How-To Geek
Quick Help: Restore Show Desktop Icon in Windows Vista
I’ve received dozens of emails asking how to restore the show desktop icon once you’ve deleted it, so I have a solution for everybody: I’ve zipped up a copy of the shortcut, and you can download it here.
To put it back into the Quick Launch folder, open up explorer and then type in the following into the address bar:
shell:Quick Launch
Now just unzip the file and copy it into the folder, and you’ll have the show desktop shortcut back (the one with the real icon)
Note that I have no idea if this will work for 64-bit Windows, or if you have Vista installed somewhere other than your C: drive. Please let me know if it doesn’t.
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Comments (164)
Programmer by day, geek by night, The Geek, also known as Lowell Heddings, spends all his free time bringing you fresh geekery on a daily basis. You can follow him on Google+ if you'd like.
- Published 08/14/07
Hi – Your tip for restoring “show Desktop icon” is great. It only saves one click but that means 1000s per year and it’s easier.
What I did was extract to desktop, then dragged to the tray.
It also has the advantage of returning you to last page visited with one click. Thanks, Wayne
Men,you are a genius ,thanks a lot for you idea!!!!!
it help me a lot,i m having a big problem for unnistall nero 7 from my pc,i have wvista and is a laptop,i had tried everything but…,nothing works..,so if you can help me with this…,thanks one more time.
omg i was looking for this all day, thnx so much!
You’re da man.
Great – works like a dream (which is more than can be said for vista)
From an XP fan
Brilliant – I found various other geeky solutions but yours was a dream! Thank you!!
If Windows had archangels , you’d be one of them !!
Please let know Microsoft they are stupid not to make this restore easier!!!
They should be paying you for helping their users !!!
Thanks!
Hey men Thank you very much!!! That’s a problem that happens a lot… your are great!!!
ohhhhh..thanks God for you and your zipped copy of that shortcut…you saved me!!
I looked everywhere for this and just kept getting the old icon. Your fix worked perfectly!!! Thanks you!!!
This was the best and the easiest solution on INTERNET. Been struggling with this for weeks now. This should be the first hit in google for “Show Desktop Vista”. Thanks so much!
this is what i’ve been looking for..thank you so much!
Thank you so much, that’s brilliant!
You can also try this…
Copy and paste the following lines into a Notepad file.
[Shell]
Command=2
IconFile=explorer.exe,3
[Taskbar]
Command=ToggleDesktop
Save the file to your Desktop as Show Desktop.scf
For some reason it dosent work. If you could suggest any other ideas — please help!!
Thanks!
Thanks heaps!!!!!
Thanks alot :D
Great! I have 64bit Vista and it works perfectly. I missed that nifty little icon on my toolbar!
Thank you so much, I deleted it and didnt know what it was called, I cried!
Now its back again and life is so much easier and your the biggest star in the Universe!
Peru W
thank you SO much. i deleted the ‘show desktop’ icon from my quick launch because i thought it was pretty useless since we could “windows key+d’ it anyway. but as soon as i deleted it, i realised how DEPENDENT i was on it! i just can’t get out of the habit of clicking it on the quick launch bar.
genious solution and so simple. thanks !
Too sweet and simple for words.
Thanksagain.
It really does work, thanks a lot.
Excellent!!!!
I’d given up on ever seeing it again!!!!!!
I looked all day without success for help on restoring these icons, UNTIL I entered the proper key words, “desktop icon vista.” Your site showed up, and my problems were solved in one minute. THANKS!!!!
thx alot ,,,, that’s great :)
Phew, thanks, you”ve saved my life!
Hey….Thanks a ton…It surely works
Thanks a million. That was gr8
Thank you soooo much! It worked great, was looking everywhere and everything else showed something complicated that didn’t work! This took me 1 minute to do and it worked like a charm! Thanks =D
Wow, THANK YOU!!! I had already tried about three ways and nothing! But this fixed my problem in a snap. Thanks a bunch!
Thanks a lot bud!
Wooow , Thanks 10000000 million :)
thhhhhhhhhhhhhank you so much man !!
you did it :-)
woow , thanks a lot , it works !!!!!!!!
Brilliant!!! that’s exactly what I was looking for! simply and quick – GREAT JOB!!
Yay, fast and easy.
Thank you very much, it was fantastic.
Thanks a lot!!!!
Thank you.
Thanks a lot…..bravo
Unfortuntely, this doesn’t work for Windows 7 Beta (I don thave Vista) but I am unable to copy the show desktop to the taskbar.
Sam, in Windows 7 Beta this feature is on the far right of the Taskbar, past the System Tray. There isn’t an icon in this version. You have to actually mouse over it to see it.
Just quick and great!
Hey thanks a lot. Works great!
Thank you so much. It’s very helpful!
Thanks, very helpful
Wayne , you are a godsend. Thanks!!
Thanks accidently deleted of my girlfriends laptop, got me out of a real jam
Thanks for this – works just fine!
rYAN –> Although, your instructions brought XP’s ‘Show Desktop’ icon, it was perfect too!
It works with Vista Home 64-bit just fine – thanks!
My vista crashed last fall and when they restored it the flip3d is gone. How can I get it back? It is getting more difficult with my new job and I need it.
Thanks
Laura
My vista crashed last fall and when they reinstalled everything the flip function was gone. How can I get it back?
Thanks Laura L
Thank you for this. I have no idea how the original one got deleted and it was frustrating to go to click there and realize it was gone and have to do extra clicks.
Thank you, sir. I typed “Show Desktop Windows Vista” in my navigation bar and was directed to your site. I read that you haven’t confirmed that it worked on Vista 64-bit. I use that platform, and I’m most obliged to say, it works! It does work for Vista 64-bit and has opened my eyes on how windows should adapt to possible scenarios. If it wasn’t for you, I’m sure Microsoft would have had a lot of problems peaking in their mailboxes.
Sincerely,
James Schultz
Works perfect in Vista 64 bit Ultimate!
Thks!!
soo good idea
i learn with u this: shell:quicklunch
very good
i m a developper and i appresie that
thks again
Thank you so much, what a gift it is to have the Show Desktop icon back! :o)
The icon worked, but I still do not have the 3D function. How or where can I find it to reload it?
Laura
Hey man this is really wonderfull thanks a lot its amazing, Keka(Wow)
Regards
Naresh
ur a genius cuddie
yeaaahh!! the Geek, you are DA GEEX!! thank you!
it works.. thanks alot
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!
Excellent – & so easy too.
Thanx
I have Windows Vista 64-Bit, the download doesn’t work. It’s a blank file.
Never mind it works, read directions wrong, thank you so much!
I recently deleted the ‘show windows’ on the quick launch toolbar. Since then, all the windows are now on the left hand side and only two show up at a time. If I have more than two windows open there’s an up and down arrow I have to click to show more. All in all, it’s really annoying. I’ve tried to moved the windows back to the right side without any luck. Is this because I deleted the ‘show windows’ from the quick launch? Either way…how do I add that back to my quick launch and how do I get all my windows to go back to the right side? Your help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!!
I”m sorry, I have a correction. Since I deleted the ‘show windows’ all the windows are now on the RIGHT side and only show up two at a time. I want to get the windows back to the left hand side right next to the quick launch toolbar where they all are side by side and not only two with an up and down arrow to shift through them. Thanks so much!
It does work for Vista 64bit, thanks very much
Thanks. It’s great tool with easy tips
Hi,
I changed my new laptop desktop display to one of the offered pictures.. However, I would like to restore it to the factory design. Could anyone please tell me how to do this? If I right click on the desktop all I get is the option to substitute another picture..
Thanks for yor help.
many thanks man,
your a star!!!!
Thanks for the help. That was really a problem for me.
Thank you so much. It’s really help.
Thanks a lot…It really is great!!!
THANK YOU!!
My Hero!!! you have restored not only my icon but my sanity :-) Thank You.
Thanks a mil! Just got a new laptop with Vista and was so frustrated without my show desktop icon. Thank you for making my day!
thankx man……………..it worked :)
hats off!
cheerz !
Hi I have used ur desktop icon for quuck launch .. for 64 bit vista its working fine ..
thx dude
sudheer
Thanks a million! I was so frustrated when the show desktop icon disappeared. This is the only thing that worked.
Hi,
it’s pride and glory to develop first webpage using own hands :)
What do you think?
Cheers!
Thanks alot it realy helped :*
you are the man, thanks a lot for having nice people like you that help out.
Oh well LOL my thrill did not last for long, now I lost the other icon that is usually beside the show desk top icon, I do not know what it is called , it is the one that let you open the windows and knid roll through them.
Yep this one is lost too, would you care to help please. WOW things get funny by the minute LOL
Works a treat . Thanks you and keep up the good work . a honest arsenal fan.
thanks..
thanks…
All well and good, but how do I actually keep my icons hidden? I have to click off the “view” tab every time I boot up. Annoying! I want those icons to stay invisible, dammit!
Thanks. FYI, this worked great on 64 bit Vista
Thank you very much.. I tried what not.. it was a brilliant solution
THANK YOU!
Muchas graciaas! Me funcionó perfectamente. es la única de más de 10 soluciones que me ha funcionado
Works GREAT on my Windows Vista 64 bit.
I have a feeling that one of the updates that Microsoft made for Windows Vista is deleting the Desktop Icon from the Quick Launch. I am very careful not to do things like that and after seeing how many Vista users have lost the same icon it is pretty fair to make my assumption. Then since they (Microsoft) don’t have a solution we have to depend on pro’s like you to save us.
Thank You Very Much and I’m like Tim above; I SURE MISS MY Windows XP PRO!
After trying to work Vista for many months, it is still J u n k.
ty for the help
You are a genius!! And the MS people are really dumb to not make this user friendly!
Thanks you very much! This method really works! congratulations and blessings!
just noticed mine had dissapeared….
I just right clicked on the desktop, selected new / shortcut, clicked on browse -selected desktop – hit next, kept name as desktop…
right clicked on task bar at bottom, unchecked “lock the taskbar” then drug the new shortcut there… (shortcut to desktop sitting on the desktop, hmm, kind of a paradox. heh) then checked “lock the taskbar”
…then deleted the one off the desktop.
should work for any folder or program you want on quick-launch.
U r a hero man
Thank you, works a treat!!
thanks a lot, man
Worked for Windows 7 Pro 64-bit.
Thank you so much, I don’t know what happened to my my show desktop or my 3d flip short cut. Problem solved!!!!!!!
Thanks a million! I looked EVERYwhere for help on this topic.
Love you!!!Big time……Vista gets so stupid so many times.
Wonderful, it was quick & easy, thank you
Occasionally, all desktop icons disappear, under Vista? The only way that I am able to successfully have the icons displayed is by logging off/on. Please help
Thanks heaps for the quick & easy solution! :)
Excellent post, thanks! :)
Somehow I managed to delete my original “Show desktop” -icon and you helped me out! Thanks.
By the way I’m using 64-bit Vista and yes, this works.
Greate man!!! its working perfectly find with Vista 64 too. Good Post
Wow, amazing. Thank you so much
Thank you so much :)
Thank you!
You rule.
Worked perfectly on my 64-bit Vista. Thanks so much :)
Thank you so much!
The other solutions I found assumed your Windows would be in English, but this works for other languages,too. Thanks!
Oh man, thank you! That worked! Nothing else did. And thanks for not having a lengthy sign up process. This was easy to post! Ruth
Thank you. Seems like something you would remove by choice early on.. then be perplexed by the fact that you cannot access that very same feature at a later date.
Thanks again.
Yeah! Thanks a million! and I agree with Stylus! Are you listening Microsoft…?
Vielen Dank！Thanks a lot
Like This
Thanks so much it worked.
Thanks. Have no idea why my icon had disappeared as I hadn’t done anything to alter any settings on my computer. Stupid Vista. Anyway, this fixed the problem so I’m very happy. Easy fix, thanks!
worked like a charm!! Thanks!!
Thanks man!
Siii no se como hice pero funciono perfecto para Windows Vista…. Lo arrastre hasta la carpeta Quick Launch y liato…. Muchas gracias x tu ayuda!!!!
THANK YOU!
you’re the best i love you!
Thank you SO much! It worked immediately, a quick and easy solution for a rather annoying problem! WHY doesn’t Microsoft have this posted on their own ridiculous website as a solution!?
Thanks! this helped! =)
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
I accidentally deleted it and I’ve been wanting to get it back for a long time now!!
Thanks a million… you save me so much time.
Thanks. I’m searching for this solution too. Accidentally moved the shortcut to desktop :-(
Excellent!
Thanks a lot. I figured out how to do this, but the icon was different and the
option to change it didn’t work and later dissappeared. But, thanks to you,
the normal icon’s back :)
Thanks so much!
wow a life saver thanks so much it was put on my desktop and i was trying to move it back and followed your directions and wham….. it’s back in there thanks again
Thank you SOOOOOOOOOOOO much, that was beginning to get right on my nerves!! A very quick fix, particularly as the other methods I have found on the net didn’t work for me! Very good of you to provide the icon, cheers!
Thank you so much =)
Excellent! Thanks a lot!
THANKS!!!! :)
Thanks for this, worked perfect. Bit of a flaw in Windows that you can delete it in the first place :)
Thanx a lot
Thank you thank you.
Thank you very much.
I wonder where it went in the first place!
Thanks.
god bless you son
Thats pretty cool to have on the START
or you can just press CNTRL + D
This is not the first time you guys have assisted me. My eternal thanks to your invaluable site and to all who manage it. Sincerely.
WORKS FINE FOR VISTA 64 BIT YOU ARE THE BEST THANKS
thx . it woked
Totally worked for Vista 64. Thanks a lot. I found another one that you just paste in your notepad and save it but it’s the crappy looking XP desktop icon. This ones better looking. Sounds dumb but I’m satisfied. Thanks again.
Worked for Visa 64 bit….thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks a lot!!!
it works!
Thanks…Worked just like you said it would!!!
safe one
Mine just disappeared for no reason. This brought it back. Thanks a lot.
I’v got the shortcut in Explorer/quick launch ( FOLDER )
but its not in my actual quick launch bar !
If i double click the icon in explorer it opens 3d flip so i copied the shortcut onto muy desktop but it wont let me pin it to the quick launch bar ?????
This is so frustrating as i.v managed to do this before on another Windows 7 pc !
thank you thank you thank you
thanks a bunch
Cheers! You’re amazing!