Add option to keep Thunderbird running in system tray when closing the main window

[kai_yang]

Many users (especially in regions like East Asia) prefer the behavior that when clicking the close button (X), Thunderbird does not fully quit but stays in the system tray.

This behavior is very common in other mail clients like Foxmail, QQ Mail, and is convenient for receiving new mail notifications while keeping the desktop clean.

Please consider adding an option like “Keep Thunderbird in system tray when closing the main window”.

Thanks for the great work and for considering this suggestion!

[Jon]

Thanks for submitting an idea to the Mozilla Connect community! Your idea is now open to votes (aka kudos) and comments.

[mrsimon0007]

Many users (especially in regions like East Asia) prefer the behavior that when clicking the close button (X), Thunderbird does not fully quit but stays in the system tray. This behavior is very common in other mail clients like Foxmail, QQ Mail, and is convenient for receiving new mail notifications while keeping the desktop clean. Please consider adding an option like “Keep Thunderbird in system tray when closing the main window.”

For a detailed Thunderbird customization guide that explains how to enable system tray behavior and background notifications, check this useful resource here.

[siffemcon]

There is an add-on which does that, but it only works on ESR versions - the latest is 140.

[flaqueman]

...and it doesn't work on cinnamon desktop.

Please make it universal

[Spellbind7644]

This seems like it should have been done years ago. It's one of 3 main reasons I'm not convinced Thunderbird can cut it as my day-to-day email client at work.

Mozilla, this alone would improve Thunderbird's usability tenfold. No more missed emails, no more missed calendar events. Birdtray exists and can help achieve this, but it's really not ideal to have two programs running off each other, and the "close window" experience can be a bit clunky.

I am a (somewhat) experienced programmer in C#. If I can help implement this, please let me know!