Signal-desktop: Promote tray settings to preferences window so they persist through updates

Created on 16 Aug 2019 · 5Comments · Source: signalapp/Signal-Desktop

Whenever Signal finds an update and asks for a restart, it restarts without re-applying the command line arguments I have used for the original launch.

For me, this is very inconvenient because my Signal shortcut has --use-tray-icon arg so that the app doesn't close completely when I close its window. Whenever there is an update (which for some reason happens every other day lately), I have to remember to restart it a second time manually (after the automatic restart) so that it keeps working like I want it to (i.e. like all every other proper desktop messenger).

Steps to Reproduce:

install / find a PC with an outdated version of Signal Desktop
run signal.exe --use-tray-icon
wait for an update notification
confirm restart to update
after Signal restarts, hit the [X] button on its window

Actual Result:

Signal quits

Expected Result:

Signal adds a tray icon and keeps working in the background, as instructed by the --use-tray-icon argument of the original launch.

Signal Version: v1.26.2
Operating System: Windows 10

Feature Request

Source

Kirinyale

👍21

Most helpful comment

I agree this setting should persist between updates, and hope Signal will set the default to match every other messaging app. Having an option may be a plus, but I believe it's really important that the default matches the industry standard. As far as I can tell:

Slack minimizes to tray from X
Skype minimizes to tray from X
Teams minimizes to tray from X
Telegram minimizes to tray from X. No option to change this
Signal closes the program from X. No option to change this

The current default is the main reason why it's hard to recommend Signal to others yet.

Because the standard for messaging apps is to minimize to tray from X, but Signal doesn't, people end up inadvertently closing Signal and missing out on messages. A messaging app does not serve its use if it doesn't deliver messages in a timely fashion and let its user know when there are new ones to read and respond to.

It's not enough that people can change their own setting. Every one of their conversation partners need to have the same setting or there will be long delays or missed messages, both of which result in people switching back to other apps whose timely delivery of messages is more reliable.

Reliability of timely delivery is critical for a messaging app. I believe Signal will be able to match user expectations for it only when X will minimize to tray by default.

Daedalon on 17 Apr 2020

👍5

All 5 comments

Agree, this would be very nice to have.

vyruss on 27 Sep 2019

Bump for this

vincekd on 7 Nov 2019

I wish we could get some attention to this issue.
Every other update the argument stops working now and I need to re-install the program.
A proper option would be nice.

fnordson on 18 Dec 2019

The current default is the main reason why it's hard to recommend Signal to others yet.

Reliability of timely delivery is critical for a messaging app. I believe Signal will be able to match user expectations for it only when X will minimize to tray by default.

Daedalon on 17 Apr 2020

👍5

Tray icon is pretty common feature among IM clients. I'm surprised that it is not enabled by default. That said, it's sensible to be within "settings" instead of just a start up flag. Slack's desktop app (an electron app, also) has that option in their settings. So I believe it is technically possible.

See "Leave app running in notification area when the window is closed" at the bottom:
2020-10-13 08-59-44 的螢幕擷圖