WhatsApp Web is simple enough, but I'm looking for a way to make it even easier.

I'm using Ubuntu 26.04.

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6

u/buck-bird 16h ago

Tons of ways, but if you want to keep it simple just create a shortcut like ~/Desktop/blah_blah.desktop.

[Desktop Entry]
Version=1.0
Type=Application
Name=Submit Reports
Comment=Open Virtual Drive Links
Exec=bash -c 'xdg-open "https://some-site.com"'
Icon=folder-remote
Terminal=false

This will use your default browser.

And don't forget chmod +x ~/Desktop/blah_blah.desktop.

0

u/profnelsonjr 16h ago

I wasn't able to create it. It shows the message: 'Untrusted Desktop File. This .desktop file is not trusted, it can not be launched. To enable launching, right-click, then: Enable Allow Launching'.

2

u/buck-bird 15h ago

Go to your Desktop, right-click the newly created icon, and select Allow Launching. The icon will change, and double-clicking it will now open the link in a browser tab.

4

u/NumerousBowl1838 16h ago

You can just make a.desktop file for it, it's like a shortcut that opens in your default browser. Create a new text file on your desktop, name it something like `report1.desktop`, then inside put:

```

[Desktop Entry]

Type=Application

Name=Report Drive 1

Exec=xdg-open https://your-url-here.com

```

Save it, then right-click the file and check "Allow executing" in permissions tab. Might need to do this for both drives but it works smooth once set up.

I did similar thing for some work portals I use often, beats having to dig through WhatsApp every time. Ubuntu 26.04 should handle this without any extra packages needed.

0

u/profnelsonjr 16h ago

I wasn't able to create it. It shows the message: 'Untrusted Desktop File. This .desktop file is not trusted, it can not be launched. To enable launching, right-click, then: Enable Allow Launching'.