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Windows 7: Show Desktop Shortcut - Create

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Show Desktop Shortcut - Create

How to Create a "Show Desktop" Shortcut in Windows 7 and Windows 8
Published by VicVicVic
25 Sep 2009
Published by

How to Create a "Show Desktop" Shortcut in Windows 7 and Windows 8


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

Show Desktop Shortcut - Create-show_desktop.jpg






Show Desktop Shortcut - Create OPTION ONE Show Desktop Shortcut - Create
To Download the "Show Desktop" Shortcut
1. Click/tap on the Download button below to download the Show_Desktop.zip file.
download
2. Save the .zip file to your desktop.

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

4. Unblock the Show Desktop shortcut.

5. 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.

6. In Windows 8 and 8.1, 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.

7. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .zip file if you like.









Show Desktop Shortcut - Create OPTION TWO Show Desktop Shortcut - Create
To Manually Create the "Show Desktop" Shortcut
1. Right click or press and hold on an empty area on your desktop, and click/tap on New and Shortcut.

2. Copy and paste the location below into the location area, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)
%windir%\explorer.exe shell:::{3080F90D-D7AD-11D9-BD98-0000947B0257}
Show Desktop Shortcut - Create-step1.jpg

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.
Show Desktop Shortcut - Create-step2.jpg
4. Right click or press and hold on the new Show Desktop shortcut, and click/tap on Properties.

5. Click/tap on the Shortcut tab, then click/tap on the Change Icon button. (see screenshot below)
Show Desktop Shortcut - Create-step3.jpg
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
Show Desktop Shortcut - Create-step4.jpg
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)
Show Desktop Shortcut - Create-step5.jpg
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 and 8.1, 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.


Hope this helps,
Victor Ly






Related Tutorials
26 Sep 2009   #1
kumobox

Windows 7 64bit Home
30 posts
 
 
not working for me! everything is fine until i reboot and the show desktop icon is no longer there...


My System SpecsSystem Spec
29 Sep 2009   #2
VicVicVic

Windows 7 Professional
52 posts
 
 
Quote   Quote: Originally Posted by kumobox View Post
not working for me! everything is fine until i reboot and the show desktop icon is no longer there...
Sorry about that. I have since updated the tutorial to make sure that does not happen.

Have a good day,
Victor Ly
My System SpecsSystem Spec
30 Sep 2009   #3
kumobox

Windows 7 64bit Home
30 posts
 
 
Thanks! it's working now!
My System SpecsSystem Spec
.

24 Oct 2009   #4
kumobox

Windows 7 64bit Home
30 posts
 
 
Not working on final release?
Hi Victor, sorry to bother you again but since installing the retail version of windows 7 home I'm unable to put show desktop on the taskbar.
If I drag it to taskbar it gets pinned either to windows explorer or to my computer, it doesn't stay directly on the taskbar, I have to click on windows explore or my computer and then its there like a jumplist.
any suggestions?
My System SpecsSystem Spec
24 Oct 2009   #5
derekimo

Microsoft Community Contributor Award Recipient

Win 10 Pro x64
18,328 posts
 
 
This didn't work for me either, but I found the shortcut in the Quicklaunch folder in Brinks tutorial " Quicklaunch - Enable or Disable " ,Right clicked on it to send to desktop ( create shortcut ). Then followed Charbroil57's tutorial on how to pin the Recycle bin to the Taskbar and that worked for me, I don't know if there is an easier way to go about it ?
My System SpecsSystem Spec
25 Oct 2009   #6
kumobox

Windows 7 64bit Home
30 posts
 
 
Thanks Derekimo, I've tried that and it works but its not ideal as I have to keep the icon eiter down one side or the other.
The way the icon behaved after Viktor's tutorial was what I needed, hope he'll be able to fix it.
Thanks
My System SpecsSystem Spec
26 Nov 2009   #7
captnorm

Win7 Pro
21 posts
 
 
Show Desktop works near start button, can I get rid of
This procedure worked perfectly. Is there any way to get rid of the small icon to the right of the time?
My System SpecsSystem Spec
03 Dec 2009   #8
matthewindc

Wiindows 7
1 posts
 
 
Creating the desktop icon on the task bar
Hi,

This is totally minor, but I was wondering if you could tell me what I did wrong or what the fix might be: I was able to install the desktop button on my task bar, but it is not actually the desktop icon...can I get the icon image? Thanks!
My System SpecsSystem Spec
10 Dec 2009   #9
whs
Microsoft MVP

Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
26,476 posts
 
 
Unfortunately this did not work for me. When I wanted to save the Notepad file, I get this message. I am puzzled. I guess I will use Win+D.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
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