How to minimize Thunderbird to tray like Outlook
I currently use Outlook 2010 but I'm thinking of switching to Thunderbird. Can you minimize Thunderbird to the system tray/notification area like Outlook? I'm on Windows 7.
Thanks.
Chosen Solution
I am closing this topic, I am not sure what you think your achieving here, bumping this topic. But I draw your attention to Bug 183323 - Minimize all windows to system tray (systray, notification area) which has been open for more than a decade.
All Replies (10)
Interestingly enough minimize to tray like that is a violation of the windows design specification Microsoft issued. Funny hey.
That is why there is an add-on https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/minimizetotray-revived/?src=search
Does that addon work well? I haven't installed TB yet, but I want to make sure this feature exists.
Are there other email clients that are like this as well?
probably most email clients. Anyone that wanted a Microsoft tick for made for windows back in the day did not implement minimize to tray. I really do not understand the issue personally. I have an email icon on my taskbar all the time, just sometimes it is running and other times it is not.
I suggest you install the product and do your testing. You can ask questions until your blue in the face, but nothing prevents the installer crashing the moment you start it. That is in the nature of software. Is it a fit for you? No idea. While Outlook clones exist, Thunderbird in not one. It is a cross platform program and has some quirks that go with working in Windows, Linux and OSX.
I understand but the reason i like to minimize to tray is that i often have MANY programs open up at a time and the more space conserved on the task bar the better.
Also, did Mozilla really abandon thunderbird or something? I remember hearing about it a few years ago, what happened to that?
Thunderbird has a new governance model and Mozilla provides support for security and stability issues and well as build config. Other than that we are a community project with all work done by volunteers.
So by law the people working on it cannot add this function without getting permission from Microsoft?
Yes the people working on it could now add the functionality. Howvever they see no reason to. There is a perfect good add-on that does the job and less than 10% of Thunderbird users use the add-on. Lightning is still an add-on with 5 or 6 times the user base.
I know, but addons only slow down startup time and increase background memory usage, in comparison with the feature being built in.
How can i submit feedback to the developers?
Chosen Solution
I am closing this topic, I am not sure what you think your achieving here, bumping this topic. But I draw your attention to Bug 183323 - Minimize all windows to system tray (systray, notification area) which has been open for more than a decade.