Xfce Forum

ml_woolley

Member

Registered: 2025-12-06

Posts: 3

Application menu order

I've been running Slackware for 5 years, and I could put the entries on the applications menu in whatever order I want. I've just switched to MX Linux  (infinity 25) and the menu items are always displayed in alphabetical order. If I use menulibre or alacarte the items are shown in the order that I have put them, but the menu when I access it, shows alphabetic order. Am I missing something or have I found a problem with MX Linux? I did try created a whole new sub-menu using menulibre and the items were displayed in the order I wanted, but suddenly switched to alphabetical order. Any ideas on how to fix this problem?

Thanks!

vm_x

Member

Registered: 2024-02-12

Posts: 59

Re: Application menu order

Menus are a bit of a mess in XFCE. MX has the "MX Menu Editor" included but don't expect much from it.

My advice is to do it manually, following the Freedesktop.org specification.

It takes some time to grasp, so have patience.

ml_woolley

Member

Registered: 2025-12-06

Posts: 3

Re: Application menu order

Thanks!  I read the specification before - time to study it more carefully. I agree the menus are a mess in XFCE. If I don't get any joy, there is always IceWM!

Jamie_Casper

Member

Registered: 2026-01-13

Posts: 2

Re: Application menu order

The menu situation in Xfce can definitely be a bit fiddly. If you’re finding the manual .menu file editing a bit too steep, I’ve had the most luck with MenuLibre. It’s usually more stable than Alacarte on Xfce. Just a tip: if changes don't show up immediately, try running xfce4-panel -r in the terminal to force the menu to refresh and pick up the new order!

trinidad

Member

From: Chicago

Registered: 2024-05-20

Posts: 15

Website

Re: Application menu order

There is a checkbox somewhere that you must uncheck alphabetical order. Not in menulibre or alacarte. I just looked for it in Debian x11 and couldn't find it. It's there in labwc so may be a part of ibus or whisker setup settings. I'm sorry I can't find it right now but I'll try to get back to you later. It's probably an MX thing.

ml_woolley

Member

Registered: 2025-12-06

Posts: 3

Re: Application menu order

This has somehow fixed itself. I been using menulibre. The computer makes fools of us all.