Aero Shake - Clear Desktop by Shaking a Window

How to Clear Desktop with Aero Shake in Windows 7 and Windows 8​

   Information

This will show you how to clear the desktop to only have any one active window showing instead in Window 7 and Windows 8.

   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

Related Tutorials

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• How to Enable or Disable Aero Shake in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Use Show Desktop in Windows 7
• How to Turn Aero Peek On or Off in Windows 7
• How to Turn Aero Snap and Aero Shake On or Off in Windows 7
• How to Enable Aero in Unsupported Editions of Windows 7

 

[Brink]

LOL, ok. Thank you posting back your results so far.

 

[jeyessh]

Actually i found that accidentally
Was confused the first time that this some kind of mistake:shock:
Then used the shortcut to minimize all windows except that window u are using(Win+Home) to check whether all windows come back.
Shorcuts Courtesy ur tutorial
But, didn't know a tutorial existed to show it
Regards,
Ashok

 

[skyfly]

Never heard about that till now, where do you find these!!
Thanks again

 

[brummyfan]

Nice one Shawn, thank you.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Skyfly and Brummy.

 

[LePoilu]

Funny feature.

But I have to tell that it doesn't work with "sub-windows".
If you have a software with multiple windows it only work on the main windows.
I tried today with this type of windows, and it doesn't worked, I searched why until I understand that I must shake the main windows of the software.

 

[Brink]

Hello LePoilu,

When shaking the sub-window (ex: Open with) from the main program window, it should clear the desktop of all open windows except for the windows that belong to that main program window. Is this what you are seeing?

 

[LePoilu]

Hi

You right, I expected that the desktop will be cleared as if I shake the main windows. As you can't reduce the main windows and keep the sub-windows in front, shaking sub-windows should have the same result that shaking the main windows.

It can be usefull (I guess) because when you have (one or more) subwindows open you may need a clear view of your desktop, and your first step will be shaking the first windows you have in front of you.

 

[lapin]

This is awesome feature. It'll be very helpful for me! Didn't know about this. Thanks!

But like LePoilu said it doesn't work perfectly with 'sub-windows'. Ex. when I press now ctrl+o (I'm in maximised Opera browser) and shake the 'Open' window, Opera should dissapear to let me view my desktop.

 

[sid]

haha, this looks like an "Apple" feature

 

[SupremeGeek]

What is that bar at the top of your desktop?

 

[z3r010]

What is that bar at the top of your desktop?

Rocket dock - About RocketDock - RocketDock.com

 

[Hill Mantarou]

this is really cool~~

 

[haolk]

May I ask what is the software used to get the Toolbar (or whatever you call it) like the one in Mac as can be seen in the last screenshot. Thanks!

 

[Brink]

Hello Haolk,

It's RocketDock.

 

[Da Ripper]

haha! this is so cute!

 

[haolk]

thanks Brink! nice program

 

[JonathanV]

I also noted that this feature also work on Basic theme, not just Aero theme to be applied.

 

[Brink]

Hello Jonathan,

Yep, it'll work in any theme if enabled.