When opening a large number of windows in Windows, it is possible to minimize them all at once, using hotkeys. This method is suitable for any version of the operating system. Moreover, you can, which will allow you to minimize windows when you click on it. This option is useful if the keyboard for some reason refuses to work properly.
This method is the simplest, since it does not involve any actions related to the installation of specialized software. However, to implement it, the user must have a fully functional keyboard.
Hotkeys are used in the following way:
This simple key combination allows you to minimize all active windows, immediately throwing the user to the desktop. She looks like Win+D. It is worth noting that you can maximize all windows using the same combination.
If, for example, the D key refuses to work properly, you can use a slightly different combination. It is carried out in the following way:
It is worth noting that the Shift key on the keyboard can be used either on the left or on the right side.
There are several other combinations that also help simplify your computer work.
You can minimize windows in Windows in a simpler way, which not everyone suspects. In the lower right corner of the taskbar, near the clock (and in Windows 10, near the notification icon) there is a small vertical rectangle, clicking on which instantly minimizes all active windows and provides the user with . In addition, clicking on this block again expands all active windows, and right-clicking on the same rectangle opens an additional menu.
It is worth noting that Windows XP does not have such functionality. However, you can also minimize all windows with one click; the corresponding button is located next to the Start menu and is displayed in the form of a pencil on a sheet of paper.
Minimizing all windows can be done using a manually created shortcut. This method is more suitable for Windows XP. In later versions of the OS, this option may not work, because they already have built-in functionality for these purposes.
To create a shortcut you need to do a few simple steps.
Create a text document with the “txt” format. This is done by right-clicking on an empty space on the desktop. In the menu that opens, select “ Create", and in it - " Text Document».
Open the file, type or paste (using the copy/paste function) the following:
Command=2
IconFile=explorer.exe,3
Command=ToggleDesktop
Next, the document is saved using the menu “ File", in which the item " Save as…" A corresponding window opens where the file is assigned any name, after the dot the extension from “txt” is changed to “scf”, and the encoding “UTF-8” and the file type “ All».
After all the above manipulations, an icon in the form of a pencil on a piece of paper will appear on the desktop, which should be pinned to the taskbar.
There are a certain number of different ways to minimize all windows in Windows, so each user will choose exactly what suits him.
Share.He was a great original... Even the button "Collapse all windows" on his computer was on worker table…
Users who love to “clean up” their Desktop and on Quick Launch Toolbars, often “sweep away” the icon (button) Collapse all windows/Shows Desktop. Removing it is easy, but restoring it is a little more difficult!
IN Windows XP "Collapse all windows"- this is a team Windows Explorer (Windows Explorer Command), for which a kind of shortcut has been created - a file Collapse all windows.scf(extension .scf means Shell Command File). This file (79 bytes) is located in the .
File contents Collapse all windows.scf:
Command=2
IconFile=explorer.exe,3
Command=ToggleDesktop
IN Windows Vista icon Collapse all windows present - according to tradition Windows- on Quick Launch Toolbars, but the disadvantage XP not fixed: this file (its disk address is ; size 258 bytes) can be deleted permanently as easily as in Windows XP.
IN Windows Vista Collapse all windows (Shows Desktop) is a file with the contents:
L A FE ’ayay Ђ зчЂ0ЧШЧ Ѕ ”( W) @ % S y s t e m R o o t
% \ s y s t e m 3 2 \ s h e l l 3 2 . d l l , - 1 0 1 1 3 " % S y s t e m R o o t % \ s y s t e m 3 2 \ i m a g e r e s . d l l
At the same time in the file desktop.ini (\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\) there should be lines:
Shows Desktop.lnk=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-10113
How to recover a file Collapse all windows/Shows Desktop
Right-click on an icon-free surface Desktop;
– from the window that opens, select New –> Text Document;
– the icon of the created document will appear, give it a name Collapse all windows(or Shows Desktop);
– open the document and enter (or simply copy) the following lines
Command=2
IconFile=explorer.exe,3
Command=ToggleDesktop
– save the file;
– now so that the system “understands” that this file runs the command Collapse all windows, you need to change the file extension from .txt on .scf. This can be done in two ways:
a) run Windows Explorer, by opening any folder, for example, by clicking on the icon My computer. Select menu Tools –> Folder Options…;
· in the dialog box that opens Folder properties open the tab View;
· in scrollable list Extra options uncheck the line Hide extensions for registered file types –> click OK;
· change the extension .txt on .scf;
· A system warning will appear: “After changing the file name extension, the file may no longer be accessible. Are you sure you want to change the extension? Not really";
· authorize the extension change by clicking Yes;
· check the box back Hide extensions for registered file types (My Computer –> Tools –> Folder Options... –> View –> Advanced Options): this is necessary so that you do not have any inconvenience in the future with renaming files;
· put the file in a folder \Documents and Settings\Username\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch(For Windows XP) or to a folder \Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch(For Windows Vista), and place the label on Desktop- on Quick Launch Toolbar;
b) in an open text document Collapse all windows select menu File -> Save As…;
· in the text field File name after the name Collapse all windows add a dot and an extension scf (Collapse all windows.scf);
· on Desktop except for text document Collapse all windows.txt, a characteristic icon appeared Collapse all windows.scf;
· Text Document Collapse all windows.txt can be deleted;
· icon Collapse all windows.scf put it in a folder \Documents and Settings\Username\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch(For Windows XP) or to a folder \Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch(For Windows Vista), and place the label on Desktop- on Quick Launch Toolbar.
Notes
1. XP-shny file Collapse all windows works great in Windows Vista And Windows 7 .
2. For the same purposes ( Collapse all windows) you can use hotkeys: logo key Windows (checkbox Microsoft) + English letter key D(Russian letter IN). It's much easier and faster, and always at hand (even if the file Collapse all windows removed)!
In Windows XP and Vista, the button automatically appears in the Quick Access Toolbar on the left. To install this panel, you need to right-click on an empty spot on the taskbar, select the “Toolbar” tab, and then “Quick Launch”.
In Windows 7, the Minimize All Windows button always appears in the right corner of the toolbar as an inconspicuous rectangle.
In Windows 8, minimizing windows is disabled by default. To display the “Collapse all windows” icon, you need to right-click in the taskbar area. In the “Taskbar Properties” window that appears, in the “Taskbar” tab, you need to check the last menu item and save the changes by clicking on the “Apply” and “Ok” buttons. In G8, the button for quickly minimizing windows is displayed at the end of the taskbar.
In Windows 7 and 8, the “Minimize all windows” function is a system one and it is almost impossible to remove it. In XP and Vista versions, the minimize windows button can be easily removed. It often happens that this icon is deleted by users accidentally and cannot be restored. However, there is a way to create it again. To do this, create the following text in Notepad:
Command=2
IconFile=explorer.exe,3
Command=ToggleDesktop
It is possible to minimize all windows using the keyboard or mouse, even if the “Collapse all windows” button is removed. This alternative to minimizing windows is the same for all versions of the Windows operating system.
So, you can use hotkeys. Using the Win+M combination, all windows are minimized, and maximized with the Win + Shift+ M key combination. The Win+D key combination is also used as a “Collapse All Windows” button, with the first press minimizing windows, and the second press maximizing them.
Another option for minimizing windows is to right-click on the taskbar. In the window that appears, you need to select the “Show desktop” command - this will minimize all open windows. To return the windows to the reverse position, right-click again and select the “Show all windows” command from the menu that appears.
Personal computer users often have to use the same operations over and over again. This makes working on the computer longer and takes up a lot of attention. To solve this problem, the “hot keys” function was developed. The essence of this feature is that a person presses just a few keys on the keyboard to invoke certain operations, instead of numerous mouse clicks.
Instructions
Almost all programs have this function. This is very convenient and significantly speeds up your work. This one has the ability to edit these same “hot keys”. Let's look at how this is possible in one of the most popular graphic editors: Adobe Photoshop.
Open this program. At the top of the window is the program menu. Select " ". Select the "keyboard shortcuts" tab from the drop-down menu. A settings window will appear in front of you. Study it carefully. Here you are asked to configure “hot keys” for program menu commands. Double-click with the left mouse button on any of the items. The program menu commands will open in front of you. Select the desired function and click on it. A small field with a blinking cursor will appear on the right. Now you can specify any sequential key press on the keyboard, which will launch this program function during operation. Please note that some hotkeys are already set by the program by default. Go through the entire menu list. Configure this function as you need. After this, save your hotkey settings. Now working in this graphic editor, you will be surprised at how quickly you can perform standard operations that you previously spent a lot of time on.
Video on the topic
With the advent of the graphical interface of the Windows operating system, all applications began to open in separate windows. Each user, as a rule, performs the operations of opening, closing, minimizing and expanding them, without thinking or even paying attention to the fact that he is manipulating windows, and not videos, games, editors, etc. This is because the methods provided for these operations are very simple.
Instructions
Click the icon with a cross located in the upper right corner of the application window - this is the most basic way to close any window provided in the operating system graphical interface.
Use hotkeys, which in all modern versions of Windows OS duplicate the click on the close window icon. By default, this is a combination of the Alt and F4 buttons, although it can be changed using different specialized programs.
Right-click the icon of the open program window on the taskbar to access the context menu, which contains the command you need. It can be formulated differently depending on the version of the operating system installed - for example, in Windows 7 it will be the line “Close window”. You usually have to resort to this option if any problems arise in the operation of the application that do not allow you to use the methods described in the previous steps.
Launch the task manager if the problems with the program are so serious that you cannot close it using the taskbar. To do this, press the key combination Ctrl + Alt + Delete. If you are using the Windows 7 OS version, the manager will not start immediately, but an additional menu will open in full screen, in which you need to select the bottom line - “Start task manager”.
Find the problematic program in the list located on the “Applications” tab, highlight its line and click the “End task” button. The same can be done by right-clicking on this line and selecting the item with the same wording “End task” in the pop-up context menu.
Video on the topic
Hotkeys on your keyboard allow you to use your computer much faster than using just a mouse. Unfortunately, not all users know about these combinations.
Hot keys allow you to interact with your personal computer much faster and more conveniently. Thanks to them, the user can execute many pre-programmed commands. Of course, it is simply impossible to immediately remember all the available combinations. To begin with, it’s worth remembering just a few of them. It should be noted that each program may use different combinations. As a result, with their help, the user’s efficiency with a personal computer will increase significantly.
There are different combinations, for example, for working with text editors. A selected fragment of text can be copied using the combination Ctrl + C, or it can be cut using the command Ctrl + X. In order to select absolutely all the text in the document itself, you can use Ctrl + A. To paste a fragment, use the command Ctrl + V. These Keyboard combinations can also be used to work with files or folders. When selecting the necessary fragments, you just need to press a certain combination, and the result will be visible.
Of course, there are other combinations that will significantly speed up the process of working with a personal computer. For example, using the hotkey combination Alt + F4, you can quickly exit the active window. In addition, there are a huge variety of hotkeys using the Win button. This button is located between Ctrl and Alt, on the left side of the keyboard. By pressing the Win key, the user can very quickly open the Start menu and work with it.
Hotkeys Win + F1 allow the user to get help about the program or their own system. Win + F - opens a search window. With its help, you can easily find the necessary fragments in the text. The Win + L key combination can lock the user's computer. It is worth using it if, for example, you are at work and do not want any of your employees to find out your confidential information. This same keyboard shortcut will be useful if you have children. Win + D - allows you to minimize absolutely all currently open windows, and when pressed again, open these windows.
Some modern operating systems may have special key combinations that only work on them. For example, in the Windows 7 operating system, the Win + Tab combination allows you to view all active windows in 3D mode. Hot keys Win + P in the same operating system will allow you to control the projector from your computer.
Certain key combinations may also be used in various games and applications, but there they will be completely different from the standard ones and have their own meanings.
Another possible reason for this situation is simultaneous work with several arrays of information, implying parallel access to each of them. In this case, having several windows open on the desktop during the period of this work is a necessity for the user, allowing him to save time on opening each of them again at that moment. when the need for the information contained in it arises.
Therefore, developers of software used in modern computers have created the possibility of using so-called “hot keys” - combinations of buttons on the keyboard, pressing which causes certain necessary actions. One of these combinations allows you to close all windows open on the computer desktop at once: to do this, you need to press the Alt key, and then, while holding it, press the F4 key.
Executing this command usually causes a menu to appear prompting the user to confirm their intention to close all open windows, since the system developers assume that the specified combination may be pressed accidentally. If you are confident in your decision, you should confirm it by pressing the appropriate button, after which all windows will be closed.
Sources:
There is a button that, when pressed, minimizes all windows. A very convenient thing. But the problem is that some users manage to remove it while working at the computer. What to do? Who is guilty?
Let's look at options for restoring the button:
Option 1. Just download
Just download this file, unzip it and put it, for example, on your desktop, then grab it with your mouse and drag it to the taskbar. Download file ""
Option 2. (for advanced users)
Open notepad and copy these lines:
IconFile=explorer.exe,3
Command=ToggleDesktop
Moreover, the lines must begin on a new line, i.e. not in one line, without hyphenation.
come up with a file name, for example:
File Type: All Files
Everything is as in the picture
We also transfer the created file to the taskbar.
All these steps are valid for Windows XP.
For Windows 7 users, the button is located in the system tray (lower right corner where the clock is) and is difficult to remove.
For those who like to use hotkeys, use this combination
key with the Windows logo (Microsoft flag) + key with the English letter D (Russian letter B). It's much easier and faster, and always at hand (even if the Collapse all windows file is deleted)
Another way: – pressing the Windows logo key + M (b) – minimizes all windows; – pressing the Windows logo key + SHIFT + M (b) – restoring minimized windows.
Many open windows can sometimes slow down your computer. This applies to both browser windows and the applications themselves. Closing them one by one is quite tedious and not very convenient. Also, a large list of windows makes it difficult to access the desired application.
To solve this problem, developers have created, with which you can easily work with open applications. You can quickly close them (all or selectively), and also find what you need for work. For those who do not want or cannot perform commands using the keyboard, operations are available using the mouse.
It takes a long time to work with the mouse; for these purposes it is best to use the keyboard. There are several key combinations:
If the user needs all windows, except the one in which he is currently working, to be out of the way, press the “Win + Home” buttons. For a reverse reversal, select any of the combinations presented above or repeat the same.
If the user does not want to use the keyboard, then the operation can be performed using the mouse. On Windows 7, 8, 10 there is an empty rectangle at the bottom right, when activated, windows will be minimized and minimized to tray. To turn them back, just press again.
On Windows 8 and 10, this rectangle does not stand out, but it is there. To minimize windows you need:
In the old XP system, this rectangle is not provided, so it will not be possible to minimize applications this way. On the other hand, there is a shortcut for such tasks. By default, it is located next to the Start button on the taskbar.
If for some reason it is not there, you can add it yourself:
Important! Unlike the standard one, this shortcut will not appear next to the Start button. It will be on the quick access panel.
Despite the fact that a special tray has been added for users of later versions of the system, if desired, you can create a shortcut to work with them using the same scheme.
In order to minimize windows when working on a MacBook, you first need to check what settings are installed.
On a note! If instead of F11 the user assigns another key, then in the second option it changes to the established one (for example, F12 and Fn).
You can also minimize by simply pressing the “F11” button, but it is necessary to note the use of function keys as standard.
Done, the “F11” key is now responsible for minimizing windows.
There is another way. Mission Controls installs a feature called Hot Corners.
In addition, you can minimize applications in MacOs using the track pad. It performs “gestures” with different functionality. To work with windows (minimize/expand), you must simultaneously move four fingers (including your thumb) toward the sides of the pad.
Find out also detailed information about what tools exist for quick and easy computer management from our new article.
In addition to minimizing, hotkeys can be used for other window operations and more.
For example, combinations with the “Win+” button:
You can also work with windows using the “Alt” button:
Combination with the “Ctrl+” key:
For the most part, these combinations are used in Windows 10, but some of them are available on all versions of the system.
Some Windows operations are available without using a mouse. The video shows some of them.
