Show Desktop Shortcut (Win+D / ⌘F3)
Clear every window to see the desktop: Win+D on Windows, ⌘F3 (Mission Control → Desktop) on Mac.
| Action | Mac | Windows | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Show desktop | ⌘F3 (or F11) | Win+D | |
| Minimize current window | ⌘M | Win+↓ | |
| Minimize all windows | ⌘⌥M | Win+M | |
| Mission Control / Task View | ⌃↑ | Win+Tab |
Clear the screen instantly
Press Win+D on Windows to minimize every open window and show the desktop; press it again to bring them all back. On the Mac, ⌘F3 (or F11 on some keyboards) slides every window aside to reveal the desktop.
Related moves
To minimize just the window you're in, use ⌘M (Mac) or Win+↓ (Windows). To see all windows spread out instead, use Mission Control ⌃↑ on Mac or Task View Win+Tab on Windows.
FAQ
What is the show desktop shortcut?
Press Win+D on Windows to show the desktop; on Mac press ⌘F3 (or F11) to reveal the desktop.
How do I bring the windows back?
Press the same shortcut again — Win+D on Windows, ⌘F3 on Mac — to restore every window to where it was.
What's the difference between show desktop and minimize all?
Show desktop (Win+D) is a toggle that hides and restores every window; minimize all (Win+M / ⌘⌥M) only minimizes them, so you must restore each one.