Default browser problem

[dwlamb]

Outside of `xdg-settings`, `mimeapps.list` and `update-alternatives` where can a system be getting a value for default application?

My system is opening links in Brave browser even though it is not my default browser.

In Sublime Text if I right click on a link and choose the option to open that URL in a browser, Brave browser will open.



In the Java application DBeaver if I am prompted with a software update screen and click to view the details , the system redirects to Brave browser.

In Thunderbird if I click on a web link in an e-mail, it opens in Brave. Refining this functionality in Thunderbird yields an interesting clue. If I navigate to the Preferences section (Menu Edit > Settings scroll down to ‘Files & Attachments’ ) for opening applications `http` and `https` offer choices.



Where is Thunderbird getting the idea Brave is the default browser? Everything else in my system is pointing towards Thorium.

In Brave settings, setting Brave as the default is unchecked. Any *.desktop shortcuts for Brave on the system have the `--no-default-browser-check` flag on the command line syntax.

In `~/.config/mimeapps.list` any values with `thorium-browser.desktop` are closer to the top than `com.brave.Browser.desktop` or `brave-browser.desktop`.

In `update-alternatives` these are the outputs for `gnome-www-browser`, `www-browser` or `x-www-browser`:

```bash
> sudo update-alternatives --get-selections | grep brow
```
```text
gnome-www-browser auto /usr/bin/thorium-browser
infobrowser auto /usr/bin/info
www-browser auto /usr/bin/thorium-browser
x-www-browser auto /usr/bin/thorium-browser
```

```bash
xdg-settings check default-web-browser thorium-browser.desktop
yes
```

```bash
> sudo update-alternatives --config gnome-www-browser
```
```text
There are 4 choices for the alternative gnome-www-browser (providing /usr/bin/gnome-www-browser).

Selection Path Priority Status
------------------------------------------------------------
* 0 /usr/bin/thorium-browser 200 auto mode
1 /usr/bin/brave-browser-stable 10 manual mode
2 /usr/bin/thorium-browser 200 manual mode
3 /usr/bin/waterfox 40 manual mode
```

```bash
> sudo update-alternatives --config x-www-browser
```
```text
There are 3 choices for the alternative x-www-browser (providing /usr/bin/x-www-browser).

Selection Path Priority Status
------------------------------------------------------------
* 0 /usr/bin/thorium-browser 200 auto mode
1 /usr/bin/brave-browser-stable 100 manual mode
2 /usr/bin/thorium-browser 200 manual mode
3 /usr/bin/waterfox 40 manual mode

Press <enter> to keep the current choice[*], or type selection number:
```

```bash
sudo update-alternatives --config www-browser
```
```text
There are 2 choices for the alternative www-browser (providing /usr/bin/www-browser).

Selection Path Priority Status
------------------------------------------------------------
* 0 /usr/bin/thorium-browser 200 auto mode
1 /usr/bin/brave-browser-stable 10 manual mode
2 /usr/bin/thorium-browser 200 manual mode

Press <enter> to keep the current choice[*], or type selection number:
```​

[Qqmike]

Have you looked at K > System Settings > [Personalization] > Applications > Default Applications > Web Browser ?

That's where I've managed to fix this issue with Firefox versus Chrome.
I do recall that after making a choice, I had to do something ...
like close everything, restart the PC, and then it would take full effect.

(On this subject, I can see you are a more advanced user! more so than I am :-) )

[claydoh]

` where can a system be getting a value for default application?

What does the Default Applications section in System Settings show, not the file associations part?


Check each app's settings, often this is a cuplprit, if they have options for this.
Tbird (and Firefox) usually honors the system settings, or rather imports those, or something similar, but is well known to get broken sometimes.

Use XDG tools to see what is listed; the www-browser and update-alternatives things are not used everywhere, and are not as relevant these days, especially for Flaptaks and Snaps; in general xdg is what is being used overall.

The command x-www-browserfor me opens Chrome, but otherwise my default is FF in System Settings and via XDG, which is honored everywhere for me. Including Dbeaver installed as a flatpak to test.

This is on Plasma 6, I don't have a Plasma 5 install any longer; I just upgraded my secondary PC to 26.04, and my main runs neon, which is 24.04, but does have upgraded XDG parts. So if there is a bug in 24.04, I am not able to see it at the moment.

$ xdg-settings get default-web-browser
firefox.desktop

$ update-alternatives --display x-www-browser
x-www-browser - auto mode
link best version is /usr/bin/google-chrome-stable
link currently points to /usr/bin/google-chrome-stable
link x-www-browser is /usr/bin/x-www-browser
slave x-www-browser.1.gz is /usr/share/man/man1/x-www-browser.1.gz
/usr/bin/firefox - priority 100
slave x-www-browser.1.gz: /usr/share/man/man1/firefox.1.gz
/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable - priority 200
/usr/bin/konqueror - priority 30
slave x-www-browser.1.gz: /usr/share/man/man1/konqueror.1.gz

Basically, tl;dr look at xdg settings and system settings, not the more legacy update-alternatives things.

[die.boer]

please post output of

echo $BROWSER

gio mime x-scheme-handler/http

gio mime x-scheme-handler/https​

[dwlamb]

Under System Settings > Applications > Default Applications the Thorium Browser is set as the default Web Browser.

I do no use Flatpaks or Snaps. So the existence of one of those overriding other default preferences is a non-factor.

Rebooting the system had no effect.

The commands and output of xdg-settings and update-alternatives:

> update-alternatives --display x-www-browser
x-www-browser - auto mode
link best version is /usr/bin/thorium-browser
link currently points to /usr/bin/thorium-browser
link x-www-browser is /usr/bin/x-www-browser
/usr/bin/brave-browser-stable - priority 100
/usr/bin/thorium-browser - priority 200
/usr/bin/waterfox - priority 40

​> xdg-settings check default-web-browser thorium-browser.desktop
yes

> xdg-settings get default-web-browser
thorium-browser.desktop
​

[dwlamb]

please post output of

echo $BROWSER

gio mime x-scheme-handler/http

gio mime x-scheme-handler/https

We have a winner for discovering what is pointing to brave-browser.desktop!

> echo $BROWSER


> gio mime x-scheme-handler/http
Default application for “x-scheme-handler/http”: brave-browser.desktop
Registered applications:
      waterfox.desktop
      com.brave.Browser.desktop
      kfmclient_html.desktop
      thorium-shell.desktop
      vivaldi-stable.desktop
      firefox_firefox.desktop
Recommended applications:
      waterfox.desktop
      com.brave.Browser.desktop
      kfmclient_html.desktop
      thorium-shell.desktop
      vivaldi-stable.desktop
      firefox_firefox.desktop

> gio mime x-scheme-handler/https
No default applications for “x-scheme-handler/https”

Attempting to correct this handler I did 'man gio'. From the man page:

mime MIMETYPE [HANDLER]
           If no handler is given, the mime command lists the registered and recommended
           applications for the mimetype. If a handler is given, it is set as the default handler
           for the mimetype.

           Handlers must be specified by their desktop file name, including the extension.
           Example: org.gnome.gedit.desktop.

Absent from the list of Registered applications above is an entry for thorium-browser.desktop.

If I try 'gio mime x-scheme-handler/http thorium-browser.desktop', this is the response:

gio: Failed to load info for handler “thorium-browser.desktop”

I have tried putting 'thorium-browser.desktop' in '/usr/share/applications/' or '~/.local/share/applications/' singularly one location or both locations simultaneously and re-run 'gio mime x-scheme-handler/http thorium-browser.desktop'. Each time the result has been:

gio: Failed to load info for handler “thorium-browser.desktop”

I can not find anything in web searches using "register desktop file gio" other than links to the gio manpage.

How do I fix 'gio mime x-scheme-handler/http' to point to "thorium-browser.desktop"?

As a side question, desktop files can be in '/usr/share/applications/' or '~/.local/share/applications/'. Does the system look in both those locations or just '/usr/share/applications/' for 'gio' or files referenced in '~/.config/mimeapps.list'?

[skyfishgoo]

when i click on web links within parts of the kde desktop like help functions, etc it opens the link in falkon instead of my default browser (firefox) which i find handy so that it does not disturb my tabs in firefox.

when i go to file associations in settings, i see that if i search for .html in the search box, i find that:

under the known types listed as "applications", the setting is to open in a separate viewer

and under the known types listed as "xhtml+xml" the top application is falkon

then under the known types listed as "html" the top application is the zen browser which was the last one i installed

so, i would look in settings > file associations drill down into the mimetype you are seeking to control

[die.boer]

run these

gio mime x-scheme-handler/http thorium-shell.desktop

gio mime x-scheme-handler/https thorium-shell.desktop​

update XDG

xdg-mime default thorium-shell.desktop x-scheme-handler/http

xdg-mime default thorium-shell.desktop x-scheme-handler/https​

rebuilt cache

update-desktop-database ~/.local/share/applications

Thunderbird, DBeaver, Sublime should all switch immediately (no reboot needed).

ps:Thorium installed as thorium-shell.desktop, not thorium-browser.desktop