How to Minimize All Windows at Once (Windows 11 and 10 Shortcuts)

When your screen is buried under a dozen open windows, minimizing them all at once gets you back to the desktop in a second, to grab a file, check a widget, or hide what you’re working on. Windows has several ways to do it, and they behave slightly differently. This guide covers the keyboard shortcuts, the Show desktop button, window shake, and how to bring everything back, for Windows 11 and Windows 10, with Mac equivalents at the end.

Quick Answer

Press Windows key + D to minimize all windows and show the desktop. Press it again to restore them. You can also press Windows key + M to minimize all windows, and Windows key + Shift + M to restore them. Or click the thin Show desktop strip at the far right end of the taskbar.

All the Ways to Minimize Every Window

Method	What it does	Restore
Windows + D	Shows the desktop instantly (toggle)	Windows + D again
Windows + M	Minimizes all windows	Windows + Shift + M
Show desktop button (far right of taskbar)	Same as Windows + D	Click it again
Windows + Home	Minimizes all windows except the active one	Windows + Home again
Title bar shake (if enabled)	Minimizes all windows except the one you shake	Shake again
Windows + Down arrow	Minimizes only the current window (press twice if maximized)	Click it on the taskbar

Windows + D is the most reliable, because it minimizes every window, including dialogs that Windows + M sometimes skips. If the goal is to keep one window visible rather than clear the screen, see how to pin a window on top in Windows 11 with the free PowerToys utility.

Method 1: Windows + D (Show Desktop)

1. Press and hold the Windows key, then press D.
2. All windows disappear and the desktop shows.
3. Press Windows + D again to bring every window back as it was.

If you open a desktop icon while the desktop is showing, the toggle resets, so restore the other windows from the taskbar.

Method 2: Windows + M and Windows + Shift + M

Press Windows + M to minimize all windows. Press Windows + Shift + M to restore everything you minimized that way.

Method 3: The Show Desktop Button

At the far right of the taskbar, just past the clock, there’s a thin strip. Click it to show the desktop, and click again to restore.

In Windows 11, this may be turned off. To turn it on, right-click the taskbar, choose Taskbar settings, expand Taskbar behaviors, and check Select the far corner of the taskbar to show the desktop.

In Windows 10, you can also right-click the taskbar and choose Show the desktop.

Method 4: Shake to Minimize the Others

Grab a window’s title bar with the mouse and shake it quickly left and right. All other windows minimize, and shaking again restores them.

In Windows 11, this is off by default. Turn it on in Settings > System > Multitasking > Title bar window shake. Windows + Home does the same thing from the keyboard.

Minimize All Windows of One App

• Hover over the app’s taskbar icon, then right-click a preview and choose Minimize.
• Or Shift + right-click a grouped taskbar icon and choose Minimize all windows. This is available in Windows 10 and some Windows 11 versions.

On a Mac

Shortcut	What it does
Cmd + F3 (or F11 on some keyboards)	Show Desktop (moves all windows aside)
Cmd + Option + M	Minimize all windows of the front app
Cmd + Option + H	Hide all other apps

Troubleshooting

Windows + D doesn’t work

Check that the Windows key isn’t locked. Some gaming keyboards have a Win Lock key or mode. A full-screen game or remote desktop session may also capture the shortcut.

The Show desktop button is missing

Turn on Select the far corner of the taskbar to show the desktop in Taskbar behaviors (Windows 11).

Some windows don’t minimize with Windows + M

Dialogs and some apps ignore Windows + M. Use Windows + D instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between Windows + D and Windows + M?

Windows + D toggles the desktop on and off and catches every window. Windows + M only minimizes, and you restore with Windows + Shift + M.

Can I peek at the desktop without minimizing?

Press Windows + comma (,) to peek at the desktop while you hold the keys. In Windows 11, peek may need to be turned on in Taskbar behaviors.

Summary

1. Press Windows + D to show the desktop, and again to restore.
2. Or use Windows + M, then Windows + Shift + M to restore.
3. Click the Show desktop strip at the far right of the taskbar.
4. Use Windows + Home or title bar shake to keep one window open.