How to Show Desktop in Windows 11 Taskbar

Why Use This Feature?

The Windows 11 taskbar includes a ‘show desktop’ feature for instant desktop viewing with a click in the far right corner. Clicking this spot hides all open windows, providing quick access to your desktop files or icons. You can keep this useful feature enabled or disable it.

The Windows 11 Show Desktop button, located on the taskbar, is active by default. Users can turn this taskbar button on if they frequently access the desktop. Alternatively, users can turn the taskbar button off to avoid accidentally closing active applications with unintended clicks.

Method 1Use ⚙️ Windows Settings (Easy)

You can turn the ‘show desktop’ feature on or off for your Windows 11 taskbar using the ⚙️ Settings app. This method lets you control desktop access 🖥️ from the taskbar, no technical skills needed. ⚙️ Open Settings and follow these quick steps.

1. Open ⚙️ the Settings app. Click the ⊞ Start button and select Settings, or press Windows key + I on your keyboard.
2. In ⚙️ the Settings window, click Personalization on the left side.
3. On the right, click Taskbar.
4. Scroll down and click Taskbar behaviors to open more options.
5. Look for the option that says “Select the far corner of 🖥️ the taskbar to show the desktop”.
6. Check the box to turn it on. Uncheck the box to turn it off.
7. Close ⚙️ the Settings app when done.

Here are some images to help you find these settings:

Click Personalization in Settings

Click Taskbar in Personalization

Check or uncheck this box to turn the feature on or off

Method 2Use Registry Editor (Advanced)

If you’re comfortable making advanced system changes, the Registry Editor lets you adjust the Windows 11 taskbar’s ‘show desktop’ setting. This tool allows for deeper system adjustments. Follow these steps carefully to control whether 🖥️ the taskbar corner shows your desktop.

For those comfortable with advanced system changes, the Registry Editor is a tool for modifying ⚙️ Windows settings. Follow these steps precisely, and be cautious when editing the registry.

1. Open the Registry Editor. Press Windows key + R to open the Run box.
2. Type regedit and press Enter.
3. Navigate to this folder path: Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
4. On the right side, look for a value named TaskbarSd.
5. If you see it, double-click it to open. If not, right-click a blank space, choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it TaskbarSd.
6. Set the value data to:

   • 1 to turn the feature ON
   • 0 to turn the feature OFF
7. Click OK and close the Registry Editor.
8. 🔄 Restart your computer to apply the changes.

Here is an example screenshot of the Registry Editor setting:

Set TaskbarSd value to 1 or 0

Summary

The Windows 11 taskbar includes a ‘show desktop’ feature for instant desktop viewing with a click in the far right corner. This action minimizes all open windows, providing quick access to icons and files. You can easily turn this useful taskbar feature on or off through ⚙️ Windows Settings.

What happens when you use it: Your open windows minimize, letting you see your desktop. Click the corner again to restore your windows.

Windows 11 users can toggle this setting two ways. Navigate to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors. Alternatively, use the Registry Editor to change the TaskbarSd value: set it to 1 to turn the feature on, or 0 to turn it off.

Showing the desktop on the Windows 11 taskbar offers fast access to your computer’s main screen. Users can turn this feature on to get this quick access. Turning the feature off stops accidental clicks that might take you away from your current work. Testing both options helps users find the most convenient setting.