---
name: "alacarte"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "alacarte"
version: "1:3.58.0-2"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/alacarte"
---

# alacarte(1)

Edit freedesktop.org menus

## NAME

alacarte - Edit freedesktop.org menus

## SYNOPSIS

**alacarte**

## DESCRIPTION

alacarte is a graphical editor for the freedesktop.org menus that are used by many desktop environments. It can also edit and create application desktop files.

## OPTIONS

**alacarte** does not accept any commandline options.

## ENVIRONMENT

**XDG\_CONFIG\_DIRS**

**alacarte** looks in the menus subdirectory of these directories for menu files. The default location for menu files is /etc/xdg/menus.

**XDG\_DATA\_DIRS**

**alacarte** looks in the applications subdirectory of these directories for desktop files. The default location for desktop files is /usr/share/applications.

**XDG\_CONFIG\_HOME**

The menus subdirectory of this directory is where **alacarte** stores modified menu files. The default location for modified menu files is **$HOME**/.config/menus.

**XDG\_DATA\_HOME**

The applications subdirectory of this directory is where **alacarte** stores modified and newly created desktop files. The default location for these is **$HOME**/.local/share/applications.

**XDG\_MENU\_PREFIX**

**alacarte** is editing the menus defined by the file **$XDG\_MENU\_PREFIX**applications.menu. GNOME uses the menu file gnome-applications.menu.