Windows Linux Terminal & Shell Scripting Terminal

Windows `start (open file/URL)` equivalent in Linux

Opens a file, folder, or URL with the appropriate default application — like double-clicking in the file manager.

Windows start (open file/URL)

→

Linux equivalents

Debian/Ubuntu same command

xdg-open

Fedora same command

xdg-open

Arch same command

xdg-open

Overview

What this command does

Opens a file, folder, or URL with the appropriate default application — like double-clicking in the file manager.

Migration tip: xdg-open works on any Linux desktop. It respects your default app settings. Works great for opening PDFs, images, URLs, and folders from the terminal.

Practical tasks

Common use cases

Open files with default application

Opens a file, folder, or URL with the appropriate default application — like double-clicking in the file manager.

xdg-open file.pdf

Open PDF in default viewer

xdg-open .

Open current directory in file manager

xdg-open https://url

Open URL in default browser

Ready to run

Copyable Linux commands

Review paths, device names, package names and permissions before running any command.

xdg-open document.pdf

xdg-open .

xdg-open https://google.com

xdg-open photo.jpg

Walkthrough

Examples with explanations

# Windows: start file.pdf
xdg-open document.pdf       # open in default PDF viewer
xdg-open .                  # open current folder in Nautilus/Dolphin
xdg-open https://google.com # open in Firefox/Chrome
xdg-open photo.jpg          # open in image viewer

Reference

Common options and variations

Command or option	Use
`xdg-open file.pdf`	Open PDF in default viewer
`xdg-open .`	Open current directory in file manager
`xdg-open https://url`	Open URL in default browser
`xdg-open image.png`	Open image in viewer

Distro differences

Debian/Ubuntu vs Fedora vs Arch

This command is the same on Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora and Arch Linux when the relevant tool is installed.

Distribution	Package manager / base	Equivalent command	Difference to notice
Debian/Ubuntu	same command	`xdg-open`	Same command on this distribution.
Fedora	same command	`xdg-open`	Same command on this distribution.
Arch	same command	`xdg-open`	Same command on this distribution.

Keep learning

What this command does

Common use cases

Open files with default application

xdg-open file.pdf

xdg-open .

xdg-open https://url

Copyable Linux commands

Examples with explanations

Common options and variations

Debian/Ubuntu vs Fedora vs Arch

Related Terminal & Shell Scripting commands