To make CopyQ work on Debian with GNOME, but not appear as minimized in the taskbar and not show a tray icon after reboot, you need to configure both CopyQ and GNOME's startup behavior. Here’s how you can achieve this:

1. Install CopyQ

If not already installed:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install copyq

2. Disable Tray Icon in CopyQ

• Open CopyQ.
• Go to File > Preferences > Interface.
• Uncheck "Show system tray icon".
• Click OK and restart CopyQ.

3. Run CopyQ as a Background Service (No Taskbar Entry)

To prevent CopyQ from appearing in the taskbar (even when minimized), you can run it as a background process.

Option A: Use a Startup Script

1. Create a script to launch CopyQ in the background:

   bash

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   nano ~/.config/autostart/copyq.desktop

2. Add the following content:

   ini

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   [Desktop Entry]
   Type=Application
   Name=CopyQ (Hidden)
   Exec=copyq --start-server
   StartupNotify=false
   NoDisplay=true

   • --start-server ensures CopyQ runs in the background without a GUI window.
   • NoDisplay=true prevents it from appearing in the taskbar or launcher.

3. Save and make it executable:

   bash

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   chmod +x ~/.config/autostart/copyq.desktop

Option B: Use a Systemd User Service (More Robust)

1. Create a systemd service file:
   bash

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   mkdir -p ~/.config/systemd/user/
   nano ~/.config/systemd/user/copyq.service

2. Add the following:
   ini

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   [Unit]
   Description=CopyQ clipboard manager (hidden)
   
   [Service]
   ExecStart=/usr/bin/copyq --start-server
   Restart=always
   
   [Install]
   WantedBy=default.target

3. Enable and start the service:
   bash

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   systemctl --user enable --now copyq.service

4. Disable Taskbar Entry for CopyQ

If CopyQ still appears in the taskbar:

• Use a tool like wmctrl to force it to run as a background process:
  bash

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  sudo apt install wmctrl

• Add this to your startup script (e.g., in ~/.config/autostart/copyq.desktop):
  bash

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  Exec=sh -c 'copyq --start-server && sleep 2 && wmctrl -r "CopyQ" -b add,skip_taskbar'

5. Verify After Reboot

• Reboot your system.
• CopyQ should now be running (check with ps aux | grep copyq), but not visible in the taskbar or tray.

Summary Table