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.
Complete list of AskVG articlesThis article was posted in Windows 7.
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John
Awesome, thanks. My grandparents just got a new W7 desktop and I was explaining things to them and they kept asking where the "desktop button" was. This will make things a lot easier for them; thanks again.
drjim
@Chris P.: I tried several of the other fixes, but they didn't work for me. Yours worked and it was easy. Anyone who wants to get their Show Desktop back on their Win7, go straight to Chris P.'s post on the second page of this thread.
mark
F*CKIN BRILLIANT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU GENIUS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - UNBELIEVABLE !!!!!
WHY THE HELL DID BILLY BOY GATES REMOVE THIS GOOD OL' FEATURE
mark
all done and seemed to work fine - until i shut down and started next day - when i click icon - i am getting a message "catastrophic failure" - can anyone help?
Someone
@Nikolaj
Go to Notepad and open the Show Desktop file, and change the IconFile.
Someone
Replace IconFile with shell32.dll, 34
Derek
Another useful tip from this author - much appreciate you sharing this and all the other stuff you have authored.
Merry
To all who like the shortcut on the right, good for you! I like it on the left where my taskbar is. I do a lot of graphic/photo work using the mouse, The graphic program commands are on the left, the task bar is on the left, toggling between programs is on the left. I like the show desktop icon on the left. Using Win+D requires I move from the touch pad to the keyboard. Doable, but frustrating.
My other complaint reagrding the changes Vista & Win 7 made menus & taskbars is based on the fact that I use multiple computers with multiple versions on Win & Office every day. It drives me crazy that I can not unify the setting & it i slowing down my productivity.
The option to personalize the system for your own asthetic & convenience should ALWAYS exist.
Joe Blow
I don't like the new location of the button either as I like it to be close the the start menu and the rest of my quick launch buttons. If consistency is considered, logically, Microsoft should make it easy to remove this button. Users can remove every other system icon on the right hand side of the task bar so why would that one button be exempt. In my view it is extraordinarily stupid.
PS - Like Vista the whole operating system is a hodgepodge of redundancy. Redundancy = Clutter.
Epic
hahah love it, thanks man!!!