[GH-ISSUE #2769] [APP BUG]: Game Desktop File Creation points to Incorrect Executable (Linux) #897

New issue

Open

opened 2026-02-27 21:08:45 +03:00 by kerem · 1 comment

kerem commented

2026-02-27 21:08:45 +03:00

Owner

Originally created by @BlueInterlude on GitHub (Apr 10, 2025).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/shadps4-emu/shadPS4/issues/2769

Checklist

I have searched for a similar issue in this repository and did not find one.
I am using an official build obtained from releases or updated one of those builds using its in-app updater.

Describe the Bug

When creating game desktop files, the Exec= line points to the incorrect executable causing the desktop file to not launch the game properly.

In the AppImage, the Exec= line points to /tmp/.mount_ShadpsNIHcfh/usr/bin/shadps4. In the Flatpak, the Exec= line points to /app/bin/shadps4.

For the AppImage desktop file, that should likely point to the AppImage. For the Flatpak, I'm not sure but typically it's flatpak run net.shadps4.shadPS4 but it may differ in desktop files.

I am not using a front-end to launch these desktop files, I am not using a package distributor like EmuDeck or RetroDECK. I am using the official AppImage and Flatpak directly from ShadPS4's repo and Flathub respectively along with double clicking the desktop file to test. In addition, copying the output of the Exec= line to a terminal also does not work.

Reproduction Steps

On Linux, download the AppImage or Flatpak. Right click a game in the GUI, click Create Shortcut, test launching shortcut.

Can also test copying the output of the Exec= line to a terminal to see if it works.

Expected Behavior

For the desktop file to properly launch the game.

Specify OS Version

Tested on two distros, EndeavourOS and SteamOS

Originally created by @BlueInterlude on GitHub (Apr 10, 2025). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/shadps4-emu/shadPS4/issues/2769 ### Checklist - [x] I have searched for a similar issue in this repository and did not find one. - [x] I am using an official build obtained from [releases](https://github.com/shadps4-emu/shadPS4/releases) or updated one of those builds using its in-app updater. ### Describe the Bug When creating game desktop files, the `Exec=` line points to the incorrect executable causing the desktop file to not launch the game properly. In the AppImage, the `Exec=` line points to `/tmp/.mount_ShadpsNIHcfh/usr/bin/shadps4`. In the Flatpak, the `Exec=` line points to `/app/bin/shadps4`. For the AppImage desktop file, that should likely point to the AppImage. For the Flatpak, I'm not sure but typically it's `flatpak run net.shadps4.shadPS4` but it may differ in desktop files. I am not using a front-end to launch these desktop files, I am not using a package distributor like EmuDeck or RetroDECK. I am using the official AppImage and Flatpak directly from ShadPS4's repo and Flathub respectively along with double clicking the desktop file to test. In addition, copying the output of the `Exec=` line to a terminal also does not work. ### Reproduction Steps On Linux, download the AppImage or Flatpak. Right click a game in the GUI, click `Create Shortcut`, test launching shortcut. Can also test copying the output of the `Exec=` line to a terminal to see if it works. ### Expected Behavior For the desktop file to properly launch the game. ### Specify OS Version Tested on two distros, EndeavourOS and SteamOS

kerem added the

linux

label

2026-02-27 21:08:45 +03:00

kerem commented

2026-02-27 21:08:46 +03:00

Author

Owner

@jardon commented on GitHub (Apr 19, 2025):

a couple of things:

the desktop shortcut should be created under ~/.local/share/applications/
the exec line needs to point to the correct executable per the installation method

@jardon commented on GitHub (Apr 19, 2025): a couple of things: 1. the desktop shortcut should be created under `~/.local/share/applications/` 2. the exec line needs to point to the correct executable per the installation method

kerem referenced this issue

2026-02-27 21:14:05 +03:00

[PR #897] [MERGED] Enable patches on cli builds #1819