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I know the keys WinKey+D sends me to the Desktop in Windows.
And Alt+Tab (since Vista) does the same as long as there is a Desktop icon on the Task Switcher.

But these methods always minimize every (most of them) window on the screen, and that is not always desired.

Is there any hotkey (or simple keypressings) to focus (position, select... whatever you call it) the Windows Desktop without minimizing all/any the windows?

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2 Answers 2

Reset to default
-1

Press sequentially:

1.- WinKey

2.- Esc

3.- Shift+Tab

You should be now focused on the Windows Desktop (try typing the name of any of your icons, and it will be selected).

Valid for any Windows version, since Windows XP (and older). Pending to confirm for Windows 8.1 (if someone can, please test and report).

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  • doesn't work for me under Windows 8 (the original not 8.1).
    – magicandre1981
    Oct 8, 2014 at 3:58
  • @magicandre1981, maybe pressing <kbd>WinKey</kbd> twice? (the first one to switch to that stupid mosaic screen, and the second one to show the desktop)
    – Sopalajo de Arrierez
    Oct 8, 2014 at 10:46
  • ok, I use StartIsBack, so maybe this causes it. Sorry for the confusion.
    – magicandre1981
    Oct 8, 2014 at 15:59
-2

For Windows 10, press alt+esc. It should unfocus all windows and focus on desktop.

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  • 2
    Alt+Esc switches between 2 different windows/applications. The desktop is not part of this switching.
    – R-D
    Jun 30, 2019 at 8:57
  • Welcome to Super User. This answer seems to be incorrect. Unless you can argue to that, you should delete it or you could be downvoted.
    – Sopalajo de Arrierez
    Jun 8, 2020 at 9:00
  • Alt+Esc doesn't switch between 2 applications. It moves the focused window to the background and makes next window in the list the focused one.
    – KulaGGin
    Dec 20, 2021 at 19:24

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