Have you ever clicked on "Places" in Ubuntu and been surprised to see the Disk Usage Analyzer pop up instead of your file manager? This unexpected behavior can be frustrating, especially when you just want to quickly access your files and folders. This article will guide you through several solutions to resolve this issue, ensuring "Places" opens your preferred file manager as intended.
This issue has been reported across different Ubuntu versions, including Ubuntu 13.04, 14.04, 16.04 and even later releases like 21.04, indicating that it's a persistent glitch related to how Ubuntu handles file associations.
The root cause of this issue lies in how Ubuntu handles Mime Type Associations. Mime types are used to identify the type of a file. For directories, the mime type is inode/directory. When the system incorrectly associates this mime type with the Disk Usage Analyzer (Baobab), clicking "Places" triggers the analyzer.
Here are several methods to fix this issue. Try them in order, as some are simpler and might resolve the problem quickly.
xdg-mime Command (Recommended)This is the most effective and widely recommended solution. It directly sets the default application for the inode/directory mime type.
Open a terminal.
Run the following command:
xdg-mime default nautilus.desktop inode/directory
nautilus.desktop (the file manager) for handling directories. If you are using a different file manager such as Thunar, replace nautilus.desktop with thunar.desktop.Log out and log back in, or restart your system for the changes to take effect.
baobab.desktop FileThis method involves modifying the Disk Usage Analyzer's desktop entry file.
Open the /usr/share/applications/baobab.desktop file with root privileges. You can use a text editor like nano or gedit:
sudo nano /usr/share/applications/baobab.desktop
Locate the line starting with MimeType=.
Remove inode/directory; from the MimeType= line. Save the file if you are using nano with Ctrl+X, then Y, then Enter or using other editor press Ctrl+S.
Run the following command to update the desktop database:
sudo update-desktop-database -q
sudo to allow updating the desktop database.If Nautilus (the default GNOME file manager) is causing the issue, reconfiguring it might help. This involves reinstalling & reconfiguring the application using dpkg
Open a terminal.
Run the following command:
sudo dpkg-reconfigure nautilus
If you are using Kubuntu (Ubuntu with KDE Plasma), the method above might not work. KDE Plasma has its own way of managing file associations. To fix it:
/usr/bin/dolphin %U.Some users have reported success by restoring to default settings.
Open terminal.
Execute
dconf reset -f /org/gnome/nautilus/
in terminal to reset nautilus settings. This command can potentially reset other Nautilus settings as well.
These solutions work by directly addressing the incorrect mime type association. By either explicitly setting the correct application for inode/directory using xdg-mime or removing the incorrect association from the Disk Usage Analyzer, the system is forced to use the proper file manager when you click "Places".
Having "Places" open the Disk Usage Analyzer instead of your file manager can disrupt your workflow in Ubuntu. By following these solutions, you can restore the correct behavior and ensure that clicking "Places" opens your desired file manager, allowing you to navigate your files and folders efficiently. Remember to test after each solution to see which one works best for your specific Ubuntu setup.
By implementing these steps, you can regain control over your Ubuntu environment and enjoy a seamless file management experience. Good luck!
