One of the most popular features of the Windows XP operating system was the "Show Desktop" icon located directly on the taskbar, which allowed you to minimize all open windows with a single gesture by instantly displaying the system desktop. In new versions of Windows, the "Show Desktop" icon is no longer present, but it can be restored manually by creating a custom link to be anchored to the taskbar. You can do this on Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 10.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Create the Show Desktop Icon in Windows 8 and Windows 10
Step 1. Select an empty spot on the desktop with the right mouse button
A small context menu will appear.
Step 2. Move the mouse pointer over the "New" menu item, then choose the "Shortcut" option
In the center of the new dialog box that appears there will be the text field "Enter the path for the connection".
Step 3. Copy the code string visible in this step
Drag the mouse cursor over the text shown below to highlight it in blue, release the mouse button, then press the key combination Ctrl + C.
% windir% / explorer.exe shell::: {3080F90D-D7AD-11D9-BD98-0000947B0257
Step 4. Click the "Enter path for link" text field and press the key combination Ctrl + V
The code under consideration should appear in the indicated field.
Step 5. Press the "Next" button
Another screen will appear asking you to name the new link.
Step 6. Type the keywords "Show desktop" into the "Enter shortcut name" text field
This way you will be able to locate it more quickly and easily when you need to use it.
Step 7. Press the "Finish" button
The shortcut will automatically be created on the desktop.
Step 8. Locate the "Show Desktop" icon that just appeared on your desktop so you can pin it to the Windows taskbar
Step 9. Select the "Show Desktop" icon with the right mouse button
The relevant context menu will be displayed. Within the latter there is the item "Add to the taskbar".
Step 10. Select the "Pin to Taskbar" option
The newly created shortcut icon will be placed on the Windows taskbar.
Method 2 of 2: Add the Show Desktop Icon in Windows 7
Step 1. Access the "Start" menu by clicking the round icon depicting the Windows logo in the lower left corner of the desktop
Step 2. Locate "All Programs"
It is listed in the lower left of the "Start" menu that appeared.
Step 3. Select the "All Programs" item
A large list of programs will appear which will include the "Accessories" option (you may have to scroll down the list to locate it).
Step 4. Select the "Accessories" folder
It contains several system tools, including the Windows "Notepad" text editor.
Step 5. Select the "Notepad" program icon
The "Notepad" text editor window will appear. You are now ready to copy the portion of code contained in the next step into a new text document.
Step 6. Copy the following code
Drag the mouse cursor over the text shown below to highlight it in blue, release the mouse button, then press the key combination Ctrl + C: [Shell] Command = 2 IconFile = explorer.exe, 3 [Taskbar] Command = ToggleDesktop
Step 7. Paste the copied text into the "Notepad" program window
The code indicated is used to recreate the "Show desktop" icon which will be activated as soon as the new document is saved in the correct format.
Step 8. Select a point within the text document and press the key combination Ctrl + V
Inside the "Notepad" program window you should see the code you just copied appear.
Step 9. Access the "File" menu located in the upper left corner of the program window
Select the "Save As" option and save the document with the following name "Show desktop.scf".
Step 10. Type the string "Show desktop.scf" into the "File name" field
At this point choose the folder in which to save it using the "Favorites" section visible in the left part of the "Save as" dialog box.
Step 11. Scroll through the list in the "Favorites" section to locate and select the "Desktop" item
Step 12. Click the "Desktop" entry
You are now ready to save the file.
Step 13. Press the "Save" button
Find the "Show Desktop" icon that just appeared on your desktop, so you can pin it to the Windows taskbar.
Step 14. Select the "Show Desktop" icon without releasing the left mouse button
At this point you are ready to insert it in the "Start" menu.
Step 15. Drag the "Show Desktop" icon onto the "Start" menu
Now you can select the "Show Desktop" icon directly from the Windows "Start" menu.
Step 16. Access the "Start" menu
The "Show Desktop" icon should be visible at the top of the menu. Select it to directly view the system desktop.
Advice
- When using a Windows 7 and Windows 10 system, moving the mouse cursor to the lower right corner of the screen will display a preview of the desktop. By repositioning the mouse pointer elsewhere, all open windows will return to their original position.
- Make sure you close any windows that you don't want to be minimized when using the "Show Desktop" feature.
