System Tray
System tray integration in the z8 Timer desktop app
The z8 Timer lives in your system tray for always-available access without cluttering your desktop.
Tray Icon Location
| Platform | Location |
|---|---|
| Windows | System tray (bottom-right, near clock) |
| macOS | Menu bar (top-right) |
| Linux | System tray (varies by desktop environment) |
Icon States
The tray icon changes color to indicate your clock status:
| Icon | State | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Gray clock | Not clocked in | Ready to start tracking |
| Green clock | Clocked in | Currently tracking time |
This gives you instant visibility of your work status without opening the app.
Tray Menu
Right-click (Windows/Linux) or click (macOS) the tray icon to see the context menu:
┌─────────────────────┐
│ Show Window │
│ Settings │
│ ────────────────── │
│ Quit │
└─────────────────────┘Menu Actions
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Show Window | Opens the main app window |
| Settings | Opens settings dialog directly |
| Quit | Completely closes the app |
Click Behavior
Windows & Linux
| Click | Action |
|---|---|
| Left-click | Show main window |
| Right-click | Open context menu |
macOS
| Click | Action |
|---|---|
| Click | Open context menu |
| Cmd + Click | Show main window |
Minimizing to Tray
The app is designed to live in the tray:
- Close button - Minimizes to tray (doesn't quit)
- Minimize button - Minimizes to tray
- Tray click - Brings window back
Always Running
Even when the window is closed, the app continues running in the tray. Idle detection and offline sync continue working.
Quitting the App
To actually close the app:
- Right-click the tray icon
- Select Quit
Or use keyboard shortcut: Ctrl/Cmd + Q (when window is focused)
Always-on-Top
The app window can stay above other windows:
- Open Settings
- Enable Always on Top
- The window will stay visible above other applications
Useful for:
- Quick clock in/out while working
- Seeing elapsed time while you work
- Keeping the app accessible
You can still minimize to tray even with always-on-top enabled.
Hidden Icon (Windows)
If you can't see the tray icon on Windows:
- Click the ^ arrow in the system tray
- Look for z8 Timer in the overflow area
- Drag it to the main tray area for quick access
Pin to Taskbar
- Right-click the overflow arrow (^)
- Select Taskbar settings
- Under "System tray icons", find z8 Timer
- Enable On
Tray Icon Not Showing
Windows
- Check the overflow area (^ arrow)
- Restart Windows Explorer:
taskkill /f /im explorer.exe && start explorer
macOS
- Check System Preferences → Dock & Menu Bar
- Ensure menu bar extras are allowed
Linux
Common issues:
| Desktop | Solution |
|---|---|
| GNOME | Install TopIcons Plus or AppIndicator extension |
| KDE | Should work natively |
| XFCE | Ensure systray plugin is added to panel |
| i3/Sway | Use waybar or polybar with tray support |
Resource Usage
The tray component is lightweight:
| Metric | Usage |
|---|---|
| Memory | ~5 MB |
| CPU | 0% when idle |
| GPU | None |
The icon only redraws when status changes (clock in/out).
Customization
Currently, the tray icon style is not customizable. It uses:
- Gray clock icon for "not clocked in"
- Green clock icon for "clocked in"
Future versions may support custom icons or themes.