# Gnome Desktop Icons

By default Gnome does not show any more icons on the desktop since version 3.

This guide will show how to bring them back.

## Enable Desktop Icon Extension
Start the "Tweak" tool:


![Start "Tweak"](gnome_desktop_icons/start_tweak.png)


![Select "Extensions"](gnome_desktop_icons/select_extensions.png)

Therein select "Extensions" on the left:

![Extensions dialog](gnome_desktop_icons/extensions.png)

Now the second entry "Desktop icons" on the right allows you enable them.

![Desktop icons enabled](gnome_desktop_icons/desktop_icons_enabled.png)

Now you can close the tool.

## Allow to Launch Desktop Files

By default the `*.desktop` files in the `~/Desktop` folder are not executed, they are presented like normal textfiles instead. To change this right-click onto the .desktop file and select "Allow Launching":

![Desktop icons enabled](gnome_desktop_icons/allow_launching.png)

After you can start them with a click:

![Desktop icons enabled](gnome_desktop_icons/launched.png)