{"id":44836,"date":"2023-12-05T14:55:11","date_gmt":"2023-12-05T14:55:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ubuntuhandbook.org\/?p=44836"},"modified":"2024-04-30T12:39:40","modified_gmt":"2024-04-30T12:39:40","slug":"virtualbox-vm-separate-icon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ubuntuhandbook.org\/index.php\/2023\/12\/virtualbox-vm-separate-icon\/","title":{"rendered":"Make VirtualBox VMs to Have Separate Icons in Ubuntu 22.04"},"content":{"rendered":"

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I’m using Virtualbox to try out different Linux Distributions in virtual machines. It always has 2 logo icons on Ubuntu dock: one for the manager, and another for VMs.<\/p>\n

The VM and VM manager icons on the dock are totally same, causing me to make mis-clicks frequently. And, all the opened VMs are grouped into single icon on the dock.<\/p>\n

If you don’t like this default behavior, then it’s easy to make Virtual Virtual Machines to have separate icon per instance.<\/p>\n

As the screenshot below shows you, after following this tutorial, every VM will have its own system logo on Ubuntu Dock:<\/p>\n

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UPDATE: This tutorial ONLY works for Virtualbox installed from virtualbox.org\/wiki\/Linux_Downloads<\/a>.<\/b><\/p>\n

Method 1: Disable virtualboxvm.desktop<\/h3>\n

The VM icons for Linux are handled by virtualboxvm.desktop<\/code> file under “\/usr\/share\/applications” directory. Simply disable that file will make Virtualbox VM (7.0.12 in my test<\/b>) fall back to separate icon with system\/distro logo.<\/p>\n

To do so, just create an empty file with same filename under “.local\/share\/applications”.<\/b> It will be taken in use instead of the one in ‘\/usr\/share\/applications’ for current user only.<\/p>\n

Option 1: Single command to create empty virtualboxvm.desktop<\/b><\/p>\n

Ubuntu user can press Ctrl+Alt+T<\/b> on keyboard to open terminal, then run the single command below to create the empty file:<\/p>\n

touch ~\/.local\/share\/applications\/virtualboxvm.desktop<\/pre>\n
This command should work in most Linux, though running command mkdir -p ~\/.local\/share\/applications<\/code> may be required first to create the directory.<\/i>
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\nOption 2: Use text editor to create empty virtualboxvm.desktop<\/b><\/p>\n
For those who hate Linux commands, simply search for and launch a text editor window.<\/p>\n
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Then, it should by default open an empty file (if not create one). There open menu and select “Save as”.<\/p>\n
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In next dialog, name the empty file to virtualboxvm.desktop<\/b> and save it into “Home > .local > share > applications”.<\/p>\n
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The change will be applied next time you launch a VirtualBox VirtualBox.<\/p>\n
Method 2: Edit virtualboxvm.desktop<\/h3>\n
In case the first method does not work for you, you can configure the file to make it start VM as separate process.<\/p>\n
1. First, open 2 “Files” windows. Then drag’n’drop virtualboxvm.desktop<\/b> to local folder.<\/p>\n