Regenerate Chrome App/Extension Desktop Shortcuts

Craig Hesling

Dec 20, 2017 2 min read

Description

This is a quick how-to for regenerating the .desktop shortcuts associated with Google Chrome Apps or Extensions.

Rant

Being able to launch your favorite Chrome App/Extension straight from your desktop manager’s launcher is a big win in my book. My typical go-to is Google Keep. With my Gnome Shell setup, all I have to do is hit the Super key on my keyboard to bring up the searchable Gnome launcher, ever so slightly start typing k e e p, and pound the enter key. Presto, I’m in my notes taking app.

Every once in a while, a desktop shortcut disappears (possibly self inflicted) or becomes corrupt. The monotony of traversing through Chrome, to the Apps menu, and clicking on the correct App/Extension tile haunts me to this day.

This article is needed due to the dearth of information related to Chrome Extension desktop shortcuts for Linux desktop environments. I also needed a good tutorial to kickoff my Posts section.

Here is how to fix it

Method 1

Go to the All Apps page. This is also the URL chrome://apps.
Right click on the App or Extension you wish to regenerate a shortcut for.
Click Create shortcuts...
Deselect Desktop, select Application menu, and click Create. A Desktop shortcut is pointless when you have Desktop icons disabled in Gnome Shell. [default for Gnome Shell]

Method 2

Press the three vertical dots in the top right of the browser.
Navigate to More tools and then Extensions
Click the Details linked text on the App or Extension you wish to regenerate a shortcut for.
Click Create shortcuts...
Deselect Desktop, select Application menu, and click Create. A Desktop shortcut is pointless when you have Desktop icons disabled in Gnome Shell. [default for Gnome Shell]