Minimum and maximum timeout values are enforced by the operating system and are typically 10 and 30 seconds, respectively, however this can vary depending on the operating system. Timeout values that are too large or too small are adjusted to the appropriate minimum or maximum value. In addition, if the user does not appear to be using the computer (no keyboard or mouse events are occurring) then the system does not count this time towards the timeout.

Only one balloon tip can display on the taskbar at a time. Attempting to display a balloon tip when one is currently displayed on the taskbar causes the timeout value to be ignored. The behavior is slightly different depending on the operating system and whether the balloon tip is from another, or the same, application. When the second balloon tip is from another application, the first balloon tip will display for the minimum timeout value before the second appears, regardless of the value of timeout. In most cases, if the balloon tips are from the same application, the first balloon tip immediately closes when another call to the NotifyIcon.ShowBalloonTip(int, string, string, ToolTipIcon) method is made. In some cases the second balloon will open on top of the first balloon.

The title text will display in a bold font near the top of the balloon.

Namespace: System.Windows.Forms
Assembly: System.Windows.Forms (in System.Windows.Forms.dll)
Assembly Versions: 2.0.0.0