# How to minimize Joplin at startup?

**URL:** <https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/how-to-minimize-joplin-at-startup/44836>\
**Category:** Support\
**Created:** [12 April 2025 08:21 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/how-to-minimize-joplin-at-startup/44836 "2025-04-12T08:21:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 13\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Rare](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/rare/32/23898_2.png) [@Rare](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/Rare)\
**Post date:** [12 April 2025 08:21 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/how-to-minimize-joplin-at-startup/44836/1 "2025-04-12T08:21:04Z")

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### Operating system

Linux

### Joplin version

3.2.13

### What issue do you have?

Hello,  
On my wife's machine (Linux Mint 22.1), Joplin launches at startup, but its window remains in the foreground and I can't minimize it.  
Do you know how I can do this?  
(She'll be very grateful because it's annoying her).

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**Author:** ![graphit0](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/graphit0/32/3435_2.png) [@graphit0](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/graphit0)\
**Post date:** [12 April 2025 11:06 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/how-to-minimize-joplin-at-startup/44836/2 "2025-04-12T11:06:34Z")

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Menu -- Tools -- Options -- Application -- Start application minimised in the tray icon

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/uploads/cozic/original/3X/9/c/9c82762e96fdbcc8de8ec62e52668787f3fe791e.jpeg)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Rare](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/rare/32/23898_2.png) [@Rare](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/Rare)\
**Post date:** [12 April 2025 11:54 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/how-to-minimize-joplin-at-startup/44836/3 "2025-04-12T11:54:57Z")

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Hello  
that works on Windows but not on a Linux Mint machine. ☹

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![graphit0](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/graphit0/32/3435_2.png) [@graphit0](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/graphit0)\
**Post date:** [12 April 2025 12:20 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/how-to-minimize-joplin-at-startup/44836/4 "2025-04-12T12:20:18Z")

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I just checked that it works on ubuntu 24.04 but I have no access to Linux Mint 22. Gotta do some digging to understand what's causing the problem.

Maybe desktop environment doesn't allow Joplin to be in the tray?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Rare](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/rare/32/23898_2.png) [@Rare](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/Rare)\
**Post date:** [12 April 2025 13:51 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/how-to-minimize-joplin-at-startup/44836/5 "2025-04-12T13:51:37Z")

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I'm not sure how I did it, but now it works. 🤔  
Sorry for the inconvenience.  
Have a nice day.

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**Author:** ![JohnC](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/johnc/32/19506_2.png) [@JohnC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/JohnC)\
**Post date:** [13 April 2025 19:00 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/how-to-minimize-joplin-at-startup/44836/6 "2025-04-13T19:00:35Z")

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there is a setting in Linux Mint 21.3 and should be in 22.1 ( I have that in Virtual Box )

when the mouse moves to the bottom right corner, it collapses the screen, same as using the Windows-D key in Win10 or Linux Mint in any Cinnamon DE.

I have Joplin in the Tray at all times with Cinnamon DE.

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**Author:** ![Ha\_Ro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8baadc/32.png) [@Ha\_Ro](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/Ha_Ro)\
**Post date:** [21 April 2025 18:31 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/how-to-minimize-joplin-at-startup/44836/7 "2025-04-21T18:31:50Z")

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I have a similar issue since some days. Joplin 3.2.13 on Kubuntu 24.4 starts always Fullscreen. I have no button to minimize or a chance to resize. The only way to come out is alt+F3 and then deselect "Fullscreen". I have to do this every time I start Joplin.

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**Author:** ![dpoulton](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/dpoulton/32/29723_2.png) [@dpoulton](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/dpoulton)\
**Post date:** [22 April 2025 16:22 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/how-to-minimize-joplin-at-startup/44836/8 "2025-04-22T16:22:14Z")

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@Ha_Ro welcome to the forum.

I have found that Joplin does not remember the app window size if the system is shut down while Joplin is running. The shutdown means that the current window size does not get written to `~/.config/joplin-desktop/window-state-prod.json` as it does if Joplin is **Quit**. Do you have Joplin running all the time?

If so, on Kubuntu try using ALT+F3 to get out of full screen and resize the Joplin window to the size you want. Then **Quit** Joplin. That means **File \> Quit** or **CTRL+Q** not the "X" at top right.

This will save the window state to `~/.config/joplin-desktop/window-state-prod.json`.

Hopefully the next time you reboot / login to your system the Joplin app window will not be full-screen / maximized.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Ha\_Ro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8baadc/32.png) [@Ha\_Ro](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/Ha_Ro)\
**Post date:** [22 April 2025 18:44 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/how-to-minimize-joplin-at-startup/44836/9 "2025-04-22T18:44:41Z")

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Thanks for this suggestion. Now I know where Joplin saves its data 🙂  
Until now I've never closed Joplin but shut it down with Kubuntu.  
Now I've tried it with CTRL+Q.  
The "isMaximized" setting in window-state-prod.json was true. Unfortunately it didn't change. Even when I changed it manually to false, it didn't affect the behavior of Joplin.  
The mentioned flag "Start ... minimised" works. But if I open it from the tray it's maximized again and only ALT+F3 helps.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dpoulton](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/dpoulton/32/29723_2.png) [@dpoulton](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/dpoulton)\
**Post date:** [22 April 2025 19:17 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/how-to-minimize-joplin-at-startup/44836/10 "2025-04-22T19:17:09Z")

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To me this sounds like something Kubuntu is doing rather than Joplin. I also use Kubuntu and whilst I can maximise the display it still shows the maximise / minimise / close icons at the top right. The only way I can trigger a totally full screen is to left-click the "J" icon at the top left of the app (or ALT+F3), select "More Actions" and then "Fullscreen".

Could you see if you have this option checked and if so uncheck it?

 ![full_screen](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/uploads/cozic/original/3X/4/3/432efe3676010d8d57c1f4f0b280c644ca533a81.png)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Ha\_Ro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8baadc/32.png) [@Ha\_Ro](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/Ha_Ro)\
**Post date:** [22 April 2025 19:45 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/how-to-minimize-joplin-at-startup/44836/11 "2025-04-22T19:45:46Z")

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Whenever I start Joplin or open it from minimized, I see this box checked. I can uncheck it the I see the title with the "J" again.  
I can use checkbox directly below the "J" to toggle between maximized and not. Every thing works well till it's closed or minimized.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dpoulton](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/dpoulton/32/29723_2.png) [@dpoulton](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/dpoulton)\
**Post date:** [22 April 2025 20:08 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/how-to-minimize-joplin-at-startup/44836/12 "2025-04-22T20:08:13Z")

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What version of Joplin are you using? Did you use the official install script?

The "Start Minimised" setting is stored in another file so we can try something else with `~/.config/joplin-desktop/window-state-prod.json`.

- **Fully** quit Joplin ( **File \> Quit** or **CTRL+Q** )
- Rename **window-state-prod.json** to **window-state-prod.json.old**
- Restart Joplin

Joplin will run without a **window-state-prod.json** present and it will create a new one the next time the application is **properly** closed.

The Joplin app should still start minimised but if it then displays full screen when opened from the taskbar it would seem that it is something set in Kubuntu. You have removed the file containing Joplin's record of the screen settings.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/uploads/cozic/original/3X/1/c/1c948e33314e232a0927789508474d8624f4270b.png) [@system](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [22 May 2025 20:09 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/how-to-minimize-joplin-at-startup/44836/13 "2025-05-22T20:09:00Z")

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