xdg-user-dirs-update

Update XDG user directory configuration

TLDR

Change XDG's DESKTOP directory to a specified directory

$ xdg-user-dirs-update --set DESKTOP "/[path/to/directory]"

Set the DOWNLOAD directory to a custom path

$ xdg-user-dirs-update --set DOWNLOAD "/[path/to/downloads]"

Write the result to a dry-run file instead of user-dirs.dirs

$ xdg-user-dirs-update --dummy-output "[path/to/dry_run_file]" --set [xdg_user_directory] "/[path/to/directory]"

Force a complete reset of the user directory configuration

$ xdg-user-dirs-update --force

SYNOPSIS

xdg-user-dirs-update [OPTION...] [--set NAME PATH...]

xdg-user-dirs-update updates the current state of the user's user-dirs.dirs file. If none existed before, one is created based on system default values. XDG user directories are special folders like Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, and Videos.The configuration is stored in ~/.config/user-dirs.dirs and defines where applications should look for user content directories. A user-dirs.locale file is also created on first run to track which locale was used for directory name translations.This command is normally run automatically at the start of a user session. Directories pointing to non-existent locations are reset to the user's home directory.

PARAMETERS

--set NAME PATH

Set a specific user directory. NAME must be one of DESKTOP, DOWNLOAD, TEMPLATES, PUBLICSHARE, DOCUMENTS, MUSIC, PICTURES, or VIDEOS. PATH must be absolute.

--dummy-output PATH

Write the configuration to PATH instead of the default configuration file. No directories are created when using this option.

--force

Force a complete reset of existing configuration. Recreates directories instead of resetting to HOME and always recreates the locale file.

--help

Print help output and exit.

CAVEATS

Changing directories doesn't move existing content. Applications may need to be restarted to recognize changes. The specified paths must be absolute. Part of the xdg-user-dirs package.