kAppIcon

Literally no one: …

Me: Challenge accepted!

kAppIcon changes Linux app launcher icons without root. Map a custom image, another app’s icon, or a single glyph from any installed icon theme (WhiteSur, Tela, Breeze, …) to one application at a time — without switching your whole system theme. Give AppImages a menu entry and a proper icon. Export / import an icon map to move your overrides to another machine or restore them after a reinstall.

User-level desktop entries only. Built for KDE Plasma and other freedesktop desktops.

Install

git clone https://github.com/rayman1972/kappicon.git
cd kappicon && ./install.sh
kappicon

Arch Linux: kappicon · kappicon-git

yay -S kappicon       # stable
yay -S kappicon-git   # latest main

Dependencies, updates, and distro packages → Installation wiki

Screenshots

Map — from file

Map — from another app

Map — from icon theme

Map — batch multi-select

Create

Draw, import/paste, prep kit (pad, tint, mono, outline, shadow), transforms, and size previews.

Settings

Includes appearance, icon shape, backups, icon map export/import, Map/AppImage folders, and maintenance.

Overrides

Missing

AppImage

List AppImage menu launchers, Add AppImage… for a bare .AppImage, set its icon, or open it on Map.

→ AppImage wiki (what it does, what it doesn’t, Settings folder)

Features

• Map from file, another app, or any installed icon theme pack
• Stay-open Apply, batch multi-select, session Undo
• Create — pixel editor, import/paste, prep kit (pad, tint, mono, outline, shadow), size previews, icon library
• Overrides (current vs system) and Missing icons
• AppImage — menu launchers for .AppImage files: list, add, set icon, open in Map
• Export / import icon map — portable zip of launcher overrides (custom kappicon-* icons + theme names) for reinstall or another PC (Settings · File · Overrides)
• Optional backups, icon shapes, drag-and-drop (never auto-applies)
• CLI (kappicon-cli) shares the same safe mutation engine
• User overrides only — lock, atomic writes, content-addressed icons

Full list → Features wiki · AppImage

Usage

kappicon          # GUI (Map · Create · Settings · Overrides · Missing · AppImage)
kappicon-cli      # interactive CLI (fzf)

Tab walkthrough and CLI flags → Usage wiki

Documentation

Wiki home	Index
Installation	Install, update, deps
Requirements	Python, PyQt6, tools
Usage	GUI + CLI
AppImage	AppImage launchers & icons
FAQ	Common questions
Paths	XDG locations
How it works	Overrides, icons, safety
Architecture	Package layout
Origins	History & credits

Contributing

See CONTRIBUTING.md and the Code of Conduct.
Security: SECURITY.md.

License

MIT — see LICENSE.

Based on macosicons-linux by System RW; this project is a substantial rework and expansion. Full story → Origins.