Windows 7 - Clear Desktop by Shaking a Window

**Brink**

How to Clear the Desktop with Aero Shake in Windows 7

Information

This will show you how to clear the desktop to only have one window that you want showing instead in Window 7.

Note

When you clear the desktop of all but the one window, the other opened windows are minimized to the taskbar. If you have multiple monitors, then it will clear the desktop on all of them as well.

Warning

Aero Requirements to be Enabled in Windows 7

NOTE: If Aero is not enabled, then Aero Shake will not work even when enabled or turned on.

Aero is not included in Windows 7 Starter or Home Basic, so you must have Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate, or Enterprise installed.
1 GHz 32-bit or 64-bit processor
1 GB of system memory
A graphics card with support for DirectX 9 graphics with at least 128 MB of memory.
The graphics card must support Pixel Shader 2.0 and the Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM).
The Desktop Window Manager Session Manager and Themes Services need to be set as Started and Automatic.
You must be have True Color (32 bit) set instead of High Color (16 bit).
Desktop composition needs to be enabled (checked) in Visual Effects.
Refresh or update your WEI score.

Here's How:

1. To Clear the Desktop -
A) Left click and hold on the Title Bar of the window you only want to show on the desktop. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: For example, the window with a red box on the title bar in the screenshot.

B) Shake the window a bit by draging it left and right some quickly.

C) When the desktop clears, drop (release left click) the window. (See screenshot below)

2. To Restore the Desktop -
NOTE: This restores the desktop to the way it was before you cleared it in step 1. This will not restore minimized windows on the taskbar unless they have been cleared (shrunk) in step 1.
A) Left click and hold on the Title Bar of the same window from step 1. (See screenshot below)

B) Shake the window a bit by draging it left and right some quickly again.

C) When the minimized windows return to the desktop, drop (release left click) the window. (See screenshot below step 1B)

That's it,
Shawn

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**echrada** · 11-06-2008

Thanks Brink that works a treat, wouldn't have guessed that in a million years.

**Brink** · 11-06-2008

You're welcome Echrada. It is a handy little feature in Windows 7.

Shawn

**mansrm81** · 11-06-2008

Didn't even know that was a new feature.

**smarteyeball** · 11-06-2008

I discovered the maximize/minimize function but didn't know about the shaking part. It's very handy

Ta Shawn. Keep 'em coming

**z3r010** · 11-09-2008

It would be nice if it only cleared the monitor you shake in rather than all of them

**Brink** · 11-09-2008

I didn't even look for that. A warning box has been added.

Thanks John.

**linuzo** · 11-09-2008

Wow that is a neat feature, I wouldn't have thought about shaking your window.. I guess it's more designed for the touch screen effect when moving things around.

**Brink** · 11-09-2008

Hi Linuzo,

LOL, that was exactly where this feature came from.

Shawn

**nawito** · 11-16-2008

Didn't even know that feature this is very good holy 7.

Windows 7 - Clear Desktop by Shaking a Window

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