PS Tray Factory Help
Complete documentation and user guide
Introduction
Welcome to PS Tray Factory - the ultimate system tray manager that provides flexible control over ALL icons in the system tray of your Windows taskbar.
Before: cluttered system tray
After: clean and organized
PS Tray Factory is an advanced system tray management utility that gives users complete control over their Windows system tray area. The program allows you to hide unwanted tray icons, rearrange their order, restore lost icons after Windows Explorer crashes, replace icons with custom ones, minimize any application to the system tray, and protect your configuration with password security.
In short, ALL Windows users will get this handy and powerful tool at their disposal, whereas only Windows XP users have an idea of it. For the latter, we have made a nice surprise, as the features of PS Tray Factory exceed the standard built-in ones of this OS.
System Requirements
PS Tray Factory has been designed to work efficiently on a wide range of Windows systems. Here are the system requirements:
Minimum System Requirements
| Operating System: | Windows 98/ME/NT/2000/XP/Vista/7/8/10/11 (32 and 64 bit) |
| Memory (RAM): | 32 MB RAM minimum (64 MB recommended) |
| Processor: | Intel Pentium 200 MHz or compatible processor |
| Hard Disk Space: | 2 MB free disk space |
Compatibility
- Windows 11 (all editions)
- Windows 10 (all editions)
- Windows 8.1 / Windows 8
- Windows 7 / Vista
- Windows XP / 2000
- Windows 98 / ME / NT
- Both 32-bit and 64-bit versions
Getting Started
Step 2: Understanding the Interface
When you first run PS Tray Factory, you'll see the main configuration window. Here's what you're looking at:
Before PS Tray Factory:
Your system tray may be cluttered with many icons, making it difficult to find what you need.
After PS Tray Factory:
With PS Tray Factory, your system tray is clean and organized. Hidden icons are accessible through the PS Tray Factory menu.
Main Components
- Icon List: Shows all detected tray icons
- Visibility Settings: Control which icons are visible
- Configuration Tabs: Advanced options and settings
- Menu Preview: See how your tray menu will appear
Step 3: Accessing Hidden Icons
Once you've hidden some icons, you can access them through the PS Tray Factory menu:
To access hidden icons:
- Right-click on the PS Tray Factory icon in your system tray
- Select the hidden icon you want to access
- The icon's context menu will appear
- Or simply left-click to activate the icon's default action
PS Tray Factory allows you to:
- move low-activity icons from the system tray into the menu,
- move inactive icons from the system tray into the menu (as in Windows XP),
- quickly access hidden icons,
- change the order of icons in the menu,
- change the order of icons in the system tray (sort tray),
- hide seldom used tray icons,
- protect the tray menu with password,
- minimize any application to the system tray,
- restore system tray icons after Explorer.exe crash
- Replace icons - Customize with your own icons
- Minimize to tray - Send any app to system tray
- Password protection - Secure your configuration
Quick Start Guide
New to PS Tray Factory? Follow these steps:
- Check System Requirements
- Follow Getting Started guide
- Explore Key Features
- Customize in Configuration
What's New in PS Tray Factory
Latest Version: 3.31
PS Tray Factory continues to evolve with new features and improvements to provide the best system tray management experience.
Recent Improvements
-
Enhanced Windows Compatibility
Full support for Windows 11, Windows 10, and all previous Windows versions including Windows 98/ME/NT -
Improved Icon Detection
Better recognition and handling of system tray icons, including dynamic icon tracking
-
Advanced Configuration Options
More flexibility in customizing your tray experience with password protection and hotkey support -
Better Performance & Stability
Optimized code for faster operation, lower resource usage, and enhanced crash prevention
System Requirements
Minimum Requirements
| OS: | Windows 98/ME/NT/2000/XP/Vista/7/8/10/11 (32 and 64 bit) |
| RAM: | 128 MB |
| Disk: | 2 MB |
Compatibility
- Windows 11
- Windows 10
- Windows 8.1 / 8
- Windows 7 / Vista
- 32-bit & 64-bit
Getting Started
Step 2: Understanding the Interface
When you first run PS Tray Factory, you'll see the main configuration window. Here's what you're looking at:
Before PS Tray Factory:
Your system tray may be cluttered with many icons, making it difficult to find what you need.
After PS Tray Factory:
With PS Tray Factory, your system tray is clean and organized. Hidden icons are accessible through the PS Tray Factory menu.
Main Components
- Icon List: Shows all detected tray icons and their applications
- Visibility Settings: Control which icons are visible in tray or menu
- Configuration Tabs: Advanced options and settings
- Menu Preview: See how your tray menu will appear
- Drag & Drop: Easily reorder icons by dragging
Step 3: Accessing Hidden Icons
Once you've hidden some icons, you can access them through the PS Tray Factory menu:
PS Tray Factory context menu with hidden icons
How to Access Hidden Icons
- Right-click on the PS Tray Factory icon in your system tray
- Select the hidden icon you want to access from the menu
- The icon's context menu will appear with all original functionality
- Or simply left-click to activate the icon's default action
PS Tray Factory allows you to:
- • move low-activity icons from the system tray into the menu,
- • move inactive icons from the system tray into the menu (as in Windows XP),
- • quickly access hidden icons through context menu,
- • change the order of icons in the menu,
- • change the order of icons in the system tray (sort tray),
- • hide seldom used tray icons completely,
- • protect the tray menu with password,
- • minimize any application to the system tray,
- • restore system tray icons after Explorer.exe crash
- • replace icons with custom alternatives
Visual Comparison
So, if your system tray currently looks cluttered with many icons, PS Tray Factory will help you transform it into a clean, organized workspace while keeping all tray icons easily accessible through the convenient menu system.
To find out more about configuration and usage of the program consult Configuration and Tray Icons management sections.
Key Features
Icon Visibility Control
- • Show in Tray - Normal display
- • Hide from Tray - Accessible via menu
- • Show in Menu - Menu only
- • Hide Completely - Not visible
Icon Reordering
- • Drag & Drop reordering
- • Custom arrangements
- • Priority control
- • Persistent order
Icon Restoration
- • Automatic detection
- • Instant recovery
- • Custom configuration
- • No manual intervention
Password Protection
- • Configuration lock
- • Menu protection
- • Selective security
- • Administrative mode
Tray Icons Management
Managing your system tray icons effectively is the key to a clean and organized desktop. PS Tray Factory provides comprehensive tools to control every aspect of your tray icons.
Understanding Icon States
PS Tray Factory categorizes tray icons into different states, each with specific behaviors:
Visible in Tray
Icons appear normally in the system tray area. This is the default state for most system and application icons.
Use for: Frequently accessed applications, system notifications, active monitoring toolsHidden but Accessible
Icons are hidden from the tray but remain accessible through the PS Tray Factory menu. All functionality is preserved.
Use for: Occasionally used applications, background utilities, non-critical monitorsCompletely Hidden
Icons are completely hidden and not accessible through any menu. Use with caution.
Use for: Unwanted icons from software you cannot uninstall, deprecated utilitiesManagement Tips
- • Start by hiding non-essential icons
- • Keep frequently used icons visible
- • Use the menu for occasional access
- • Avoid completely hiding system icons
- • Test changes before finalizing
PS Tray Factory Main Interface
The main PS Tray Factory interface provides complete control over your system tray icons:
PS Tray Factory Main Interface - Complete icon management
Interface Elements
- Icon List: All detected tray icons with application names
- Visibility Controls: Show/hide checkboxes for each icon
- Application Info: Program names and executable paths
- Action Buttons: Configuration options and settings
Advanced Icon Control
Icon Actions
Right-click any icon for actions:
- • Show/Hide in tray
- • Change icon appearance
- • Set icon properties
- • Configure behavior
Icon Customization
Customize icon appearance:
- • Replace with custom icons
- • Use built-in icon library
- • Extract from applications
- • Multiple format support
Group Management
Organize icons in groups:
- • Create custom groups
- • Organize by category
- • Set group visibility
- • Manage group order
Important Note
When hiding system icons (like network, sound, or power), make sure you have alternative ways to access these functions. Consider keeping them accessible through the PS Tray Factory menu rather than hiding them completely.
Configuration
PS Tray Factory offers extensive configuration options to customize its behavior to your exact needs. The configuration is divided into two main tabs: General and Additional.
Additional Configuration Tab
Password Protection Settings
The General tab contains the most commonly used settings that control PS Tray Factory's basic behavior.
Startup and Behavior
Automatically launch PS Tray Factory when Windows starts. Recommended for most users.
Start PS Tray Factory minimized to the system tray without showing the main window.
Automatically hide new tray icons that appear after PS Tray Factory starts.
Icon Management
Automatically restore system tray icons after Windows Explorer crashes or restarts.
Continuously monitor the system tray for new icons and changes.
Remember and restore the exact order of tray icons.
The Additional tab provides advanced settings for fine-tuning PS Tray Factory's operation and appearance.
Menu Appearance
Choose from different visual styles for the tray menu (Classic, Modern, Flat).
Display application names next to icons in the tray menu.
Enable smooth animations when opening and closing menus.
Advanced Features
Protect PS Tray Factory configuration with a password to prevent unauthorized changes.
Enable keyboard shortcuts for quick access to PS Tray Factory functions.
Enable detailed logging for troubleshooting and technical support.
For New Users
- • Start with default settings
- • Enable "Start with Windows"
- • Use "Auto-hide New Icons" cautiously
- • Always enable "Restore Tray Icons"
For Advanced Users
- • Experiment with menu styles
- • Set up custom hotkeys
- • Enable password protection
- • Use logging for troubleshooting
Performance Tips
- • Adjust monitoring frequency
- • Disable unused features
- • Optimize for your system
- • Regular configuration backups
Configuration Backup
PS Tray Factory automatically saves your configuration. You can also manually export your settings to backup files and import them on other computers or after reinstallation.
Advanced Features
Advanced Icon Management
Custom Icon Actions
Configure custom actions for each tray icon:
- Left click action
- Right click menu
- Double click behavior
- Hover tooltips
Icon Grouping
Organize your tray icons into groups for better management:
- Create custom groups
- Drag and drop icons
- Show/hide entire groups
- Color-code groups
Stay On Top Feature
Advanced Interface
Pro Tips:
- • Use Ctrl+Click to select multiple icons
- • Right-click on empty space for context menu
- • Press F2 to rename selected icon
- • Use Shift+Del to permanently remove icons
System Integration
Windows Startup
Automatically load PS Tray Factory when Windows starts for seamless tray icon management.
Shell Integration
Deep Windows Explorer integration for easy icon management from anywhere in the system.
Multi-Monitor Support
Full support for multiple monitors with per-monitor tray icon settings and positioning.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Global Shortcuts
| Ctrl+Alt+T | Show/Hide main window |
| Ctrl+Alt+M | Open tray menu |
| Ctrl+Alt+R | Restore all icons |
| Ctrl+Alt+H | Hide all icons |
| Ctrl+Alt+S | Save current layout |
Interface Shortcuts
Contact Information
support@pssoftlab.com
www.pssoftlab.com
Latest versions and updates
Technical Support
If you need help with PS Tray Factory:
- Email: support@pssoftlab.com
- Website: www.pssoftlab.com
- Downloads: Latest versions and updates
- Contact: Contact form
Legal Information
- Copyright: © 2024 PS Soft Lab. All rights reserved.
- License: Shareware (30-day trial)
- Terms: Terms of Use
- Privacy: Privacy Policy
Troubleshooting & Tips
Icons Not Appearing
- • Check if PS Tray Factory is running in system tray
- • Verify Windows Explorer is running properly
- • Try restarting PS Tray Factory service
- • Check Windows notification area settings
Performance Issues
- • Reduce refresh interval in settings
- • Disable unnecessary visual effects
- • Close unused system tray applications
- • Update to latest version for optimizations
Quick Fix Tips:
- • Press Ctrl+Alt+R to restore all icons instantly
- • Use F5 to refresh the icon list if something seems stuck
- • Right-click on PS Tray Factory icon and select "Refresh" if icons disappear
System Stability
- • Enable password protection for security
- • Regular backup of settings
- • Keep Windows updated
- • Monitor system resources
Performance
- • Optimize refresh intervals
- • Use groups for organization
- • Hide unused system icons
- • Regular cleanup of icon list
Maintenance
- • Check for software updates monthly
- • Review and clean icon configurations
- • Test restore functionality
- • Document custom configurations
System Requirements
| OS: | |
| RAM: | |
| Disk: | |
| CPU: |
Compatibility Notes
- Works with all Windows desktop versions
- Compatible with Windows Server editions
- Supports multiple monitor setups
- Works with Remote Desktop connections
- Compatible with antivirus software
Support & Registration
Registration
Price: $24.95
Trial: 30 days full functionality
License: One-time payment, lifetime use
Register NowTechnical Support
Thank You for Using PS Tray Factory!
Your support helps us continue developing and improving PS Tray Factory. Registered users receive priority support and help shape future versions through feedback.