The renowned programmer Scott Hanselman, who serves as VP and Member of the Technical Staff at Microsoft, has developed an innovative tool that assimilates a coveted feature from macOS into Windows.
This tool is named PeekDesktop. Its function allows users to click on an unoccupied area of the desktop wallpaper, prompting all open windows to minimize instantly. A second click or switching back to an application restores the windows to their original arrangement.
This functionality mirrors macOS Sonoma’s “click wallpaper to reveal desktop” feature—a capability that Windows lacks. Although Windows does provide options like “Show Desktop, ” Hanselman points out that PeekDesktop offers a more deliberate interaction. Other shortcuts, such as Win + M and Win + D, are keyboard-based; only one can restore your workspace effectively.
In the past, I leveraged a four-finger swipe-down gesture on my trackpad to show the desktop, which resembled this functionality—but PeekDesktop is certainly superior. I find it puzzling that Windows does not include a native “Click to Reveal Desktop” feature. Hanselman’s tool is straightforward, featuring no additional UI or setup requirements and is available for download on GitHub.
Evaluating PeekDesktop: Bringing macOS’s Functionality to Windows
To enable this “Click to Reveal Desktop”feature on your Windows system, simply download the zip file from GitHub (approximately 6.15 MB), extract it, and run the executable. Notably, Hanselman has ensured compatibility for Windows on ARM devices, including those powered by Snapdragon.
Once executed, PeekDesktop sits unobtrusively in the system tray and consumes minimal memory—under 2 MB when idle—making it easy to forget it’s running.
For an optimal experience, ensure that there are no apps displayed in full-screen mode. By clicking the desktop wallpaper (avoiding icons), all windows will minimize instantly, leaving a clear workspace for file management or icon organization. Crucially, the tool is designed to prevent any unintended activation when clicking or dragging icons, maintaining usability.
Restoration is effortless; simply click on any application, the taskbar, or the wallpaper, and all windows will return precisely to their original positions and states.
If any animations appear unrefined, it may be due to testing on a low-powered virtual machine. Additionally, as a standalone executable, some users may prefer a traditional installer for more convenience.
One issue identified is that managing the Recycle Bin can be cumbersome; right-clicking the Bin triggers a reopening of all minimized applications, necessitating another click to access the context menu. This behavior is intentional.
Moreover, the Task Manager does not minimize when the wallpaper is clicked; it remains active, although it is unclear whether this is intentional.
The desktop right-click menu can behave unpredictably while all applications are minimized; for instance, attempting to create a new folder will inadvertently cause all windows to reopen.
Functionality compares as follows: Win + M minimizes everything but cannot restore windows, while Win + D allows both actions but relies on keyboard shortcuts. The taskbar “Show Desktop” button mirrors PeekDesktop’s function, but as Hanselman emphasizes, macOS users have become accustomed to the “click wallpaper to reveal desktop” functionality. This consistency could significantly enhance user comfort for those transitioning from macOS.
Understanding PeekDesktop’s Mechanics
The underlying mechanics of PeekDesktop involve leveraging lightweight Windows APIs to accurately detect desktop clicks and manage window states seamlessly.
Click detection utilizes a low-level hook, SetWindowsHookEx(WH_MOUSE_LL), enabling the app to capture global clicks without disruption. Upon click detection, the tool employs WindowFromPoint to ascertain what is located beneath the cursor.
To differentiate between clicks on empty wallpaper and icons, an accessibility layer is employed through AccessibleObjectFromPoint, ensuring that even minor misclicks on icons do not trigger an unintended response.
For window management, PeekDesktop utilizes EnumWindows to gather information on all active windows, capturing their precise dimensions, positions, and states via WINDOWPLACEMENT before minimizing them.
As applications are restored, the tool monitors the active window changes using SetWinEventHook(EVENT_SYSTEM_FOREGROUND).This allows for instantaneous restoration upon clicking any app, the taskbar, or the wallpaper again, reinstating everything exactly as it was—including maximized windows and configurations across multiple monitors.
All functions execute without requiring admin rights and utilize minimal system resources, demonstrating the efficiency of this application. Importantly, it is not a web-based application.
Users can customize settings via the system tray, allowing toggles for activation, startup preferences, update checks, or complete exit of the application. It is advisable to select “Start with Windows” to ensure the tool is active immediately upon booting your computer.
Additionally, there is an ongoing initiative by Hanselman to replicate macOS’s behavior where windows relocate to screen edges instead of minimizing, a task complicated by multi-monitor setups and real-time window position tracking.
As I drafted this article, PeekDesktop was updated from v0.4 to v0.6.1, further reducing the download size to just 1.16 MB.
Why PeekDesktop Deserves Integration into Windows
Once accustomed to the wallpaper click to clear your workspace, reverting to keyboard shortcuts or screen corners becomes impractically cumbersome.
With Microsoft’s focus on enhancing performance, rectifying UI inconsistencies, and addressing long-standing usability challenges in Windows 11, incorporating features like PeekDesktop—small yet immensely helpful—would be a natural evolution. With anticipated features like a movable taskbar on the horizon, there is a clear opportunity to enhance user experience through intuitive tools such as this.
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