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Enable Media Player Controls in System Tray Menu in Ubuntu 18.04

Last updated: June 13, 2018

gnome shell

Ubuntu used to show media playback controls in the Sound menu of system tray. The functionality has been removed since Ubuntu switched to Gnome Desktop.

In Ubuntu 18.04, you can easily re-enable the feature via a Gnome Shell extension called Media Player Indicator.

1. To install the extension, open Ubuntu Software, search for and install Media Player Indicator:

Once installed, all MPRIS Version 2 capable media players, including VLC, SMPlayer, Audacious, Clementine, Rhythmbox, and more, will be listed in the system tray menu after you launched the media players.

2. To configure the Gnome extension, launch the settings via either Ubuntu Software or Gnome Tweak Tool:

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    One response to Enable Media Player Controls in System Tray Menu in Ubuntu 18.04

    1. Jim June 14, 2018 at 10:24 am

      Quote “The FUNCTIONALITY HAS BEEN REMOVED since Ubuntu switched to Gnome Desktop.”
      Pretty much sums up the totality of the Gnome 3 desktop in my opinion.