How to open a code or text file online
Three steps, a few seconds, no software.
Open your .DESKTOP file
Drop it on the box, choose it from your device, or paste the text straight in.
View it instantly
Your .DESKTOP file opens neatly formatted with line numbers.
Search, copy or download
Search the text, jump to any line, then copy what you need or download a clean copy.
What is a .DESKTOP file?
Plain text that programs, servers and people write every day.
A .DESKTOP file is a Desktop Entry File categorized as a data file. It contains information referenced by various programs to define how an application or link appears and behaves within a graphical environment. These files are typically opened or managed by software such as Object Desktop and DesktopX.
Programs that open .DESKTOP files
| Full name | XDG Desktop Entry File |
|---|---|
| Developer | freedesktop.org (XDG — Cross Desktop Group) |
| First released | 2001 (freedesktop.org Desktop Entry Specification 0.9.x) |
| Category | Text & Code |
| MIME type | application/x-desktop |
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Frequently asked questions
Is my .DESKTOP file uploaded anywhere?
No. The file is read and highlighted for you.
Why do some characters look wrong (é, ł)?
That usually means the file was saved in one encoding and opened in another. We detect UTF-8, UTF-16 and the Windows-1250/1252 code pages automatically and show which one was used.
Can it handle huge log files?
Yes, up to 50 MB. Only the lines on screen are drawn, so scrolling stays smooth. Syntax colours are switched off for files over 1.5 MB to keep things fast.
How do the log level filters work?
We find levels like ERROR, WARN, INFO and DEBUG on each line. Lines without a level, such as stack traces, stay with the entry above them, so filtering to errors keeps the full trace.
Can I edit the file?
This is a viewer. To change code, download it or copy it into your editor. Converting encodings and line endings is planned.
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