How to Show Desktop in Windows 11 Taskbar

Why Use This Feature?

This feature is really useful if you need to quickly get to your desktop. Click the far right corner of the taskbar, and all your open windows disappear. Click it again, and they pop back into view. You can also achieve the same result using a keyboard shortcut: press Windows key + D.

This built-in Windows 11 feature usually starts off by default. You can turn it on if you find yourself using it a lot. Or, you can turn it off if you’re worried about accidentally clicking it and losing your work.

Method 1Use ⚙️ Windows Settings (Easy)

This is a great way to toggle the feature on or off.

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)

⚠️ Admin privileges required

If you’re comfortable making advanced system changes, you can use the Registry Editor, 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

This feature lets you quickly see your desktop by clicking the far right corner of the Windows 11 taskbar.

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

How to turn it on or off: Use Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors. Or, you can use the Registry Editor and change the TaskbarSd value to 1 (on) or 0 (off).

Turning this feature off can prevent you from accidentally clicking it. Turning it on gives you fast desktop access. Try both and see which setting works best for you!