Windows 7: Show Desktop Shortcut - Create

   Information

Show Desktop was a feature present in Windows XP and Windows Vista, but has been changed to the Aero Peek/Show Desktop button on the bottom right corner of the screen, near the Notification Area in Windows 7 and Windows 8.

This tutorial will show you how to create or download a Show Desktop shortcut that you can use anywhere in Windows 7 and Windows 8.

   Note

By default in Windows 7, the taskbar button on the far right side is for Show Desktop and Aero Peek.

OPTION ONE

To Download the "Show Desktop" Shortcut

1. Click/tap on the Download button below to download the Show_Desktop.zip file.

2. Save the .zip file to the desktop.

3. Open the .zip file, and extract (drag and drop) the Show Desktop shortcut to the desktop.

4. Right click or press and hold on the Show Desktop shortcut, and click/tap on Properties, General tab, and on the Unblock button. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: If you do not have a Unblock button under the General tab, then the shortcut is already unblocked and you can continue on to step 5.

5. When done, you can delete the downloaded .zip file on the desktop if you like, or save it to use again.

6. In Windows 7, you can now Pin to Taskbar or Pin to Start Menu, add to Quick Launch, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.

7. In Windows 8, you can Pin to Taskbar on desktop, Pin to Start screen, add to Quick Launch, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.

OPTION TWO

To Manually Create the "Show Desktop" Shortcut

1. Right click or press and hold on a empty area on the desktop, and click/tap on New and Shortcut.

2. Copy and paste the location below into the location area, and click/tap on the Next button. (See screenshot below)

%windir%\explorer.exe shell:::{3080F90D-D7AD-11D9-BD98-0000947B0257}

3. Type Show Desktop for the name, and click/tap on the Finish button. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: You can name this anything you would like though.

4. Right click or press and hold on the new Show Desktop shortcut on the Desktop, and click/tap on Properties.

5. Click/tap on the Shortcut tab, then click/tap on the Change Icon button. (See screenshot below)

6. In the line under "Look for icons in this file", copy and paste the location below, and press Enter. (See screenshot below)

%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll

7. Select the icon highlighted in blue above, and click/tap on OK. (See screenshot above)
NOTE: You can use any icon that you would like instead though.

8. Click/tap on OK. (See screenshot below)

9. In Windows 7, you can now Pin to Taskbar or Pin to Start Menu, add to Quick Launch, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.

10. In Windows 8, you can Pin to Taskbar on desktop, Pin to Start screen, add to Quick Launch, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.