How do I get Skype for Linux alpha minimized to system tray at autostart

Question

I am fairly new to Ubuntu and I installed Skype for Linux alpha yesterday in my Ubuntu 16.04 64-bit.

I added an entry in the startup applications using the command skypeforlinux -silent. Now, every time I start my system, skype windows opens maximized. I would like to know how to start it minimized to tray with system start.

Don't know if there is a built-in option for doing so. This is a related question: http://askubuntu.com/questions/663187/how-can-i-run-a-program-on-startup-minimized — Gunnar Hjalmarsson, Aug 20 '16 at 14:37
The developers have now added a built in option to minimize skype on startup. — rsnaveen, Feb 03 '17 at 20:37
Good catch, rsnaveen. It seems to have been added in version 1.15. It would be good if you could post that as an answer to your question. — Gunnar Hjalmarsson, Feb 03 '17 at 20:46
@GunnarHjalmarsson The option has been added but it is not working! Shouldn't we wait until it actually works to add it as an answer? — rsnaveen, Feb 04 '17 at 00:17
@GunnarHjalmarsson 'Minimize to Tray' finally works now with version 5.0.0.5. — rsnaveen, Mar 01 '17 at 23:35

score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 01 '17 at 23:37

5

'Minimize to tray on startup' functionality has been integrated in the app and is fully functional from version 5.0.0.5. The app however is Skype for Linux Beta at this point.

answered Mar 01 '17 at 23:37

rsnaveen

181

FTR: the setting is: Tools → Settings → General → ✓ Launch Skype in the background – Hi-Angel May 18 '20 at 07:49

score 1 · Answer 2 · edited Nov 29 '17 at 21:21

You can make a script which starts skype on startup, and which then closes it "gracefully" using wmctrl -c. In my own scrypt I do something like this:

#!/bin/bash
skypeforlinux &
wmctrl -c Skype ;  sleep 0.5
wmctrl -c Skype ;  sleep 0.5
wmctrl -c Skype ; 
etc...

I some cases, skype takes some time to open, that's why I use multiple delayed commands wmctrl. Of course you have to make the script executable, using chmod u+x [SCRIPT_FILE], and then add it to the startup list. Also I use the nice program devilspie to rearrange all my windows at startup as I want.

How do I get Skype for Linux alpha minimized to system tray at autostart

2 Answers2