diff --git a/cmake/mupp.desktop.in b/cmake/mupp.desktop.in
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..00981278
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmake/mupp.desktop.in
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+[Desktop Entry]
+Name=mupp
+Comment=muSR parameter plotter
+GenericName=musrfit parameter plotter
+Exec=@CMAKE_INSTALL_FULL_BINDIR@/mupp
+Icon=mupp
+Terminal=false
+Type=Application
+StartupWMClass=mupp
+Categories=Science;Physics;DataVisualization;
+Keywords=muSR;fitting;musrfit;physics;muon;
diff --git a/cmake/musrStep.desktop.in b/cmake/musrStep.desktop.in
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7953ac48
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmake/musrStep.desktop.in
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+[Desktop Entry]
+Name=musrStep
+Comment=set the initial step sizes of an msr-file
+GenericName=musrfit step size tool
+Exec=@CMAKE_INSTALL_FULL_BINDIR@/musrStep %f
+Icon=musrStep
+Terminal=false
+Type=Application
+StartupWMClass=musrStep
+Categories=Science;Physics;
+Keywords=muSR;fitting;musrfit;physics;muon;
diff --git a/cmake/musrWiz.desktop.in b/cmake/musrWiz.desktop.in
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ead2cc78
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmake/musrWiz.desktop.in
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+[Desktop Entry]
+Name=musrWiz
+Comment=wizard to create msr-files for musrfit
+GenericName=musrfit msr-file wizard
+Exec=@CMAKE_INSTALL_FULL_BINDIR@/musrWiz
+Icon=musrWiz
+Terminal=false
+Type=Application
+StartupWMClass=musrWiz
+Categories=Science;Physics;
+Keywords=muSR;fitting;musrfit;physics;muon;
diff --git a/src/musredit_qt5/mupp/CMakeLists.txt b/src/musredit_qt5/mupp/CMakeLists.txt
index 5d5d8475..40a1de3a 100644
--- a/src/musredit_qt5/mupp/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/musredit_qt5/mupp/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -126,3 +126,22 @@ if (APPLE)
 else (APPLE)
   install(TARGETS mupp DESTINATION ${CMAKE_INSTALL_BINDIR})
 endif (APPLE)
+
+#--- Linux: the .desktop file (named after the executable, i.e. the Wayland
+#--- app-id) and the icon let the desktop show the musrfit icon for mupp. ---
+if (UNIX AND NOT APPLE)
+  configure_file(
+    ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/cmake/mupp.desktop.in
+    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/mupp.desktop
+    @ONLY
+  )
+  install(
+    FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/mupp.desktop
+    DESTINATION ${MUSRFIT_XDG_DATA_DIR}/applications
+  )
+  install(
+    FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/icons/mupp-plain.svg
+    DESTINATION ${MUSRFIT_XDG_DATA_DIR}/icons/hicolor/scalable/apps
+    RENAME mupp.svg
+  )
+endif ()
diff --git a/src/musredit_qt5/mupp/plotter/CMakeLists.txt b/src/musredit_qt5/mupp/plotter/CMakeLists.txt
index e43520f0..7883a7d0 100644
--- a/src/musredit_qt5/mupp/plotter/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/musredit_qt5/mupp/plotter/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -105,20 +105,20 @@ if (UNIX AND NOT APPLE)
   )
   install(
     FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/mupp_plot.desktop
-    DESTINATION ${MUSRFIT_XDG_DATADIR}/applications
+    DESTINATION ${MUSRFIT_XDG_DATA_DIR}/applications
   )
   install(
     FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/icons/mupp_plot.png
-    DESTINATION ${MUSRFIT_XDG_DATADIR}/icons/hicolor/48x48/apps
+    DESTINATION ${MUSRFIT_XDG_DATA_DIR}/icons/hicolor/48x48/apps
   )
   install(
     FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/icons/mupp_plot-512.png
-    DESTINATION ${MUSRFIT_XDG_DATADIR}/icons/hicolor/512x512/apps
+    DESTINATION ${MUSRFIT_XDG_DATA_DIR}/icons/hicolor/512x512/apps
     RENAME mupp_plot.png
   )
   #--- a stale icon cache would hide the new icon, hence refresh an existing one
   install(CODE "
-    set(icon_dir \"\$ENV{DESTDIR}${MUSRFIT_XDG_DATADIR}/icons/hicolor\")
+    set(icon_dir \"\$ENV{DESTDIR}${MUSRFIT_XDG_DATA_DIR}/icons/hicolor\")
     find_program(GTK_UPDATE_ICON_CACHE gtk-update-icon-cache)
     if (GTK_UPDATE_ICON_CACHE AND EXISTS \"\${icon_dir}/icon-theme.cache\")
       execute_process(COMMAND \${GTK_UPDATE_ICON_CACHE} -q -t -f \"\${icon_dir}\")
diff --git a/src/musredit_qt5/musrStep/CMakeLists.txt b/src/musredit_qt5/musrStep/CMakeLists.txt
index 31980e78..182a794c 100644
--- a/src/musredit_qt5/musrStep/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/musredit_qt5/musrStep/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -81,3 +81,22 @@ else (APPLE)
   )
 endif (APPLE)
 
+
+#--- Linux: the .desktop file (named after the executable, i.e. the Wayland
+#--- app-id) and the icon let the desktop show the musrfit icon for musrStep. ---
+if (UNIX AND NOT APPLE)
+  configure_file(
+    ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/cmake/musrStep.desktop.in
+    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/musrStep.desktop
+    @ONLY
+  )
+  install(
+    FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/musrStep.desktop
+    DESTINATION ${MUSRFIT_XDG_DATA_DIR}/applications
+  )
+  install(
+    FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/icons/musrStep-32x32.svg
+    DESTINATION ${MUSRFIT_XDG_DATA_DIR}/icons/hicolor/scalable/apps
+    RENAME musrStep.svg
+  )
+endif ()
diff --git a/src/musredit_qt5/musrWiz/CMakeLists.txt b/src/musredit_qt5/musrWiz/CMakeLists.txt
index 7d20d607..160c1496 100644
--- a/src/musredit_qt5/musrWiz/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/musredit_qt5/musrWiz/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -84,3 +84,22 @@ else (APPLE)
     RUNTIME DESTINATION ${CMAKE_INSTALL_BINDIR}
   )
 endif (APPLE)
+
+#--- Linux: the .desktop file (named after the executable, i.e. the Wayland
+#--- app-id) and the icon let the desktop show the musrfit icon for musrWiz. ---
+if (UNIX AND NOT APPLE)
+  configure_file(
+    ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/cmake/musrWiz.desktop.in
+    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/musrWiz.desktop
+    @ONLY
+  )
+  install(
+    FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/musrWiz.desktop
+    DESTINATION ${MUSRFIT_XDG_DATA_DIR}/applications
+  )
+  install(
+    FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/icons/musrWiz-32x32.svg
+    DESTINATION ${MUSRFIT_XDG_DATA_DIR}/icons/hicolor/scalable/apps
+    RENAME musrWiz.svg
+  )
+endif ()
diff --git a/src/musredit_qt6/mupp/CMakeLists.txt b/src/musredit_qt6/mupp/CMakeLists.txt
index 05f9b55a..25181d8d 100644
--- a/src/musredit_qt6/mupp/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/musredit_qt6/mupp/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -138,3 +138,22 @@ if (APPLE)
 else (APPLE)
   install(TARGETS mupp DESTINATION ${CMAKE_INSTALL_BINDIR})
 endif (APPLE)
+
+#--- Linux: the .desktop file (named after the executable, i.e. the Wayland
+#--- app-id) and the icon let the desktop show the musrfit icon for mupp. ---
+if (UNIX AND NOT APPLE)
+  configure_file(
+    ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/cmake/mupp.desktop.in
+    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/mupp.desktop
+    @ONLY
+  )
+  install(
+    FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/mupp.desktop
+    DESTINATION ${MUSRFIT_XDG_DATA_DIR}/applications
+  )
+  install(
+    FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/icons/mupp-plain.svg
+    DESTINATION ${MUSRFIT_XDG_DATA_DIR}/icons/hicolor/scalable/apps
+    RENAME mupp.svg
+  )
+endif ()
diff --git a/src/musredit_qt6/mupp/plotter/CMakeLists.txt b/src/musredit_qt6/mupp/plotter/CMakeLists.txt
index 8b3c6232..a42652ec 100644
--- a/src/musredit_qt6/mupp/plotter/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/musredit_qt6/mupp/plotter/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -105,20 +105,20 @@ if (UNIX AND NOT APPLE)
   )
   install(
     FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/mupp_plot.desktop
-    DESTINATION ${MUSRFIT_XDG_DATADIR}/applications
+    DESTINATION ${MUSRFIT_XDG_DATA_DIR}/applications
   )
   install(
     FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/icons/mupp_plot.png
-    DESTINATION ${MUSRFIT_XDG_DATADIR}/icons/hicolor/48x48/apps
+    DESTINATION ${MUSRFIT_XDG_DATA_DIR}/icons/hicolor/48x48/apps
   )
   install(
     FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/icons/mupp_plot-512.png
-    DESTINATION ${MUSRFIT_XDG_DATADIR}/icons/hicolor/512x512/apps
+    DESTINATION ${MUSRFIT_XDG_DATA_DIR}/icons/hicolor/512x512/apps
     RENAME mupp_plot.png
   )
   #--- a stale icon cache would hide the new icon, hence refresh an existing one
   install(CODE "
-    set(icon_dir \"\$ENV{DESTDIR}${MUSRFIT_XDG_DATADIR}/icons/hicolor\")
+    set(icon_dir \"\$ENV{DESTDIR}${MUSRFIT_XDG_DATA_DIR}/icons/hicolor\")
     find_program(GTK_UPDATE_ICON_CACHE gtk-update-icon-cache)
     if (GTK_UPDATE_ICON_CACHE AND EXISTS \"\${icon_dir}/icon-theme.cache\")
       execute_process(COMMAND \${GTK_UPDATE_ICON_CACHE} -q -t -f \"\${icon_dir}\")
diff --git a/src/musredit_qt6/musrStep/CMakeLists.txt b/src/musredit_qt6/musrStep/CMakeLists.txt
index 91e8fc54..adcdbac0 100644
--- a/src/musredit_qt6/musrStep/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/musredit_qt6/musrStep/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -81,3 +81,22 @@ else (APPLE)
     RUNTIME DESTINATION ${CMAKE_INSTALL_BINDIR}
   )
 endif (APPLE)
+
+#--- Linux: the .desktop file (named after the executable, i.e. the Wayland
+#--- app-id) and the icon let the desktop show the musrfit icon for musrStep. ---
+if (UNIX AND NOT APPLE)
+  configure_file(
+    ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/cmake/musrStep.desktop.in
+    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/musrStep.desktop
+    @ONLY
+  )
+  install(
+    FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/musrStep.desktop
+    DESTINATION ${MUSRFIT_XDG_DATA_DIR}/applications
+  )
+  install(
+    FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/icons/musrStep-32x32.svg
+    DESTINATION ${MUSRFIT_XDG_DATA_DIR}/icons/hicolor/scalable/apps
+    RENAME musrStep.svg
+  )
+endif ()
diff --git a/src/musredit_qt6/musrWiz/CMakeLists.txt b/src/musredit_qt6/musrWiz/CMakeLists.txt
index 4964b3dc..50e750f6 100644
--- a/src/musredit_qt6/musrWiz/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/musredit_qt6/musrWiz/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -85,3 +85,22 @@ else (APPLE)
     RUNTIME DESTINATION ${CMAKE_INSTALL_BINDIR}
   )
 endif (APPLE)
+
+#--- Linux: the .desktop file (named after the executable, i.e. the Wayland
+#--- app-id) and the icon let the desktop show the musrfit icon for musrWiz. ---
+if (UNIX AND NOT APPLE)
+  configure_file(
+    ${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/cmake/musrWiz.desktop.in
+    ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/musrWiz.desktop
+    @ONLY
+  )
+  install(
+    FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/musrWiz.desktop
+    DESTINATION ${MUSRFIT_XDG_DATA_DIR}/applications
+  )
+  install(
+    FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/icons/musrWiz-32x32.svg
+    DESTINATION ${MUSRFIT_XDG_DATA_DIR}/icons/hicolor/scalable/apps
+    RENAME musrWiz.svg
+  )
+endif ()