[bug] App Icon Is Not Used In .deb Build

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Introduction

Tauri is a framework for building desktop applications using web technologies. It provides a way to create native-like applications for Windows, macOS, and Linux using a single codebase. However, when building a Tauri application for Linux using the .deb package format, the app icon is not used. This article will explore the issue and provide a solution.

Describe the bug

After generating icon files using the tauri icon command from a provided PNG and running tauri build, the .deb build does not have any icon at all. This is a problem because the app icon is an important part of the user experience, and its absence can make the application look unprofessional.

Reproduction

To reproduce the issue, follow these steps:

  1. Create a fresh project with yarn create tauri-app. Basic settings: TypeScript, yarn, vanilla UI.
  2. Add an icon to the root folder at app-icon.png.
  3. Run yarn tauri icon app-icon.png.
  4. Run yarn tauri build and install the .deb package.

Expected behavior

The expected behavior is that the app icon should be used in the .deb build.

Full tauri info output

Here is the full output of tauri info:

[✔] Environment
    - OS: Ubuntu 24.10.0 x86_64 (X64) (KDE on wayland)
    ✔ webkit2gtk-4.1: 2.48.1
    ✔ rsvg2: 2.59.1
    ✔ rustc: 1.86.0 (05f9846f8 2025-03-31)
    ✔ cargo: 1.86.0 (adf9b6ad1 2025-02-28)
    ✔ rustup: 1.28.2 (e4f3ad6f8 2025-04-28)
    ✔ Rust toolchain: stable-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu (default)
    - node: 20.16.0
    - yarn: 1.22.22
    - npm: 9.2.0

[-] Packages
    - tauri 🦀: 2.5.1
    - tauri-build 🦀: 2.2.0
    - wry 🦀: 0.51.2
    - tao 🦀: 0.33.0
    - tauri-cli 🦀: 2.5.0
    - @tauri-apps/api : 2.5.0
    - @tauri-apps/cli : 2.5.0

[-] Plugins
    - tauri-plugin-opener 🦀: 2.2.6
    - @tauri-apps/plugin-opener : 2.2.6

[-] App
    - build-type: bundle
    - CSP: unset
    - frontendDist: ../dist
    - devUrl: http://localhost:1420/
    - bundler: Vite

Stack trace

There is no stack trace to provide.

Additional context

No additional context is available.

Solution

To fix the issue, you need to add the following configuration to your tauri.conf.json file:

{
  "build": {
    "deb": {
      "icon": "path/to/your/icon.png"
    }
  }
}

Replace path/to/your/icon.png with the actual path to your icon file.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the app icon is not used in the .deb build of a Tauri application due to a missing configuration in the tauri.conf.json file. By adding the icon configuration to the deb section, you can fix the issue and use the app icon in the .deb build.

Troubleshooting

If you are still experiencing issues after adding the icon configuration, make sure that:

  • The icon file is in the correct location and has the correct name.
  • The tauri.conf.json file is in the correct location and has the correct syntax.
  • The tauri build command is run with the correct options.

Q: What is the issue with the app icon in the .deb build?

A: The issue is that the app icon is not used in the .deb build of a Tauri application. This means that when you install the .deb package, the app icon is not displayed in the application menu or on the desktop.

Q: Why is the app icon not used in the .deb build?

A: The app icon is not used in the .deb build because of a missing configuration in the tauri.conf.json file. Specifically, the icon configuration is not set for the deb section.

Q: How do I fix the issue with the app icon in the .deb build?

A: To fix the issue, you need to add the following configuration to your tauri.conf.json file:

{
  "build": {
    "deb": {
      "icon": "path/to/your/icon.png"
    }
  }
}

Replace path/to/your/icon.png with the actual path to your icon file.

Q: What if I don't have an icon file?

A: If you don't have an icon file, you can create one using a tool like GIMP or Adobe Photoshop. You can also use a online icon generator tool to create an icon from a PNG image.

Q: Where do I put the icon file?

A: You should put the icon file in the same directory as your tauri.conf.json file.

Q: What if I'm still experiencing issues with the app icon in the .deb build?

A: If you're still experiencing issues, make sure that:

  • The icon file is in the correct location and has the correct name.
  • The tauri.conf.json file is in the correct location and has the correct syntax.
  • The tauri build command is run with the correct options.

If none of these solutions work, you can try to debug the issue by running tauri build with the --verbose flag to get more detailed output.

Q: Can I use a different icon for the .deb build?

A: Yes, you can use a different icon for the .deb build by specifying a different icon file in the icon configuration.

Q: How do I specify a different icon for the .deb build?

A: To specify a different icon for the .deb build, you can add the following configuration to your tauri.conf.json file:

{
  "build": {
    "deb": {
      "icon": "path/to/your/different/icon.png"
    }
  }
}

Replace path/to/your/different/icon.png with the actual path to your different icon file.

Q: Can I use a custom icon for the .deb build?

A: Yes, you can use a custom icon for the .deb build by creating a custom icon file and specifying it in the icon configuration.

Q: How do I create a custom icon for the .deb build?

A To create a custom icon for the .deb build, you can use a tool like GIMP or Adobe Photoshop to create an icon from a PNG image. You can also use a online icon generator tool to create an icon from a PNG image.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the app icon is not used in the .deb build of a Tauri application due to a missing configuration in the tauri.conf.json file. By adding the icon configuration to the deb section, you can fix the issue and use the app icon in the .deb build.