If you are using Windows 7, you might be wondering where is the good ol' "Show Desktop" shortcut in taskbar which used to allow us to minimize all running program windows in a single click.
Actually "Show Desktop" shortcut has been moved to end of Windows 7 taskbar in form of a small rectangle. You can read more about it here:
Has Microsoft Removed Show Desktop Shortcut in Windows 7?
But if you still want to get the old "Show Desktop" shortcut back in Windows 7, then here is how to do it:
1. Create a new folder anywhere you want. For example you create a folder in E: drive. You can give it any name.
2. Now paste following code in Notepad and save the file with name "Show Desktop.scf" (including quotes) and the location should be the new folder which you created in 1st step:
[Shell]
Command=2
IconFile=explorer.exe,3
[Taskbar]
Command=ToggleDesktop
NOTE: You can download a ready-made "Show Desktop.scf" file from here:
Download Show Desktop.scf File
3. Now right-click on taskbar and select "Toolbars -> New Toolbar...".
It'll open Browse dialog box. Select the folder which you created in 1st step and click on "Select folder" button.
4. It'll immediately add that folder to taskbar.
5. Now right-click on taskbar and select "Lock the taskbar" to unlock it.
6. You'll see a placeholder to drag the new toolbar.
7. Right-click on the toolbar placeholder and uncheck "Show Title" and "Show Text" options.
8. If you want to increase the icon size, right-click on the toolbar placeholder and enable "View -> Large Icons" option.
9. Drag-n-drop this toolbar to the left of taskbar.
10. Now lock the taskbar again and you have the good ol' "Show Desktop" shortcut back in Windows 7.
PS: You can also use "WIN+D" key combination for the same thing.
This article was posted in Windows 7.
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blah
The new location is silly and misplaced, it really looks as if they wanted to make a clean taskbar and just didnt know what to do with the 'show desktop' button.
So they placed it 'behind' the clock on the other side of the screen. Impractical and far away from all the other buttons in nearly every program. Clearly aesthetics over function.
Chris P
Thanks for this
@Nikolaj
If you amend the line "IconFile=explorer.exe,3" to "IconFile=shell32.dll,34" it'll use the Windows 7 desktop icon without the need for an additional shortcut.
I don't like the fact that the look and feel of the icon is inconsistent with the rest of my taskbar icons, or that there's a gap before the rest of the icons. I've written a small C# app which synthesises a Win+D keypress. This app can then be pinned to the taskbar so the show desktop icon looks and acts just like all the others.
If anyone's interested you can get it here:
http://cid-2710789b0cd08477.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/.Public/Projects/ShowDesktop.zip
Juan
Are you all stupid? Windows 7 has the SHOW DESKTOP as a little bar at the right of the Taskbar… you fools.. god..
VG
^^ You missed the 2nd paragraph which clearly mentions the same thing which you are trying to say. This tutorial is for educational purpose, for people who want to get the things back as they used to be in previous Windows versions.
Ian
I created the shortcut without any problems, but it would not drag and drop to the left hand side of the taskbar even though it was unlocked. I am running Windows 7 release candidate.
André
I use a different method without the use of desktop.scf.
a) Find out the path of the "Quick Launch" folder. On my computer the path is "C:\Documents and Settings\SESSION NAME\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch".
"SESSION NAME" has to be changed according the actual session name.
b) Don't create the folder nor the file, point 1 and 2. Instead use the "Quick Launch" existing path on point 3 above when creating the new toolbar. Unfortunately it is not possible to browse to that folder because access of "Documents and Settings" is not possible under Windows 7 RC. I used a Windows console to determine the path then "Cut Paste"
Hope it helps
Grateful
@Chris P: THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!! This was driving me insane! You are a win7 God
I was almost ready to go back to Vista just over that.
Erick
Just, wow... This is the lamest fight I've ever seen. The f**king button IS on the right side, we all know tha, and having the "old" or "classic" Show Desktop button is just stupid and retarded. Besides that, it makes the taskbar 4-5 pixels higher and ruins the superbar's original design.
CheekyBastard:
"The point, Rob, is that it is annoying to move the mouse all the way across the screen and all the way back to where it is used most often. "
SERIOUSLY? How can one person complain about that? You can get over there in less than half a second, for God's sake. Besides that, it would be the exact same thing if it were on the left! As Rob said, GET OVER IT! It's only a button, and it has a feature called Aero Peek that the normal "Show Desktop" button didn't have and will never do. And it's not that I don't appreciate VG's tutorial about this. He took his time to show you people how it can be done. His intention was good and that's what counts. I made my point here.
P.D.: It would be the most idiotic thing if someone downgraded to VIsta just for that.
spigot
The point of this, and of any operating system; is to make people's lives easier. Thanks to the author of this post for giving people a method to keep a highly functional, convenient (not at the furthest right of the screen) method to show the desktop. I probably use this funcitonality 20 times a day, and I don't want to traverse a few thousand pixels to the right every time I want to do it (I run high resolution displays).
Unfortunately, the OS will not let me drag the newly created shortcut out of the 'tray' area. If I try to drop it on the taskbar to the left of the break, it shows a red circle/cross. Dropping it does no good. Is anyone else having this problem? I am running build 7100.
Mark
Anyone know of a hack to move the fancy pants new show desktop button on the right side to the left side of the start button where it oughta be?
I love my old show desktop.pcf file, but was just curious if it could be done away with by other means.