[BUG] Claude Desktop for Linux: Option to quit on window close (close-to-tray has no fallback when tray icon is absent)
Preflight Checklist
- [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
- [x] This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
- [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code
What's Wrong?
Hello,
on the official Linux .deb for Claude Desktop, clicking the window close button (X) hides the app to the tray and keeps all Electron processes running. There's no setting to make X quit instead.
On GNOME/Wayland the tray icon doesn't appear without a third-party AppIndicator extension — which leaves no discoverable way to fully quit the app at all; the processes just accumulate in the background.
Please add a preference like "Close button quits the app" / "Minimize to tray: off", or fall back to quit-on-close when no tray icon could be created.
This is an easy fix. I patched the /usr/lib/claude-desktop/resources/app.asar to get it work..
What Should Happen?
Close on X. Not send to tray if no tray icon is available.
Error Messages/Logs
Steps to Reproduce
- Install Debian with GNOME
- Install Claude Desktop
- Exit Claude Desktop with click on X
- Check the procs
Claude Model
None
Is this a regression?
No, this never worked
Last Working Version
_No response_
Claude Code Version
1.18286.2 (claude-desktop)
Platform
Anthropic API
Operating System
Ubuntu/Debian Linux
Terminal/Shell
Other
Additional Information
This is an easy fix. I've created a patch.