From MozillaZine Knowledge Base

Thunderbird cannot minimize itself to the system tray. However, users of Microsoft Windows can try using one of these solutions:

• MinimizeToTray: an extension for Thunderbird, Firefox, and Sunbird.
• Thunderbird-Tray.
• One of the general minimize-to-tray utilities mentioned in this MozillaZine Forums thread or below.

If you use GNOME, KDE, XFCE, or Fluxbox you can use kdocker or AllTray.

External links for general minimize-to-tray utilities

With the following utilities you can minimize not only Thunderbird, but any program to the system tray.

• trayit
• trayconizer
• rbtray
• tray commander lite

See also

• Disable the new mail system tray icon