How to Change Default Apps on Linux

On Linux, you can change the default apps for various file types using the command line. The process can vary slightly depending on your Linux distribution. Here are the steps for changing default apps on Debian-based, Arch-based, and RPM-based distros.

Debian/Ubuntu-based distros

Debian-based distributions, such as Ubuntu, use the update-alternatives command to manage default apps.

Step 1: Open Terminal

Open the terminal by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T on your keyboard or by searching for it in the applications menu.

Step 2: Find Alternative Apps

To list the available alternatives for a specific file type, run:

update-alternatives –list <file-type>

Replace <file-type> with the file type you want to change the default app for. For example, if you want to change the default web browser, run:

update-alternatives –list x-www-browser

Step 3: Change Default App

To choose the alternative that you want to use as the default app, run:

sudo update-alternatives –config <file-type>

Again, replace <file-type> with the file type you want to change the default app for.

You’ll be presented with a list of available alternatives for the file type. Choose the number that corresponds to the alternative you want to use and press Enter.

Fedora/RPM-based distros

Fedora/RPM-based distributions, such as Fedora, use the alternatives command to manage default apps.

Step 1: Open Terminal

Open the terminal by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T on your keyboard or by searching for it in the applications menu.

Step 2: Find Alternative Apps

To list the available alternatives for a specific file type, run:

alternatives –display <file-type>

Replace <file-type> with the file type you want to change the default app for. For example, if you want to change the default web browser, run:

alternatives –display x-www-browser

Step 3: Change Default App

To choose the alternative that you want to use as the default app, run:

sudo alternatives –set <file-type> <alternative>

Replace <file-type> with the file type you want to change the default app for, and <alternative> with the name of the alternative you want to use. For example, to set Firefox as the default web browser, run:

sudo alternatives –set x-www-browser /usr/bin/firefox

Note that the path to the alternative executable may vary depending on your system.

Arch-based distros

Arch-based distributions, such as Manjaro, use the xdg-mime command to manage default apps.

Step 1: Open Terminal

Open the terminal by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T on your keyboard or by searching for it in the applications menu.

Step 2: Find Alternative Apps

To list the available alternatives for a specific file type, run:

xdg-mime query default <file-type>

Replace <file-type> with the file type you want to change the default app for. For example, if you want to change the default web browser, run:

xdg-mime query default x-scheme-handler/http

Step 3: Change Default App

To choose the alternative that you want to use as the default app, run:

xdg-mime default <app.desktop> <file-type>

Replace <app.desktop> with the name of the .desktop file for the alternative app you want to use, and <file-type> with the file type you want to change the default app for. For example, to set Firefox as the default web browser, run:

xdg-mime default firefox.desktop x-scheme-handler/http

Conclusion

In conclusion, changing default apps on Linux is a simple and useful task that can greatly enhance your productivity and user experience. By following the steps outlined in this how-to guide, you can easily configure your Linux system to use your preferred applications for various file types and actions. Whether you want to open PDF files with a different PDF viewer or use a different browser as your default, Linux makes it easy to customize your system to your liking. By taking advantage of Linux’s flexibility and open-source nature, you can create a personalized computing environment that meets your specific needs and preferences.