# JabRef file selector dialog on Linux

**URL:** <https://discourse.jabref.org/t/jabref-file-selector-dialog-on-linux/2488>\
**Category:** Help\
**Tags:** ui\
**Created:** [January 3, 2021, 4:19pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/jabref-file-selector-dialog-on-linux/2488 "2021-01-03T16:19:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![euphonic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b77776/32.png) [@euphonic](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/euphonic)\
**Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 4:19pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/jabref-file-selector-dialog-on-linux/2488/1 "2021-01-03T16:19:52Z")

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When running JabRef on Ubuntu 20.04 or 20.10 it uses the Gnome/GTK file selector dialogs (e.g., opening or saving a library). This is a good fit when running a GTK-based desktop environment, however I run the Plasma (KDE) desktop environment so the dialog looks out of place, has fewer features, and the wrong set of bookmarks. Is there any way that I can force JabRef to use the KDE or QT file selector dialog? Thanks!

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**Author:** ![Siedlerchr](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.jabref.org/siedlerchr/32/216_2.png) [@Siedlerchr](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/Siedlerchr)\
**Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 7:23pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/jabref-file-selector-dialog-on-linux/2488/2 "2021-01-03T19:23:31Z")

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Hi,  
good question. I think this is because JabRef’s gui is written in JavaFX which probably uses GTK.  
However, I found this [https://askubuntu.com/a/1150512](https://askubuntu.com/a/1150512)  
Maybe this works for you?

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**Author:** ![euphonic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b77776/32.png) [@euphonic](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/euphonic)\
**Post date:** [January 3, 2021, 8:04pm UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/jabref-file-selector-dialog-on-linux/2488/3 "2021-01-03T20:04:42Z")

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Thanks for the reply Christoph! Sadly, I had already tried what your link described and it was unsuccessful. This trick does seem to work for some applications but not others. I didn’t know that the reason it defaulted to the GTK file picker was because JavaFX uses GTK so that does make sense. Maybe someone else has an idea but if not I think we can chalk it up to not being possible.

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**Author:** ![LyzardKing](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/discourse.jabref.org/lyzardking/32/732_2.png) [@LyzardKing](https://discourse.jabref.org/u/LyzardKing)\
**Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 6:46am UTC](https://discourse.jabref.org/t/jabref-file-selector-dialog-on-linux/2488/4 "2021-01-06T06:46:46Z")

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@euphonic What package did you install from? The deb/snap/flatpak?  
Thank might help with some troubleshooting…  
if it’s one of the latter two you might need to install xdg-desktop-portal-kde instead of xdg-desktop-portal-gtk