Option to disable Windows System Tray Steam Icon

[c0wb3ll]

In Windows, I want Steam to quit when I close the Steam client window, not continue running as a System Tray app.

[daniu -TLG-]

Originally posted by c0wb3ll:

Are you guys trolling? I've expressed myself as clearly as I can: I want Valve to add an option to the Steam client in Windows to completely disable the system tray icon.

Actually, it sounds like you don't want Steam to disable the tray icon as much, but the option to "shut down after closing last window".

Originally posted by c0wb3ll:

Many programs with system tray icons offer users the option of disabling their tray icons entirely. BitTorrent and OpenOffice do this, for example. I just want Steam to join their ranks.

The difference is that for Steam, the tray icon is the main access point; OO quits after the last windows is closed. BitTorrent clients I only know Vuze, and it has the exact same behavior as Steam (i.e. you have to select Exit via the right-click on tray icon).

The reason for this concept is that when there are no windows open anymore, it still serves as an instant messenger, so you'd better compare it to Skype, which also always has a tray icon.

All that said, of course I don't have anything against Steam adding the option you ask for, but I wouldn't use it.

[Fork_Q2]

Originally posted by Silicon Vampire:

Originally posted by Fork_Q:

It's a bit of a memory hog. When it updates a game, it makes browsing noticably slower.

Limit your bandwidth used is setting/downloads.

Browsing still feels sluggish even when limited at 25 KB/s, and having to adjust the setting when switching between using Steam and not is a bit annoying; I'm happy just opening and closing Steam when I need to use it, it starts up much faster than it used to.

Originally posted by Pewpewmoar:

Originally posted by Fork_Q:

It's a bit of a memory hog. When it updates a game, it makes browsing noticably slower.

I opened Taskmanager up and watched the Steam process while it's minimized, and it seems to sit at around 95-100Mb memory usage, and 0% CPU usage. And 100Mb is just about nothing these days.

After a few minutes of usage, it runs up north of 150 MBs for me. It may not be a lot for you, but I run a lot of intensive tasks on my computer (virtual machines and compiling) and had to remove half my memory recently after a memory stick went kaput.

This isn't really a biggie anyways, nor the same for other people, but that is one case of why I don't want Steam running in the background.

[daniu -TLG-]

Originally posted by Fork_Q:

After a few minutes of usage, it runs up north of 150 MBs for me. It may not be a lot for you, but I run a lot of intensive tasks on my computer (virtual machines and compiling) and had to remove half my memory recently after a memory stick went kaput.

Hmmm last time I checked it went to up around 50MB...
Anyway, if you don't actually access it, Windows will move most of that to the page file anyway so it doesn't really hog your resources.

It does leave the question why you start Steam in the first place in your setup, except to start a game. And again, after all, quitting Steam entirely only requires one additional click as is.

[«Gғм» Kid Of The Century]

You might want to rephrase your thread title to "Option to exit Steam whenever the close window button (X) is clicked" or something similar.

As it is now it sounds like you just don't like the tray icon but you've no problems with the client running in background.

[Fork_Q2]

Originally posted by daniu -TLG-:

Originally posted by Fork_Q:

After a few minutes of usage, it runs up north of 150 MBs for me. It may not be a lot for you, but I run a lot of intensive tasks on my computer (virtual machines and compiling) and had to remove half my memory recently after a memory stick went kaput.

Hmmm last time I checked it went to up around 50MB...
Anyway, if you don't actually access it, Windows will move most of that to the page file anyway so it doesn't really hog your resources.

It does leave the question why you start Steam in the first place in your setup, except to start a game. And again, after all, quitting Steam entirely only requires one additional click as is.

I rather my OS touch my HD as little as possible.

Like I said, I have no issue with just opening and closing Steam when I need to; hiding programs in taskbar to me is an UI failure as well, it would make sense for something like Dropbox, but not so much like Steam or OpenOffice.

If there was an option to turn off hidden system icon mode or whatever off, I would like to use that, not having this is hardly the end of the world.

[Fork_Q2]

Originally posted by Muppet among Puppets:

Originally posted by Fork_Q:

If there was an option to turn off hidden system icon mode or whatever off, I would like to use that, not having this is hardly the end of the world.

You can set to "allways display icons", and you can remove selected though.

I worded it badly, I would like the option so that Steam does not minimise to system tray. It's a small thing, but would improve my overall experince.

[Fork_Q2]

Originally posted by Muppet among Puppets:

Originally posted by Fork_Q:

I worded it badly, I would like the option so that Steam does not minimise to system tray. It's a small thing, but would improve my overall experince.

It decreases the overall experience in uplay......

Different strokes for different folks.

[Black Blade]

Did you try maybe to move steam to offline mode and see if that helps?

@OP i can understand what your saying but as before i say i do not think most users will use these as Steam is more then just a library for most its also a way to talk to friends and get messages abut events in there groups...

There for i cant really see any real reason for Valve to work on adding something like these just for a few guys that can just go to Steam -> Exit.. and be done with it... its not that big deal it only takes a few moments to do...

[75338]

It's just another annoying process I didn't ask for. Normal Windows program behaviour is to shut down when click the "X" in the top right corner of a window. Steam doesn't like that and wants to sit and ♥♥♥♥ around when I just want to be left alone. ♥♥♥♥ Steam.

[SlimDaego]

I agree with the guy, yes its useful for downloading stuff in the background, but its not every single time you want to close steam that you also happen to be downloading something.