---
name: "desktop-file-validate"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "desktop-file-utils"
version: "0.28-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/desktop-file-validate"
---

# desktop-file-validate(1)

Validate desktop entry files

## NAME

desktop-file-validate - Validate desktop entry files

## SYNOPSIS

**desktop-file-validate \[--no-hints\] \[--no-warn-deprecated\] \[--warn-kde\] FILE...**

## DESCRIPTION

The *desktop-file-validate* program is a tool to validate desktop entry files according to the Desktop Entry specification 1.5.

The specification describes a file format to provide information such as name, icon and description for an application. Such a file can then be used as an application launcher and to display the application in the applications menu.

For information about the Desktop Entry specification, see *http://freedesktop.org/wiki/Specifications/desktop-entry-spec*.

The desktop entry files are commonly called **desktop files**.

## OPTIONS

The following options are supported:

- *--no-hints*

  Do not output hints about things that might be improved in the desktop file.

- *--no-warn-deprecated*

  Do not warn about usage of deprecated items that were defined in previous versions of the specification.

- *--warn-kde*

  Warn about usage of KDE extensions to the specification. This includes the use of the **KDE Desktop Entry** group, of the **ServiceTypes**, **DocPath**, **Keywords**, **InitialPreference**, **Dev**, **FSType**, **MountPoint**, **ReadOnly**, **UnmountIcon** keys, or of the **Service**, **ServiceType** and **FSDevice** types.

## BUGS

If you find bugs in the *desktop-file-validate* program, please report these on https://bugs.freedesktop.org.

## SEE ALSO

**[desktop-file-edit(1)](/desktop-file-edit/1.md)** **[desktop-file-install(1)](/desktop-file-install/1.md)**