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Dose anyone know how to make application folders like the 'utilities' folder? It's because I have a lot of apps and want to group them by topic.

pomsky
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Budget Tech
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5 Answers5

19

I. Native GNOME Method:

(GNOME <= v. 3.32)

  1. Run Ubuntu/GNOME Software

  2. Go to Installed tab and click in right-top corner button with "tick" icon enter image description here :

enter image description here

  1. Select application to group in folder.

  2. Click in left-bottom corner button Add to Folder... :

enter image description here

  1. Type name of new folder...

II. Not Native, But Most Comfortable Method:

(need additional software, Ubintu <= v. 20.x, GNOME <= v. 3.32)

I recommend to use Appfolders Management extension by Maestroschan If You not familiar with GNOME extension, just follow link above and simple instructions. (You will need install recommended special browser Extension which help install this Gnome extension).

Use right mouse click on app and folder icons to get this options:

add app to folder

edit folder

slava
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    I wanted to go with the native method, but some of the applications that show up in dash, are not listed in Ubuntu/GNOME Software. Any idea how to fix this? – SaTa Oct 04 '19 at 03:12
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    @SaTa I had the same problem and had to go with the appfolder extension. It is very easy to install as it can be found in the GNOME Software, under "Appfolders Management extension" (Ubuntu 18.04.5 LTS) – jeannej Mar 15 '21 at 15:29
  • Sorry, but this app isn't working with ubuntu 20, even more it's deleting all menu items! "Linux is free if your time has no value"! How to get all apps back? I don't know, uninstall doesn't work! – user1660210 May 15 '21 at 19:34
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    @user1660210 Thanks. What Gnome version are you use? I will fixed my post with priority on native method. – slava May 19 '21 at 06:59
  • @mature thank you for the change. Yesterday I reinstalled my system with newer distro, so I don't know what version Gnome I had, but it was probably 3.36 – user1660210 May 19 '21 at 07:55
13

You can do this using a GNOME shell extension called "Appfolders Management extension".

It's

An easy way to manage "appfolders" (folders in the applications view) directly from the applications view.

Right click on an app icon and you'll get the options:

enter image description here

Alternatively you may use an application called GNOME App Folders Manager for the same purpose.

pomsky
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10

Ubuntu 19.10 and later

You can do what you do on your phone and just drag an app icon and hover over another one until it creates a folder. Then you can right-click that folder and rename it.

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Itai Bar-Haim
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7

It is possible with terminal.

I want to create a app folder named AV and I want my audio and video apps in it.

gsettings get org.gnome.desktop.app-folders folder-children

Example:

$ gsettings get org.gnome.desktop.app-folders folder-children
['Utilities', 'Sundry', 'YaST']

  1. Adding new entry "AV":

     gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.app-folders folder-children "['Utilities', 'Sundry', 'YaST', 'AV']"

Example:

    $ gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.app-folders folder-children "['Utilities', 'Sundry', 'YaST', 'AV']"
    $

  1. Putting .desktop files in AV folder:

     gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.app-folders.folder:/org/gnome/desktop/app-folders/folders/AV/ apps "['audacious.desktop', 'mpv.desktop']"

Example:

    $ gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.app-folders.folder:/org/gnome/desktop/app-folders/folders/AV/ apps "['audacious.desktop', 'mpv.desktop']"
    $

enter image description here
It created a folder with required apps without any folder name.

  1. Giving required name to the folder:

     gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.app-folders.folder:/org/gnome/desktop/app-folders/folders/AV/ name 'myAV'

Example:

    $ gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.app-folders.folder:/org/gnome/desktop/app-folders/folders/AV/ name 'myAV'
    $

enter image description here
*You can rename the folder name at anytime

    gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.app-folders.folder:/org/gnome/desktop/app-folders/folders/AV/ name 'myAVfav'

Example:

    $ gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.app-folders.folder:/org/gnome/desktop/app-folders/folders/AV/ name 'myAVfav'
    $

enter image description here

  1. Removing the created folder in future (or you can say go back to default):

     gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.app-folders folder-children "['Utilities', 'Sundry', 'YaST']"

Example:

    $ gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.app-folders folder-children "['Utilities', 'Sundry', 'YaST']"
    $

Further reading: https://wiki.gnome.org/HowDoI/AppFolders

Ben Blank
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PRATAP
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    This is a very detailed and perfect explanation, and it works like a charm. Thank you so much! – qarabala Dec 09 '18 at 18:36
  • This is very nice. Never thought this was also possible. Because I tend to pin down programs I use very ofter as Favourites. My setup looks exactly like Pratap's screen. I hardly find myself using the Applications Menu. – thewebjackal Mar 17 '19 at 17:09
1

This issue has been resolved in GNOME 3.38, allowing you to make and move folders in the application menu.

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