I was watching someone use her computer at work the other day, and I was amazed to see that she was unaware of a simple way to minimize all her windows. She went to each one, clicked on the minimize button – for like 5 windows. That’s a waste of time.
There are 3 very fast ways to do this:
1. Press your Windows key + M for minimize. The fastest way. The Windows key is between your Control and Alt keys on the lower left of your keyboard.
2. Similarly, you can press Windows key + D (D for desktop). This one is cool in that if you press the hotkey combo again, you’ll see all your windows maximized again. Option 1 does not do this.
2. If you insist in the mouse, you can do this – Right click on the toolbar on the bottom of your windows, you know, the one w/ the start button on the bottom left. Select Toolbars > Quick Launch. This will add some more icons to your toolbar. Press the icon w/ the blue and white trapezoid to see your desktop. You don’t have to do this whole thing every time. Next time, you can just press the icon, b/c it will always be there.
Great tip on the window +D key, thanks.
I always used the window icon to minimise all the open tasks, but this one is great too.
Its works Windows key + M or (D) .Thanks
You’re welcome.
great advice thanks!
Great job! I was finding hotkeys ’round since clicking the icons is really a troublesome job.
eh..sweet
I saw a senior personnel at an IT firm doing the same thing, and looking quite silly in the process…
I wish one of these would work on Windows XP Professional. I came in search of just such a hotkey solution, but honest, none of these works on the computer I use at work.
Windows-M gives me a choice of Microsoft programs, My Documents, My Pictures, etc.
Windows-D does not give me a Desktop option.
(Any idea how to configure these?)
And my toolbar does not allow me to do as you suggest.
hi dr. ashley,
seems like you have some kind of keyboard software that’s taken over your hotkeys.
What kind of keyboard do you have? Also, check Start > Control Panel > Keyboard.
the hotkey mapping may be there.
Well, I see this post is pretty old, but I just want to say that you can also restore windows using Win + Shift + M. I like minimize all better than show desktop because it tends to keep the toolboxes and widgets open.
Thaz gangsta advice rite thur