I seem unable to get pidgin to show a tray icon, all I get is an empty space.
It used to work before, and if I delete my KDE configuration (for the parts that apply, mostly plasma), it shows ONCE, but never shows again unless I delete that config again.
What is causing this? A bug in pidgin? In KDE/Plasma? Is there any way to permanently fix this? (resetting the system tray as specified in other threads only fixes it one time)

Which version of KDE are you using? If you are using KDE 4.4 or earlier, please update. Also, which graphics card does your system have?

Using 4.5.1, nvidia graphics with binary driver.
Every other icon works, just Pidgin fails, and occasionally some other GTK icons at random. Removing and re-adding the plasmoid fixes the issue but as soon as the icon is altered (such as message alert notification in Pidgin, signal changes in network manager) it will become transparent. Still functional but invisible.
I tried doing a fresh KDE config, but the results are the same. I'd consider it just a bug in Pidgin, but since other icons fail at random, it might be something else.
I recall the tray icon actually worked while I was still using 4.4, the icon disappeared after updating to 4.5 prereleases.

Ah, NVidia... if you disable Desktop Effects in System Settings does the icon appear if it was previously invisible?

I usually work with desktop effects turned off (I develop games in GL, 'nuff said ) and no, the icons vanish regardless them being turned off or on...

Not sure why this happens then. It could be a regression in Gtk or the NVidia drivers. The KDE component works with Qt apps fine, which points to the problem being in Gtk or a interaction between them.

Hm, that's not good. I wonder what can be causing this.
Anyone else has this problem? Maybe if someone else has it we can find a common cause.

I have the same problem.
I'm running KDE 4.5.80 on Gentoo.
Ibus and Transmission (gtk gui) tray icons are invisible.

Just to note, this problem persists in 4.6 beta 1.

Maybe this will help devs to localize a bug.

Sometimes sonata icon won't appear. But balloon notifications will appears then below the panel (my tray is on top of the screen), like icon isn't in the tray, but somewhere else on the screen.

I can't reproduce this now, but I've made a quick mockup of that issue.


Hope it will help.

edit:
Though, restarting sonata solves this, so maybe this is some another issue

Can you please post the versions of Gtk you are using?

gtk version 2.20.1

The same problem. No pidgin icon in taskbar.
KDE 4.6.1+plasma+compiz+emerald
GTK+ 1.2.10
ATI graphic card

Whilst I don't have Pidgin installed, I do have Transmission installed, and that appears fine. I suggest you make sure that Plasma hasn't automatically hidden the icons (click on the upward arrow in the system tray)

bcooksley when I wrote: no pidgin icon I was reffering to bug reported in upper posts. The place, when should be pidgin icon is empty. When I right-click on this space, I have pidgin option.
I wipe out completly my KDE configuration files, restored default Sabayon configuration files. Remove and install again pidgin.
Nothing help. I reinstall Sabayon (because I must had from another reasons) and set empty new user catalog. This helped.

From posts on Sabayon forum I read that another ppls have problem with another programs icon.