How to change the execution of Firefox to another application and change its icon?

Changing the execution of Firefox to another application and modifying its icon can be done by creating a custom desktop entry file. This is typically done in Linux environments that use desktop environments like GNOME, KDE, or XFCE. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do this:

Step 1: Create a Custom Desktop Entry

1. Open a terminal.

2. Navigate to the applications directory: For system-wide applications:

    cd /usr/share/applications
   

   For user-specific applications:

    cd ~/.local/share/applications
   

3. Create a new desktop entry file: Use a text editor to create a new .desktop file. For example, to create a custom entry called custom-firefox.desktop, run:

    nano custom-firefox.desktop
   

   (You can use any text editor, such as gedit, vim, or nano.)

4. Add the following content: Replace /path/to/your/application with the actual path of the application you want to execute and /path/to/icon.png with the path to your custom icon.

    [Desktop Entry]
    Version=1.0
    Name=Custom Firefox
    Exec=/path/to/your/application
    Icon=/path/to/icon.png
    Type=Application
    Terminal=false
    Categories=Network;WebBrowser;
   

Step 2: Change the Icon

1. Prepare your icon: Make sure you have an icon file (PNG, SVG, etc.). Ideally, the icon should be 48x48 pixels or larger for best appearance.

2. Place your icon: Save the icon file to a location like /usr/share/icons for system-wide use or ~/.local/share/icons for user-specific use.

3. Reference the icon: Ensure the path in the Icon= line of your .desktop file points to your icon file.

Step 3: Make the Desktop Entry Executable

1. Set the correct permissions: You need to make your new desktop entry executable. Run the following command:

    chmod +x custom-firefox.desktop
   

Step 4: Test Your Custom Application

1. Launch the application: You can either find your custom application in your applications menu or run:

    gtk-launch custom-firefox
   

   If you placed the .desktop file in ~/.local/share/applications, it should now appear in your application launcher.

Step 5: (Optional) Remove or Replace Existing Firefox Entry

If you want to replace the original Firefox entry:

1. Locate the original Firefox .desktop file: It is usually named firefox.desktop in /usr/share/applications/.

2. Edit the original entry: You can modify the Exec= line to point to your custom application or just rename the original .desktop file for backup.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can successfully change the execution of Firefox to another application and change its icon. If you encounter any issues, ensure that the paths and permissions are set correctly.