How to Open the System Tray on Linux Subsystem Using Stalonetray

Last Updated: 2023-07-20

We have received feedback from our community about an issue where certain applications, like Pidgin, become inaccessible after closing their windows within the Linux subsystem. To resolve this inconvenience, you can use a utility called Stalonetray, which creates a system tray, allowing applications like Pidgin to be minimised there. This ensures continued accessibility, even when their main window is closed.

To install Stalonetray and set up a system tray on your Linux subsystem, please follow the steps below:

Step 1: Install Stalonetray

Start by installing the Stalonetray package:

sudo apt install stalonetray

Step 2: Create a Configuration File

Next, create a configuration file for Stalonetray and save it as .stalonetrayrc in your home directory:

sudo vi .stalonetrayrc

Within the file, add the following lines, adjusting the values to suit your preferences:

background "#777777"
decorations all
geometry 4x1+0+0
icon_size 48

These settings define the background colour, enable all system tray icons, and set the icon size. You can customise these options according to your requirements.

• After entering the configuration, press Esc, type :wq, and press Enter to save and exit.

Step 3: Run Stalonetray

Finally, launch Stalonetray to open the system tray:

stalonetray &

The ampersand (&) runs Stalonetray as a background process.

Once Stalonetray is running, any application that supports minimisation to the system tray will appear in the tray. You can access these applications by right-clicking on their icons, allowing you to open or close them as needed.