[FEATURE] Menu Bar Only Mode (Hide Dock Icon Option)

[leinier]

Preflight Checklist

• I have searched existing requests and this feature hasn't been requested yet
• This is a single feature request (not multiple features)

Problem Statement

Feature Request: Menu Bar Only Mode (Hide Dock Icon Option)

Current Behavior:
Claude Desktop always shows an icon in the Dock, even when minimized
or running in the background.

Proposed Solution

Requested Feature:
Add a user preference to hide the Dock icon and run Claude exclusively
from the menu bar, similar to apps like:

• Raycast
• Alfred
• Rectangle
• Bartender

Proposed Implementation:
Settings → General → "Show in Dock" (checkbox, enabled by default)

• When disabled: App only appears in menu bar
• When enabled: Current behavior (shows in Dock)

Use Case:
For users who:

• Use Claude frequently throughout the day
• Prefer minimal Dock clutter
• Access the app primarily through keyboard shortcuts or menu bar

Additional Context:
This would also provide a workaround for the current quit bug (issue #14951)
where Cmd+Q doesn't properly close the app, since menu bar apps typically
have a "Quit" option in their menu.

Platform: macOS
Priority: Enhancement/Nice-to-have

Alternative Solutions

No response

Priority

Critical - Blocking my work

Feature Category

CLI commands and flags

Use Case Example

No response

Additional Context

No response

[maximedupre]

YES 🥹 The ChatGPT desktop app does this: you can quit the app (such that it disappears from the dock), but the "menu bar process" remains open and you can give it prompts with the hotkey.

[Netherwarlord]

This feels 100% needed! Claude is honestly the only BIG model i like to use, and it leaves me trying to close it to get rid of clutter in my dock, than trying to hotkey it 10 minutes later with no response. It seriously kills my workflow and I end up back with m365 Copilot, which tells me half the time that it simply "can't discuss that topic"

[flallnatural]

I was surprised to find out that this feature isn't built into Claude. Definitely much needed. The menu bar is a much cleaner setup, especially when you can use the CAPS key as a voice prompt (this feature I love btw).

[bshamloufard]

bro please

[rafaismyname]

I've heard that @bcherny is going to tackle this one for his grateful fans and costumers THIS WEEK! 🥳🙏

[oliverspryn]

Commenting here to throw my hat into this ring, as well.

[jklaze]

Another up comment. I t is almost a deal breaker for me. I also tried editing the file info.plist with the needed key LSUIElement set to true but in that case everytime I launch the app I am required to login again, pretty annoying.

[drarigemualliug]

You should do this before Apple implements its own AI assistant. It needs to be elegant and feel like part of the system. Users don't appreciate an icon that's always open in the dock, especially for an application like this one, which is intended to be open permanently.

[iamart]

oes this: you can quit the app (such that it disappears from the dock), but the "menu bar process" remains open and you can give it prompts with the hotkey.

ChatGPT fixed it now? Haven't used it recently but they used to be always in dock before too.

[lukecarbis]

ChatGPT has been menu only for a very long time. I switched to Claude and this feature is my biggest sticking point. This GitHub thread is the only thing stopping me from switching back. Fingers crossed.

[ronnysteinmetz]

Another up comment. I t is almost a deal breaker for me. I also tried editing the file info.plist with the needed key LSUIElement set to true but in that case everytime I launch the app I am required to login again, pretty annoying.

Same here. I like my Dock nice and clean. LSUIElement works but is cumbersome as I have to login again for every single app start. So definitely a +1 from me.