When you’re working on a bunch of different programs on your computer, it can sometimes be tough to get back to your desktop. Typically, users would minimize the windows that are open on their systems, and this is not something you’d want to do when you have two or more apps running at a time. The good news is that Windows 10 makes it easy to access your desktop no matter how many windows are open on your computer. Whether you’re playing games, browsing the web, or working on a project, you can view your desktop at any time with just a single click.
Sure, some of you may know what you need to do, but if you’re pretty new to the Windows platform, you may be curious to learn the technique. Look no further because we’ll be taking a look at not one but three uniquely different ways to get back to desktop on Windows 10.
Method 1. Get Back to Desktop on Windows 10 using Win + D Keyboard Shortcut
We’ll start with the easiest and most flexible way to get back to your desktop no matter where you are in Windows. This is achieved with a simple keyboard shortcut. Simply press the Windows key and D key simultaneously. Yes, it also works if you press the Windows key first, followed by the D key, but not the other way round.
This would be the go-to method, especially if you’re using a full-screen application and don’t have access to the taskbar. Once you’re on the desktop, pressing Windows + D keys again will take you right back to the last window that was active on your computer.
Method 2. Get Back to Desktop on Windows 10 using a Shortcut icon
In comparison to the other methods, this one requires extra work. You’ll need to set up a shortcut that takes you to your desktop on Windows 10 and then pin this shortcut to your taskbar for easy access. If you’re not sure how to do this, just follow these steps:
Step 1. Right-click anywhere on your desktop to access the context menu. Select ‘New’ and then click on ‘Shortcut’ to get started.
Step 2. This will launch a new window for creating a new shortcut. In the location box, simply copy and paste ‘%windir%\explorer.exe shell:::{3080F90D-D7AD-11D9-BD98-0000947B0257}’ without the quotes and click on ‘Next.’ This particular location that you entered is nothing but your Windows desktop.
Step 3. Now, type in a desired name for your shortcut. You can name it ‘Desktop’ to make it easier to identify. Click ‘Finish’ to save your changes and create the new shortcut.
Step 4. You will now see the shortcut on your Windows desktop. At this point, you’re technically free to pin the shortcut to your taskbar, but we’ll be changing the shortcut icon so that it’s not confused with the File Explorer icon that’s already in the taskbar. Right-click on the shortcut and select ‘Properties’ from the dropdown menu.
Step 5. Click on ‘Change Icon’ from the shortcut properties window and select a different icon for the shortcut. Once you’re done, click on ‘Apply.’
Step 6. Now, right-click on the shortcut from your desktop and choose ‘Pin to taskbar’ to complete the procedure.
Step 7. Alternatively, you can drag and drop the shortcut in the taskbar. Simply click on it to get back to your desktop no matter what app you’re using.
This shortcut icon will always be visible in your taskbar no matter how many windows or apps are open on your computer. Do keep in mind that if you don’t have access to your taskbar since you’re using an app in full-screen mode, you won’t be able to make use of it to go back to desktop on Windows 10. In such cases, you will need to rely on the Windows + D keyboard shortcut instead.
Also Read: How to Add A Show Desktop Icon on Windows 10 Taskbar
Method 3. Get Back to Desktop on Windows 10 from the Taskbar
If you don’t want to set up and configure a dedicated shortcut just for going back to the desktop on Windows 10, you can use some default options that are already accessible from the taskbar. Here’s what you need to do:
Step 1. Right-click anywhere on the empty area of the taskbar and choose ‘Show the desktop’ from the context menu. Since this requires two clicks, you can follow the next step for a bonus trick.
Step 2. Alternatively, you can just click on the extreme right side of your taskbar, as indicated in the screenshot below.
Once you get the hang of it, it’s as easy as flicking your mouse to the bottom-right corner of your screen and clicking it. This might be faster than the shortcut key technique, except for the limitation that your taskbar must remain accessible.
Conclusion
You no longer have to deal with minimizing a lot of windows just to view your desktop. With just a click or a key press, you can bring your computer to the desktop on Windows 10. Depending on whether your hands are on the keyboard or the mouse, the method you use to go back to the desktop may vary. Although we covered three different techniques, it’s worth pointing out that using the shortcut keys is the only way to go back to the desktop when using a full-screen application.
We hope you tried out all these methods and find one that suits your liking. Which is your favorite technique of the bunch? Do you know any additional ways to quickly go back to your desktop in Windows 10? In that case, feel free to share your ideas and leave your valuable feedback in the comments section down below.
