Menu bar and system tray

Murage keeps an icon in the Mac menu bar, or the system tray on Windows and Linux. It shows how many things need you, and its menu lets you answer ordinary requests, see what your bots are doing and start a message without opening the main window.

The count#

The icon shows the same number as Needs you in the sidebar: everything in the Inbox waiting on your answer, plus any engine you need to sign in to again.

• Mac: the number appears next to the icon in the menu bar (99+ above 99).
• Windows and Linux: the icon changes to its attention version when something needs you.
• Everywhere: hover over the icon to see "Murage: 3 need you" or similar.

The count refreshes every few seconds.

The menu#

From top to bottom:

Needs you#

A Needs you heading with the count, then up to five waiting items, each showing the bot's name and a short summary.

• Ordinary requests open a submenu with the full summary, then Open, Allow once and Deny. Your answer goes through the same checks as the buttons in the app.
• Everything else opens the request in Murage when you choose it. That includes stop-line requests (messaging someone new, posting publicly, paying, deleting outside the bot's folder), anything touching keys or passwords, destructive commands, control of your computer, questions, folder trust, routine and skill proposals, and any request with a summary too long to show in full.

If a request changed after the menu was drawn, Murage opens it in the app instead of answering. You never approve something you couldn't see.

See all in Inbox opens the full Inbox.

Working now#

Each bot that's busy right now, with what it's doing and how long it's been going. Choose one to open that conversation. Bots waiting on you appear under Needs you, not here.

New message to…#

A list of your bots, with your Chief of Staff first. Choose one to open Murage with a new message to that bot. It lists up to 15 bots. If you have more, choose More in Murage.

The app#

• Open Murage shows the main window.
• Pause automations stops schedules and webhooks from starting new work. Running tasks and direct requests carry on. It changes to Resume automations while paused.
• Check for updates opens Murage and checks for a new version.
• Quit Murage stops the app, and with it all background work.

Keep Murage running with the window closed

Whether closing the window quits Murage depends on Settings → General → Startup & background:

• Keep running when the window closes. On a Mac this is on by default. On Windows and Linux, turn it on yourself. While it's on, closing the window leaves Murage in the menu bar or tray, still working.
• Start when I sign in. Off until you choose it. With background mode on and a working tray, Murage starts quietly in the menu bar or tray. If your system asks, approve Murage in its Login Items settings.

The first time you close the window with background mode on, Murage explains that it's still running and offers Keep running or Quit Murage.

Work only runs while Murage is open and the computer is awake. Sleeping or switching off the computer stops progress until it wakes.

Per-platform notes

• Mac: a monochrome menu bar icon that matches light and dark menu bars, with the count beside it.
• Windows: a system tray icon. If it's hidden, drag it out of the overflow area so you can see the count.
• Linux: the tray icon needs a desktop that supports tray icons (StatusNotifier, as on KDE or GNOME with an AppIndicator extension). If none is found, Murage says "No usable tray was detected", keeps the window open, and closing the last window quits Murage.

Troubleshooting

• No icon on Linux: install or turn on a tray extension for your desktop, then restart Murage.
• "No working tray or Dock entry is available. Keep the window open to use Murage.": background mode needs a tray, or a Dock icon on a Mac, to reopen Murage from.
• "Pause automations (unavailable)": Murage couldn't read the automation state. Open the app and try again.
• "That approval changed. Open it in Murage to answer.": the request was updated or answered elsewhere. It opens in the app for you.
• The count is higher than the Inbox list: the count also includes engines you need to sign in to again, which don't have an Inbox row. Open Murage to see them.

Away from your computer

The menu bar only works at the computer. Elsewhere, approve from Telegram or open Murage in your phone's browser.

Related: Inbox and menu-bar approvals, Permissions and the stop line, Inbox and menu bar.