How do I change the _default_ file manager?

[Member einpoklum]

I know I can change the file manager by using the Control Center (or more specifically desktop-defaults-set).

But – what if I want desktop-defaults-run -fm to run a different file manager? For an existing user, and for future created users?

I tried to read that script, and frankly it looks like a bunch of twisted spaghetti script code, along with other script files it sources and .desktop files which themselves seem to run the script itself again. Could figure it out.

I also asked about this at unix.stackexchange.com.

[Member Xecure]

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This is ONLY for changing the default file manager (and not the desktop icon handler)
The easy way: Use the program you mention and select a different .desktop in /usr/share/applications (/pcmanfm.desktop). Save.

The hard way:
If you want it to work differently for future new users, change the symlink in /etc/skel/.local/share/desktop-defaults/file-manager.desktop to a different .desktop file manager.
If you want it to work differently for other users, change the symlink from /home/username/.local/share/desktop-defaults/file-manager.desktop if you want to change it from outside that user’s account.

desktop-defaults-run -fm will simply launch whatever is symlinked in /home/username/.local/share/desktop-defaults/file-manager.desktop so you don’t need to run the script if you are not planing for users to launch the file manager using xdg-open or mimeopen /path/to/folder/

• This reply was modified 2 years ago by Xecure.

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