Make the Show Desktop Icon in Windows Quick Launch Toolbar

One of the most beloved features of Windows XP, the Show Desktop icon was a button on the taskbar that quickly minimized all open applications and brought users to their desktops. Newer versions of Windows no longer display the Show Desktop icon, but you can get it back by manually creating it and pinning it to the taskbar of Windows 7, 8 or 10.

Steps

Adding the Show Desktop Icon to Windows 8 and 10

  1. Right-click on the desktop. A pop-up menu will appear. [1]
  2. Hover your mouse on “New” and click “Shortcut.” In the resulting window, you’ll be asked “What item would you like to create a shortcut for?”
  3. Copy the code below. Click and drag your cursor over the code to highlight it, then release your mouse and hit Ctrl+C on your keyboard.
    • %windir%\explorer.exe shell:::{3080F90D-D7AD-11D9-BD98-0000947B0257
  4. Click inside the box and hit Ctrl+V. You should see your code in the box.
  5. Click “Next.” You’ll see another window asking you to name the shortcut.
  6. Type “Show Desktop” in the blank box. Naming the shortcut will help you identify it more quickly when you want to use it.
  7. Click “Finish.” Your shortcut has been created.
  8. Find the “Show Desktop” icon on your desktop so you can pin it to your taskbar.
  9. Right-click the “Show Desktop” icon. A menu will appear with an option for “Pin to Taskbar.”
  10. Click “Pin to Taskbar.” The icon will be pinned to your taskbar.

Adding the Show Desktop Icon to Windows 7

  1. Click the Start menu. Start is the round Windows icon in the lower-left of your screen. [2]
  2. Find All Programs. It will be in the list of commands after you click Start.
  3. Click All Programs. A large list of programs will appear, including an Accessories folder (you may have to scroll down).
  4. Click the Accessories folder. This will reveal several tools, including Notepad.
  5. Click the Notepad icon. Your Notepad program will open. Now you will copy and paste a code into Notepad.
  6. Copy the code below. Click and drag your cursor over the code to highlight it, then release your mouse and hit Ctrl+C on your keyboard: Shell]Command=2IconFile=explorer.exe,3[Taskbar]Command=ToggleDesktop
  7. Paste the code into your Notepad Document. The code, which will create your Show Desktop icon, will activate when you save it into a Notepad document.
  8. Click inside the document and hit Ctrl+V. You should see your script in the Notepad document.
  9. Navigate to the File menu at the upper-left. Find “Save As.” You’ll save the file as “Show Desktop.scf.”
  10. Type “Show Desktop.scf” as the file name. Now select your save location by going to the Favorites section on the left. .
  11. Scroll down to “Desktop” in Favorites. Now you’ll select Desktop from the list.
  12. Select “Desktop.” Now you’ll save the file.
  13. Press “OK” to save the file. Find the Show Desktop file on your Desktop so you can pin it to the Start menu of your taskbar.
  14. Click the Show Desktop icon and hold down your mouse. Now you’ll drag it to Start.
  15. Drag the icon into the Start menu. Now you’ll be able to Show Desktop from the Start menu on the taskbar.
  16. Click Start. You’ll see Show Desktop at the top of the menu. Click it whenever you want to show your desktop.

Tips

  • Hovering your mouse over the bottom-right corner of the screen will take a “peek” at the desktop in Windows 7 and 10. Removing your mouse will put everything back in its place.
  • Be sure to close any windows you don't want to toggle when you are using the "Show Desktop" feature.

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.wintips.org/how-to-place-show-desktop-icon-windows-8-taskbar/
  2. ↑ https://www.maketecheasier.com/restore-the-show-desktop-icon-in-windows-7/
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