C# Minimize to system tray on close

Question

Hi In my c# application I am trying to minimize application to systems tray, when the form is closed. Here is the code I have tried.

   public void MinimizeToTray()
    {
        try
        {
            notifyIcon1.BalloonTipTitle = "Sample text";
            notifyIcon1.BalloonTipText = "Form is minimized";

            if (FormWindowState.Minimized == this.WindowState)
            {
                notifyIcon1.Visible = true;
                notifyIcon1.ShowBalloonTip(500);
                this.Hide();
            }
            else if (FormWindowState.Normal == this.WindowState)
            {
                notifyIcon1.Visible = false;
            }
        }
        catch(Exception ex)
        {
            MessageBox.Show(ex.Message);
        }

    }

and I am calling the method to form closing event. But the problem is its not minimizing to tray. Its just closing the form.

Are you also cancelling/stopping the close event? This code wouldn't help much if the app gets closed anyway after this executes. — Honza Brestan, Nov 29 '12 at 11:46
@HonzaBrestan trying to minimize it system tray when i click close button. — Rakesh, Nov 29 '12 at 11:48
Possable duplicate: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3349709/c-sharp-close-to-tray-like-msn-messenger — Jester, Nov 29 '12 at 11:49

score 52 · Answer 1 · edited Sep 19 '16 at 18:06

52

e.Cancel = true; code will be always cancelling the event even if you shut the computer down, but here is a code that helps you:

 private void Form1_FormClosing(object sender, FormClosingEventArgs e)
 {
     if (e.CloseReason == CloseReason.UserClosing)
     {
          myNotifyIcon.Visible = true;
          this.Hide();
          e.Cancel = true;
     }
 }

It will allow closing the form programmaticaly.

edited Sep 19 '16 at 18:06

Andrey Moiseev

3,914
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answered May 27 '13 at 20:31

Emre

521
1
4
5

1

This solution is much better, because the solution of **arun kumar non ascii** is a never ending story :D – Ismoh Dec 15 '14 at 21:26
i experienced that if you don't set notifyIcon's icon image, then it is not shown in system tray in windows 8.1. – Fer Feb 02 '16 at 15:27
A great follow up: https://stackoverflow.com/a/3233612/736893 – Mar 03 '20 at 16:04
good answer. Closing the form programmatically afterwards needs Application.Exit() and not this.Close(). – kuklei Dec 24 '20 at 16:59

Arunkumar Chandrasekaran · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-29T12:38:26.623

21

Write a event in Form Closing event.

 private void Form1_FormClosing(object sender, FormClosingEventArgs e)
 {
        e.Cancel = true;                         
        Hide();
 }

And write using Custom menu strip for notification icon for to show.

edited Nov 29 '12 at 12:38

answered Nov 29 '12 at 11:52

Arunkumar Chandrasekaran

1,211
4
21
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6

need to add the line in the constructor: this.FormClosing += this.Form1_FormClosing; – temple Dec 12 '13 at 22:46

score 3 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 19 '14 at 21:03

   namespace MinimizeTrayNotification
     {
      public partial class Form1 : Form
       {
    public Form1()
    {
        InitializeComponent();
    }

    private void MinimzedTray()
    {
        notifyIcon1.Visible = true;
        notifyIcon1.Icon = SystemIcons.Application;

        notifyIcon1.BalloonTipText = "Minimized";
        notifyIcon1.BalloonTipTitle = "Your Application is Running in BackGround";
        notifyIcon1.ShowBalloonTip(500);

    }

    private void MaxmizedFromTray()
    {
        notifyIcon1.Visible = true;
        notifyIcon1.BalloonTipText = "Maximized";
        notifyIcon1.BalloonTipTitle = "Application is Running in Foreground";
        notifyIcon1.ShowBalloonTip(500);


    }



    private void Form1_Resize(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        if(FormWindowState.Minimized==this.WindowState)
        {
        MinimzedTray();
        }
      else  if (FormWindowState.Normal == this.WindowState)
        {

            MaxmizedFromTray();
        }
        }

    private void notifyIcon1_MouseDoubleClick(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
    {
        this.WindowState = FormWindowState.Normal;
        Form1 frm = new Form1();
        frm.Show();
        MaxmizedFromTray();


    }

    private void notifyIcon1_MouseClick(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
    {
        this.WindowState = FormWindowState.Normal;
    }

    private void Form1_FormClosing(object sender, FormClosingEventArgs e)
    {
        if (e.CloseReason == CloseReason.UserClosing)
        {
            e.Cancel = true;
            this.WindowState = FormWindowState.Minimized;
            this.ShowInTaskbar = false;
            this.Hide();

        }


    }

    private void notifyIcon1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        this.WindowState = FormWindowState.Normal;
        notifyIcon1.BalloonTipText = "Normal";
        notifyIcon1.ShowBalloonTip(500);
    }
 }

}

I'm sure the code will work, but it will be even more helpful with a comment or two about what's going on! — leo, Sep 19 '14 at 21:09
for notifyIcon1_MouseDoubleClick, you should use `this.Show()` instead of making a new instance of a form. You'd probably want your forms controls to maintain their values. — prospector, Dec 24 '14 at 05:17

emartel · Answer 4 · 2012-11-29T12:00:26.280

2

You should cancel the FormClosing event and then call your MinimizeToTray() function.

This is done through the Cancel property of the FormClosingEventArgs.

Also, consider using a bool somewhere to allow closing the Form in some conditions, such as if you're using a File > Exit menu or something:

private void Form1_FormClosing(object sender, FormClosingEventArgs e)
{
    if(!allowClosing)
    {
        e.Cancel = true;
        MinimizeToTray();
    }
}

edited Nov 29 '12 at 12:00

answered Nov 29 '12 at 11:49

emartel

7,712
1
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58

Instead of using the allowClosing, you can choose when to close with the FormClosingEventArgs: if (e.CloseReason == CloseReason.UserClosing) { e.Cancel = true; this.WindowState = FormWindowState.Minimized; } – Trent Stewart Dec 23 '13 at 09:07

score 1 · Answer 5 · answered Sep 05 '14 at 05:11

1

To minimize when closing set WindowState to Minimized

private void Form1_FormClosing(Object sender, FormClosingEventArgs e) {
    e.Cancel = true;
    WindowState = FormWindowState.Minimized;
}

answered Sep 05 '14 at 05:11

Sameera R.

4,384
2
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53

score 0 · Answer 6 · answered Nov 29 '12 at 11:53

0

You need to use the FormClosing-Event.

private void Form1_FormClosing(Object sender, FormClosingEventArgs e) {
    e.Cancel = true;
    MinimizeToTray();
}

answered Nov 29 '12 at 11:53

looper

1,929
23
42

score 0 · Answer 7 · answered Oct 06 '16 at 13:53

You can handle FormClosing Event such as micsoft Form Closing Event as Following example of C#

private void Form1_Closing(object sender, System.ComponentModel.CancelEventArgs e)
    {
        // Determine if text has changed in the textbox by comparing to original text.
        if (textBox1.Text != strMyOriginalText)
        {
            // Display a MsgBox asking the user to save changes or abort.
            if (MessageBox.Show("Do you want to save changes to your text?", "My Application",
                MessageBoxButtons.YesNo) == DialogResult.Yes)
            {
                // Cancel the Closing event from closing the form.
                e.Cancel = true;
                // Call method to save file...
            }
        }
}

C# Minimize to system tray on close

7 Answers7

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