Custom app launcher is not getting picked up

[gokalpo]

Ubuntu Version: 26.04 snapshot-2, up to date as of Dec 13.
Desktop Environment: GNOME with the default Wayland setup, minimal install
Problem Description:
I have created a file ~/.local/share/applications/godot.desktop with the contents below. However, it’s not coming up in the launcher menu, even after a reboot:

$ cat ~/.local/share/applications/godot.desktop 
[Desktop Entry]
Name=Godot
Comment=Godot game engine
Exec=$HOME/Applications/godot
Type=Application
Icon=godot
StartupNotify=true
MimeType=application/x-godot-project;
Categories=Development;Game;
Keywords=godot;

Did I miss something?

[rubi1200]

Moved to Pre-Release Discussion since 26.04 is still in development.

[Kyuyrii]

I don’t know if anything has changed in the latest versions of Gnome, I’m on Ubuntu 24.04 with Gnome 46.

Using $HOME doesn’t work, it needs to be the exact path, try something like /home/your-username/Applications/godot