Terminal-based tools won't open from start menu after changing the default terminal to Tilix

Kali Linux Forums Kali Linux Troubleshooting
1

What have you tried: Changed the default terminal through “Default Applications” and through terminal using the ff command: sudo update-alternatives --config x-terminal-emulator

What is the error: Nothing. When I click the terminal based tools on start menu, it will just open Tilix and not start the tools.

What device is this on:
OS: Kali GNU/Linux Rolling x86_64
Host: Enduro EUN314-51W (V1.54)
Kernel: Linux 6.12.25-amd64
Terminal: tilix 1.9.6

2

I think you are attempting this from the wrong angle.

All you really need to do is change your default shell.

From your current shell, what does:

echo $SHELL

show? I’m betting it shows zsh, which is the default kali shell.

Use the chsh command to change the default shell to Tilix. Something similar to:

chsh -s “path to tilix”

However, you will have to undo the changes you already made.

1 Like
3

Hey, thank you for responding. But, is tilix a shell in it self as well? I thought tilix is a terminal emulator only. I want to keep zsh as my default shell. I just want tilix as my default terminal emulator.

4

You need to add tillix to your bashrc and zshrc config files;

1 Like
6

Thank you for the suggestion. I actually did the option 2 on that VTE configuration right after I installed Tilix, but that didn’t help. I tried the option 1 now and that didn’t solved the issue either.

7

The config should have allowed zsh or bash to open Tillix and then tools should have worked, you’ve replaced bash and zsh with tillix at launch and the notes say it has issues with paths..

Try changing your shell back to zsh and see if it launches properly then, as you have added tillix to your zshrc it should still open tillix for you as the terminal.

chsh -s /usr/bin/zsh
8

I’ll be honest, I had never heard of tilix, and I use konsole - have done for over 20 years now and never had to change the terminal emulator.

9

I have not changed my default shell (zsh). I only changed the default terminal emulator to Tilix. I have no problem starting the tools using Tilix, my only concern is that, when I try to open the terminal based tools listed on the start menu, it will open Tilix but not initiate the program.

10

Hmm. Interesting. Maybe I should try that one.

11

Let me try to recreate your problem…

Yeah, same problem. I have used

sudo update-alternatives --config x-terminal-emulator

Selected tilix but running dirb from the menu, still opens it in konsole.

I feel like there is another setting somewhere.

1 Like
12

Everytime I try and post the markdown SOLUTION for you it keeps giving me a 403 error

13

Change default kali terminal
01 - update-alternatives

sudo update-alternatives --config x-terminal-emulator

select /usr/bin/kitty
02 - change to root user

sudo su

03 - backup files

cd /usr/bin/
mv gnome-terminal gnome-terminal.bak

04 - create a new file

nano gnome-terminal

04 - paste the following

#!/usr/bin/env bash
# Translate gnome-terminal args to Kitty
kitty "$@"

06 - change permissions

chmod 755 gnome-terminal

07 - reboot. DONE

reboot

1 Like
14

Obviously if you are using tilix substitute that instead of kitty

15

Thanks for posting that solution. It will surely help some one in future.