Thunderbird recently introduced a tray icon, which is a great addition. However, its current implementation is quite limited and doesn't serve much purpose. Below are some suggestions to make the tray icon more useful and functional.
1. Option to Disable the Tray Icon
Not all users want a tray icon for their email client. Providing an option to disable it would allow those who don’t need it to keep their system tray uncluttered.
2. Minimize and Close to Tray
One of the main benefits of a tray icon is keeping apps running in the background. Currently, Thunderbird lacks the ability to minimize or close to the tray, which limits its usefulness. Adding this as an option in the settings would improve the experience.
3. Unread Email Indicator
The tray icon should change when there are unread emails, such as displaying a dot or an exclamation mark. This is a standard feature in communication apps and would help users stay informed at a glance.
4. Launch on System Startup
There should be an option to launch Thunderbird minimized to the tray when the system starts. Many applications with tray functionality offer this, making it more convenient for users who want their email client always running in the background.
5. Monochrome Icon Option
Some operating systems, such as macOS and certain Linux desktop environments use monochrome icons. Thunderbird’s tray icon does not blend well with these environments. As far as I know the tray icon is not enabled on macOS right now, but on Linux it should use a symbolic SVG icon, allowing the system to apply theming for a more cohesive desktop experience.
This is how the Thunderbird Beta tray icon looks like in a Linux DE applying theming
I believe the Thunderbird tray icon would become way more useful if these improvements were implemented. Right now it is quite useless and is more of an annoyance that cannot be disabled than a feature.
