System tray support on Linux

[filipesaraiva]

Currently Thunderbird supports system tray on Windows - just close the software and an icon will be presented on Windows system tray.

Unfortunately this feature is missing on Linux. In past there were several plugins to do that, like several versions of Minimize-to-tray, however the plugin technology for Thunderbird (and Firefox) has changed over time, and these plugins are no longer supported.

Currently if I want to use this feature on Linux I need install an additional software like systray-x or KDocker, which it is weird.

So, please turn this feature native for Linux too!

[Foxtail]

Is there any updates?

[GattaNegra]

+1 I have used this in the past and I miss this so much!

[vytrol]

BetterBird has this functionality already.

[Mooders]

Please do this for Flatpak version as well. PLZZZZZ

[NickAM1025]

Looking forward to this feature!

[LizLee]

will the update provide the following functions:

1. the ability to send thunderbird to the TRAY by clicking the X (close) button WHILE the minimize button behaves traditionally (i.e. minimizes to the TASKBAR).

2. having an option to launch thunderbird straight into the tray without visually opening its window? (especially needed for autostart reasons)

that being asked i still need to point out why the current option, which makes use of the minimize button to send thunderbird to the tray, is a especially bad design decision:

1. the VAST majority of programs offering a send to tray option do this by making use of the X (close) button.

2. i think in most peoples workflow, minimizing a window is used to temporarily put it out of focus in a multi tasking situation. if you send something to the tray it is completely out of focus (like being closed). i guess most people dont want that when clicking minimize.

[albertoendesa]

i agree with you totally

[zakweb3]

@LizLee 

It's unacceptable that in 2025, we're still missing a fundamental feature in Thunderbird on Linux Desktop - a feature that's been long overdue. We've been waiting patiently for 25 years, and it's time for Mozilla devs to prioritize this crucial functionality and make it a reality.

https://www.theregister.com/2024/07/22/mozilla_thunderbird_ffix/

[SuperKenVery]

It seems there's already code: https://github.com/thunderbird/thunderbird-desktop/tree/main/rust/sys_tray/src/linux 

Any idea why this isn't enabled on linux?

[sprtd-w]

++1

please asap 😅

Ubuntu v.24

[tomasz64]

See here:

https://github.com/Ximi1970/systray-x

[tomasz64]

I use this method, which has worked well for me with all versions of Ubuntu. I'm currently on version 25.10.

https://github.com/Ximi1970/systray-x

[krankenwagen]

@Jon 
This still hasnt been implemented? For a software with the main purpose of communications that seems like an unacceptable feature to be missing. Many apps DO succesfully implement it.

It cant be the intention to have the UX design be: "oh i might receive mail the next hour, let me open thunderbird else ill have no idea im getting messages"?

When i read other ideas, that HAVE been implemented, they have way less likes/kudos, way less comments. And seem way less important. Android background kit? Account profile pictures, vertical tab/sidebar expand on hover: adjustable wait time. 

Sure you could say: well youre technically more advanced since youre using linux so just add some addons or the wrapper fix, its open source anyways. Well so is IMAP and SMTP and thunderbird so if we have to go to alternative or third party fixes anyways why not just use an alternative or third party mail client all together? 

Seems to me this idea might have fallen through the cracks but are core features for communications and compatibility, please re-evaluate the value of this fix.

For anyone looking for alternative: Evolution