How to minimize Spotify to the system tray in Linux

Spotify isn't what it used to be. Recent versions of the Spotify client for Linux have lost the ability to hide in the system tray. Now, they always take up a place in the taskbar or dock bar, but fortunately, there is a way to minimize Spotify down to the system tray in Linux. Please see how to do in the following article!

Install KDocker

To do this, we will use both the latest version of the Spotify client and KDocker. KDocker is a simple tool that allows you to move any application to the system tray, in most popular desktop environments. Although it hasn't been updated for a long time, KDocker still works well for most desktop environments. This is probably the current best solution for connecting Spotify client.

You can install KDocker in Ubuntu and distributions compatible with:

sudo apt install kdocker

In Fedora, Red Hat, and others, try:

sudo dnf install kdocker

Use KDocker to minimize Spotify to the system tray

Launch KDocker from the Applications menu after installation.

Click the Spotify window to minimize it to the system tray.

Everything is done! You will find your application in the system tray instead of the taskbar.

To show Spotify again, click the KDocker system tray icon and select Show Spotify .

You can also right-click the icon and choose Dock Another to repeat the process for other apps.

Integrate KDocker with Spotify

As you can see, the above method requires you to run Spotify and KDocker at the same time. Another way to do this is to integrate KDocker with Spotify so it can be minimized to the system tray at any time.

Note that the following instructions use Ubuntu's default desktop.

Also, keep in mind that these tweaks will only apply to desktop icons. If you launch Spotify in any other way, such as from an app list or Terminal, Spotify will work properly and won't hide in the system tray.

Start by locating the Spotify icons. Enter the command:

ls /usr/share/icons/Papirus/64x64/apps/spotify.svg

You will see a list of icons related to Spotify. Quickly record the path to a specific icon, such as /usr/share/icons/Papirus/64×64/apps/spotify.svg.

Copy the Spotify client desktop entry to your Home folder using the command:

cp /usr/share/applications/spotify.desktop ~/.local/share/applications

Edit copied files using your favorite text editor. The post uses Nano, so the command would be:

nano ~/.local/share/applications/spotify.desktop

Find the line Exec = spotify% U.

Change it to:

Exec=kdocker -q -o -l -i /usr/share/icons/Papirus/64x64/apps/spotify.svg -n Spotify spotify %U

What the above command does is let KDocker handle opening the Spotify app and make it shrink. The path to the Spotify icon is for KDocker to show the Spotify icon in the system tray. Without it, it will just show a generic icon.

Save your changes by Ctrl + O and exit the file using the Ctrl + X .

Launch Spotify and you will see its icon in the system tray.

Click the icon to minimize Spotify to the system tray.

Marvin Fry

Update 09 September 2020