OpenAnyFile
What is a .desktop file?
Linux Desktop Entry is a shortcut format developed by freedesktop.org, first released in 2000. It is usually created by GNOME, KDE, app installers.
An INI file telling Linux desktops how to launch an app: Exec=, Icon=, Categories=.
File details
| Full name | Linux Desktop Entry |
|---|---|
| Category | Shortcuts & links |
| MIME type | application/x-desktop |
| Signature (magic bytes) | 5B 44 65 73 6B 74 6F 70 20 45 6E 74 72 79 5D ([Desktop Entry]) |
| Developer | freedesktop.org |
| Introduced | 2000 |
| Opens with | Text reader |
| Uploaded? | No — read locally in your browser |
How to open a .desktop file
OpenAnyFile routes .desktop files to its text reader, which shows the full text.
- Drop your .desktop file on the box above, click it to choose the file, or paste it with Ctrl+V.
- The real format is detected from the file's first bytes — not just its name.
- The file opens in the text reader.
- Use fullscreen for a closer look, check its checksums, or download it back unchanged.
What works — and what does not
Works
Viewing and inspecting: the full text. Size, type, signature and checksums are always shown.
Does not work
Editing and saving back. OpenAnyFile is a viewer, not an editor — for changes you still need the original app.
Is it safe to open a .desktop file online?
Here, yes — because nothing is uploaded. Most "online viewers" send your file to their server. OpenAnyFile reads it with your browser's File API and decodes it on your own device, so there is no copy anywhere else. You can check: open your browser's network tab while opening a file — no upload appears.
Questions about .desktop files
Can I open a .desktop file without installing software?
Yes. OpenAnyFile opens .desktop files in your browser using its text reader. You get the full text, with nothing installed and no account.
How do I know a file is really a .desktop file?
Check its first bytes instead of its name. A genuine DESKTOP file begins with 5B 44 65 73 6B 74 6F 70 20 45 6E 74 72 79 5D ([Desktop Entry]). OpenAnyFile shows the detected type, so a renamed file is easy to spot.
Is my .desktop file uploaded anywhere?
No. The file is read locally by your browser and never sent to a server — it even works offline once the page has loaded.
Does it work on phones?
Yes — on Android and iPhone, in any modern browser. You can also install OpenAnyFile as an app.
Related formats
Other formats from the same family:
Format facts checked and page updated on September 25, 2026.