How to Install an AppImage on Linux and Add It to the Application Menu

AppImage is a portable software distribution format that allows you to run applications on Linux without installation. However, AppImages do not automatically appear in the application menu. This guide will show you how to install an AppImage, make it executable, download an application logo, and create a desktop entry so it appears in your Applications menu.

Example: Installing Cursor Editor

Step 1: Download the AppImage

Download the AppImage file from the official website. For Cursor, run:

mkdir -p ~/Applications/Cursor
cd ~/Applications/Cursor
wget https://download.cursor.sh/latest/linux -O Cursor.AppImage

Step 2: Make the AppImage Executable

Before running the AppImage, you need to grant it execution permissions:

chmod +x Cursor.AppImage

Step 3: Download the Application Icon

Many applications provide an icon. If the application does not provide one, you can download an appropriate icon manually. For Cursor, you can get the icon using:

wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/getcursor/cursor/main/assets/icon.png -O cursor.png

Step 4: Create a Desktop Entry

To add the application to the system menu, create a .desktop file in ~/.local/share/applications/.

cat > ~/.local/share/applications/cursor.desktop <<EOL
[Desktop Entry]
Name=Cursor
Exec=$HOME/Applications/Cursor/Cursor.AppImage
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Icon=$HOME/Applications/Cursor/cursor.png
MimeType=application/vnd.mysql-workbench-model;
Categories=Development;
EOL

Step 5: Refresh the Application Menu

To apply the changes, run:

update-desktop-database ~/.local/share/applications/

Alternatively, log out and log back in or restart your system.

Running the Application

Now, you can open Cursor from your application menu like any other installed software. If it doesn't appear immediately, try searching for "Cursor" or running the AppImage manually:

~/Applications/Cursor/Cursor.AppImage

Conclusion

Following these steps, you can install any AppImage on Linux and make it easily accessible from the application menu. This method keeps applications organized without requiring system-wide installation.