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I want to get instant notifications for new emails and I don't want to install and configure an extra program for that. Thunderbird shows notifications, so does Gmail webapp. But both of them work only as long as they are open and running (or minimized).

Is there a way to have Thunderbird show notifications without keeping it open (at least the GUI)?

OS: Ubuntu 14.04

Thanks

lfk
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  • There is this addon which seems to do exaclty that : https://addons.thunderbird.net/en-us/thunderbird/addon/keeprunning/ – Butanium Sep 29 '22 at 15:57

6 Answers6

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I recommend (and use) FireTray, which you can get at https://addons.mozilla.org/en-us/thunderbird/addon/firetray/.

It will keep Thunderbird running in the background, and then notify you of new emails.

ExplodingKittens
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    The latest version is from 2016, and only works with Thunderbird 7.0 - 50.0 – quangkid Aug 27 '18 at 03:00
  • Yes, FireTray is no longer supported by new versions of Thunderbird. I've not used Thunderbird in a while now, so I unfortunately don't know of any alternatives. – ExplodingKittens Aug 29 '18 at 01:00
2

As FireTray is not supporting the Thunderbird version 68+
You can get still receive emails in background by using another trustfull Ubuntu app named as Geary (I am also using it).
So to install Geary, use the below command - 

sudo apt install geary

That's it.
Now open it and do the formalties saying by geary and then
go to preferences, check the checkbox named as [✔] Watch for new mail when closed.
You have all done here.
Enjoy !

Abhishek Kamal
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  • Can it change the size or zooming? My font-size is too small but I can't find the font size or zooming in Geary. – xwhitelight Jul 26 '20 at 22:53
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    Yes you can change the font-size in _Geary_ with the **keyboard shortcut** `ctrl+` , `ctrl-`, `ctrl0` for increase, decrease and reset the font-size. Now whenever you open geary in future it will continue to use the changed font-size. – Abhishek Kamal Jul 27 '20 at 10:02
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    See all **keyboard Shortcuts** of geary to work fast. – Abhishek Kamal Jul 27 '20 at 10:06
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You can use minimize to tray add-on; TB needs to start though. See this link for description and downloading

bob
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  • Tried the extension. Still not getting notifications. I gave up on Thunderbird for now – lfk Jun 07 '14 at 04:44
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On Kubuntu 20.04, I've just installed :

  • kdocker packet : start it and click on Thunderbird main window title, it will go to the systray.
  • extension minimize-on-close to just minimize on close (and so go to systray with kdocker)

That works perfectly and takes 1 minute to install both.

Virtual
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FireTray plugin does not work with the recent versions of Thunderbird.

One workaround is to make the application automatically run at startup.

Go to -> System -> Preferences -> Startup Applications

Then set name as Thunderbird and command as thunderbird

Then click Add.

Gayan Weerakutti
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In thunderbird's settings there's actually one setting that could interest you:
In Swedish it's named När Thunderbird minimeras, flytta den till aktivitetsfält, which means something like "When Thunderbird is minimized, move it to system tray".
If you close Thunderbird it will be gone until you start it again but if you minimize it it will close the window and appear in the system tray.
I found this setting in Thunderbird 102.3.3, it's probably there for a while.

Lampe2020
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