Opening XTerm with root privileges from Q menu

[alimirjamali]

There are multiple solutions to your requirement.

1. Take a look at ~/.local/share/applications (in dom0) and find .desktop file for Debian 12 Xterm (it should be something like org.qubes-os.vm._debian_d13_dminimal.debian-xterm.desktop. Then copy the file to a new .desktop file. Modify these two lines:

--- org.qubes-os.vm._debian_d13_dminimal.debian-xterm.desktop	2025-07-21 14:07:48.520426875 +0330
+++ org.qubes-os.vm._debian_d13_dminimal.debian-xterm2.desktop	2025-07-30 12:36:14.032578663 +0330
@@ -5,9 +5,9 @@
 X-Qubes-VmName=debian-13-minimal
 X-Qubes-AppName=debian-xterm
 Icon=/home/alimirjamali/.local/share/qubes-appmenus/debian-13-minimal/apps.icons/debian-xterm.png
-Name=debian-13-minimal: XTerm
+Name=debian-13-minimal: XTerm (root)
 StartupWMClass=debian-13-minimal:XTerm
 Comment=standard terminal emulator for the X window system
 Categories=System;TerminalEmulator;X-Qubes-VM;
-Exec=qvm-run -q -a --service -- debian-13-minimal qubes.StartApp+debian-xterm
+Exec=qvm-run -q -a --service -u root -- debian-13-minimal qubes.StartApp+debian-xterm
 X-Qubes-DispvmExec=qvm-run -q -a --service --dispvm=debian-13-minimal -- qubes.StartApp+debian-xterm

Pay attention that it uses qubes.StartApp+debian-xterm.
Then you will have the root shortcut in App Menu which will work:

2. There has been a recent patch to Qui Domains Widget (I am not certain if it is only available for Qubes OS r4.3 or is backported to r4.2 as well). If you hold down shift key and point you mouse to Run Terminal menu item, it morphs to Run Root Terminal and you will be able to open root terminal directly from there.
   

   

3. If you want similar behavior from App Menu shortcuts (allowing to run them as root while holding shift key), you may open a feature request on Qubes Github issues page.