Since Windows 7, Microsoft has removed the "Show Desktop" icon from the taskbar and hidden it in the lower right corner of your screen. After several years, I still have trouble getting used to it and would much rather have it in the taskbar. Fortunately, with a little tinkering, it is It is entirely possible to recreate a shortcut that allows you to hide all your windows. open to display your desktop and place it in your taskbar (or elsewhere).
Put the “Show Desktop” icon back on the taskbar
These manipulations work on Windows 7, 8 and 10, but the illustrations were made from Windows 10.
Step 1. To begin, create a new text document by right-clicking anywhere on the desktop -> New -> Text Document
Step 2. Rename your file Show Desktop.exe
Note: it is necessary that file extensions are visible
The following message should appear to let you know that you are changing the file extension. Click "Yes" to change your file extension.
Step 3. Right-click on your file and select the option “ Pin to taskbar " in the menu
Step 4. Create a new text file using Notepad and paste the following code into it:
[Shell] Command=2 IconFile=explorer.exe,3 [Taskbar] Command=ToggleDesktop
Step 5. In Notepad, go to the Files menu and click on “ Save as… »
In the dialog box that opens, make sure to select “ All the files (*.*) » in the list of Type.
Locate the following location on your computer (replacing username with your Windows username):
C:\Users\ \AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar
Step 6. Name your file Show Desktop.scf and click save.
You can now close the file you just created in Notepad.
Step 7. Now we will edit the properties of the file that we pinned to the taskbar.
Right click on the file icon Show Desktop.exe in the taskbar and right-click again on “Show Desktop” in the menu that opens, then choose “ Properties"
Step 8. In the properties, enter the path below for the "Target" in the "Shortcut" tab. Be sure to keep the quotes, as they are needed to account for spaces in the path you enter.
“C:\Users\ \AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar\Show Desktop.scf”
(Replace again by your username).
Don't close the properties just yet, we'll see how to change the icon.
Step 9. Changing the icon
In the properties, click on “ Change icon ... » and Windows will offer you a large number of icons that you can select at your convenience.
Once you have made your choice, click on “ Ok " and voila !
And there you have it, you now have a working shortcut in your taskbar to display your desktop. The icon may not change instantly, but it will definitely appear on the next startup!
Convenient, isn't it?
Article updated on September 15, 2025 by Byothe
