This article will show you how to add the “Show Desktop” icon that is present in Windows XP and Vista, to the Windows 7 taskbar. Windows 7 got rid of this icon and replaced it with a Aero Peek/Show Desktop button on the bottom right corner of the screen, near the System Tray. Many users, such as myself, do not find this convenient and want the old way of showing the desktop. Unfortunately, Microsoft didn’t make this an option but I will show you how to do it in a few simple steps. Lets get started…
How to display the “Show Desktop” icon in Windows 7
Open Notepad by going to Start –> All Programs –> Accessories and paste the following lines in a new document:
[Shell]
Command=2
IconFile=explorer.exe,3
[Taskbar]
Command=ToggleDesktopIt should look like this…
Navigate to File –> Save As… and choose All Files from the Save as type field.
In the File name field, type C:\Windows\Show Desktop.exe as shown below, and hit Save
If you receive the message You don’t have permission to save in this location… like the one below, that means you do not have write access to the C:\Windows folder. Granting access to this folder is outside the scope of this article, but a quick Google search will help you with this!
Once you have successfully saved the file, open Windows Explorer or Computer and navigate to C:\Windows and find the Show Desktop file you just created. Click and drag the file to your taskbar to pin it.
Now go back to the Show Desktop file in the C:\Windows folder If you do not see the extension .exe, you must change the settings to unhide it. To do this, hit the ALT button on your keyboard, and choose Tools –> Folder Options. Click on the View tab and and uncheck the option Hide extensions for known file types.
Once you are able to see the full filename, rename Show Desktop.exe to Show Desktop.scf. A popup window will display confirming this change, hit Yes.
Hold down the Shift key on your keyboard, right-click on the Show Desktop icon you just pinned to the taskbar and choose the Properties option from the menu.
Click on the Shortcut tab and change the value in the target field to C:\Windows\Show Desktop.scf. Click the OK button.
Adding a ‘Show Desktop’ icon to the left side of the Windows 7 taskbar can enhance your workflow by providing quick access to the desktop. Whether you choose to create a custom shortcut, use the Quick Launch toolbar, or utilize keyboard shortcuts, Windows 7 offers multiple ways to tailor this feature to your preferences.
FAQs
Can I use third-party applications to add a ‘Show Desktop’ icon to the taskbar?
Yes, several third-party applications can add a ‘Show Desktop’ icon to the taskbar. However, the methods described above allow you to achieve this without additional software.
Is it possible to change the icon image of the ‘Show Desktop’ shortcut?
Yes, you can change the icon image by right-clicking on the shortcut, selecting ‘Properties’, and then ‘Change Icon…’. From there, you can choose a different icon that suits your preference.
Will these methods work on versions of Windows other than Windows 7?
The procedures outlined are specific to Windows 7. While similar methods may work on other versions of Windows, the exact steps may vary.
