diff --git a/snapcraft/parts/desktop_file.py b/snapcraft/parts/desktop_file.py
index 7db5bd085a7..afa7ba3c336 100644
--- a/snapcraft/parts/desktop_file.py
+++ b/snapcraft/parts/desktop_file.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ class DesktopFile:
 
     :param snap_name: The snap package name.
     :param app_name: The name of the app using the desktop file.
-    :param filename: The desktop file name.
+    :param filename: The desktop file path.
     :param prime_dir: The prime directory path.
 
     :raises DesktopFileError: If the desktop file does not exist.
@@ -116,9 +116,15 @@ def write(self, *, gui_dir: Path, icon_path: Optional[str] = None) -> None:
 
         gui_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
 
-        # Rename the desktop file to match the app name. This will help
-        # unity8 associate them (https://launchpad.net/bugs/1659330).
-        target = gui_dir / f"{self._app_name}.desktop"
+        desktop_filename = os.path.basename(self._filename)
+
+        # Stop renaming the desktop file. From snapd 2.66 onwards,
+        # users can declare custom desktop file names which snapd will not rename
+        # in the format of {SNAP_NAME}_{APP_NAME}.desktop
+        # https://snapcraft.io/docs/desktop-interface
+        target = gui_dir / desktop_filename
+        if not (desktop_filename.endswith(".desktop")):
+            target = gui_dir / f"{desktop_filename}.desktop"
 
         if target.exists():
             # Unlikely. A desktop file in meta/gui/ already existed for
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index a09e205e6f2..2755e539eb0 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 import os
+from pathlib import Path
 
 import keyring
 import pytest
@@ -52,6 +53,15 @@ def new_dir(tmp_path):
     os.chdir(cwd)
 
 
+@pytest.fixture
+def prime_dir(new_dir):
+    """Create a subdirectory structure 'new_dir/meta/gui'."""
+
+    prime_dir = Path(f"{new_dir}/meta/gui")
+
+    yield prime_dir
+
+
 @pytest.fixture
 def memory_keyring():
     """In memory keyring backend for testing."""
diff --git a/tests/spread/core24/appstream-desktop/task.yaml b/tests/spread/core24/appstream-desktop/task.yaml
index b8a98eff753..c79e820a78c 100644
--- a/tests/spread/core24/appstream-desktop/task.yaml
+++ b/tests/spread/core24/appstream-desktop/task.yaml
@@ -31,6 +31,6 @@ execute: |
   fi
 
   if ! diff -U10 prime/meta/gui/appstream-desktop.desktop expected_appstream-desktop.desktop; then
-      echo "The formatting for appstream-desktop.desktop is incorrect"
+      echo "The formatting for io.snapcraft.appstream.desktop is incorrect"
       exit 1
   fi
diff --git a/tests/spread/general/appstream-desktop/task.yaml b/tests/spread/general/appstream-desktop/task.yaml
index 9906d67c2e5..2adca1ae6ce 100644
--- a/tests/spread/general/appstream-desktop/task.yaml
+++ b/tests/spread/general/appstream-desktop/task.yaml
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ execute: |
 
   expected_desktop="$PWD/../../appstream-desktop/expected_appstream-desktop.desktop"
 
-  if ! diff -U10 prime/meta/gui/appstream-desktop.desktop "$expected_desktop"; then
-      echo "The formatting for appstream-desktop.desktop is incorrect"
+  if ! diff -U10 prime/meta/gui/io.snapcraft.appstream.desktop "$expected_desktop"; then
+      echo "The formatting for io.snapcraft.appstream.desktop is incorrect"
       exit 1
   fi
diff --git a/tests/spread/general/appstream-icon-from-desktop/task.yaml b/tests/spread/general/appstream-icon-from-desktop/task.yaml
index 6baf7220f65..27004274f06 100644
--- a/tests/spread/general/appstream-icon-from-desktop/task.yaml
+++ b/tests/spread/general/appstream-icon-from-desktop/task.yaml
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ execute: |
 
   expected_desktop="$PWD/../../appstream-desktop/expected_appstream-desktop.desktop"
 
-  if ! diff -U10 prime/meta/gui/appstream-desktop.desktop "$expected_desktop"; then
-      echo "The formatting for appstream-desktop.desktop is incorrect"
+  if ! diff -U10 prime/meta/gui/io.snapcraft.appstream.desktop "$expected_desktop"; then
+      echo "The formatting for io.snapcraft.appstream.desktop is incorrect"
       exit 1
   fi
diff --git a/tests/spread/general/appstream-remote-gfx/task.yaml b/tests/spread/general/appstream-remote-gfx/task.yaml
index ec7cd9c0e2a..fcf0a9c1e1a 100644
--- a/tests/spread/general/appstream-remote-gfx/task.yaml
+++ b/tests/spread/general/appstream-remote-gfx/task.yaml
@@ -36,8 +36,8 @@ execute: |
 
   expected_desktop="$PWD/../../appstream-remote-gfx/expected_appstream-desktop.desktop"
 
-  if ! diff -U10 prime/meta/gui/appstream-desktop.desktop "$expected_desktop"; then
-      echo "The formatting for appstream-desktop.desktop is incorrect"
+  if ! diff -U10 prime/meta/gui/io.snapcraft.appstream.desktop "$expected_desktop"; then
+      echo "The formatting for io.snapcraft.appstream.desktop is incorrect"
       exit 1
   fi
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/parts/test_desktop_file.py b/tests/unit/parts/test_desktop_file.py
index 78470c069d1..3a7a5c60394 100644
--- a/tests/unit/parts/test_desktop_file.py
+++ b/tests/unit/parts/test_desktop_file.py
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-from pathlib import Path
 from textwrap import dedent
 
 import pytest
@@ -39,7 +38,9 @@ class TestDesktopExec:
             ("bar", "--arg", "foo.bar --arg"),
         ],
     )
-    def test_generate_desktop_file(self, new_dir, app_name, app_args, expected_exec):
+    def test_generate_desktop_file(
+        self, new_dir, prime_dir, app_name, app_args, expected_exec
+    ):
         snap_name = "foo"
 
         desktop_file_path = new_dir / "app.desktop"
@@ -53,9 +54,9 @@ def test_generate_desktop_file(self, new_dir, app_name, app_args, expected_exec)
             filename=desktop_file_path,
             prime_dir=new_dir.as_posix(),
         )
-        d.write(gui_dir=Path())
+        d.write(gui_dir=prime_dir)
 
-        expected_desktop_file = new_dir / f"{app_name}.desktop"
+        expected_desktop_file = prime_dir / "app.desktop"
         assert expected_desktop_file.exists()
         with expected_desktop_file.open() as desktop_file:
             assert desktop_file.read() == dedent(
@@ -83,7 +84,9 @@ class TestDesktopIcon:
             ("foo", None, "foo"),
         ],
     )
-    def test_generate_desktop_file(self, new_dir, icon, icon_path, expected_icon):
+    def test_generate_desktop_file(
+        self, new_dir, prime_dir, icon, icon_path, expected_icon
+    ):
         snap_name = app_name = "foo"
 
         desktop_file_path = new_dir / "app.desktop"
@@ -101,14 +104,14 @@ def test_generate_desktop_file(self, new_dir, icon, icon_path, expected_icon):
             filename=desktop_file_path,
             prime_dir=new_dir,
         )
-        d.write(gui_dir=Path())
+        d.write(gui_dir=prime_dir)
 
         if icon_path is not None:
-            d.write(icon_path=icon_path, gui_dir=Path())
+            d.write(icon_path=icon_path, gui_dir=prime_dir)
         else:
-            d.write(gui_dir=Path())
+            d.write(gui_dir=prime_dir)
 
-        expected_desktop_file = new_dir / f"{app_name}.desktop"
+        expected_desktop_file = prime_dir / "app.desktop"
         assert expected_desktop_file.exists()
         with expected_desktop_file.open() as desktop_file:
             assert (
@@ -137,7 +140,7 @@ def test_generate_desktop_file(self, new_dir, icon, icon_path, expected_icon):
         ],
     )
     def test_generate_desktop_file_multisection(
-        self, new_dir, icon, icon_path, expected_icon
+        self, new_dir, prime_dir, icon, icon_path, expected_icon
     ):
         snap_name = app_name = "foo"
 
@@ -161,11 +164,11 @@ def test_generate_desktop_file_multisection(
         )
 
         if icon_path is not None:
-            d.write(icon_path=icon_path, gui_dir=Path())
+            d.write(icon_path=icon_path, gui_dir=prime_dir)
         else:
-            d.write(gui_dir=Path())
+            d.write(gui_dir=prime_dir)
 
-        expected_desktop_file = new_dir / f"{app_name}.desktop"
+        expected_desktop_file = prime_dir / "app.desktop"
         assert expected_desktop_file.exists()
         with expected_desktop_file.open() as desktop_file:
             assert desktop_file.read() == dedent(
diff --git a/tests/unit/parts/test_setup_assets.py b/tests/unit/parts/test_setup_assets.py
index 34efdc318eb..30d5b96bec8 100644
--- a/tests/unit/parts/test_setup_assets.py
+++ b/tests/unit/parts/test_setup_assets.py
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ def test_setup_assets_happy(self, desktop_file, yaml_data, new_dir):
         )
 
         # desktop file should be in meta/gui and named after app
-        desktop_path = Path("prime/meta/gui/app1.desktop")
+        desktop_path = Path("prime/meta/gui/test.desktop")
         assert desktop_path.is_file()
 
         # desktop file content should make icon relative to ${SNAP}
@@ -379,7 +379,7 @@ def test_setup_assets_icon_in_assets_dir(self, desktop_file, yaml_data, new_dir)
         )
 
         # desktop file should be in meta/gui and named after app
-        desktop_path = Path("prime/meta/gui/app1.desktop")
+        desktop_path = Path("prime/meta/gui/test.desktop")
         assert desktop_path.is_file()
 
         # desktop file content should make icon relative to ${SNAP}
@@ -449,7 +449,7 @@ def test_setup_assets_remote_icon(self, desktop_file, yaml_data, new_dir):
         )
 
         # desktop file should be in meta/gui and named after app
-        desktop_path = Path("prime/meta/gui/app1.desktop")
+        desktop_path = Path("prime/meta/gui/test.desktop")
         assert desktop_path.is_file()
 
         # desktop file content should make icon relative to ${SNAP}