MacBook user using shortcut to show the desktop on Mac
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If you store piece of work files on your desktop, you might be minimizing windows to view the desktop. Or you might want to view the desktop to quickly hide an app window. Here's how to quickly show your desktop on Mac.

Use a Keyboard or Mouse Shortcut

The quickest style to view the desktop (without setting up a new feature) is to use a keyboard shortcut. In that location are, in fact, several ways that you can exercise this:

  • Command+F3: Use the Command+F3 (Mission Control) keyboard shortcut to speedily view the desktop. This shortcut works on virtually modern Macs.
  • Fn+F11: If you have an older Mac, or if you're using a keyboard that doesn't take the media keys, you can employ the F11 or the Fn+F11 keyboard combination to reveal the desktop.

You can besides create your ain shortcut (using the keyboard or the mouse) to reveal the desktop. To practise this, click the "Apple" logo found in the acme-left corner of the screen and and then select the "System Preferences" choice.

Click on System Preferences button from Apple menu in menu bar

Hither, click the "Mission Control" option.

Click on Mission Control from System Preferences

At present, you'll come across ii drop-down menus adjacent to the "Show Desktop" option. From the one on the left, you tin assign a keyboard shortcut, and from the 2d, you can choose a mouse shortcut.

Click dropdown next to Show Desktop

You can choose from the office keys, and the Shift, Command, Choice, and Command keys. Take a look at a key that you don't use often. For u.s.a., choosing the Correct Selection cardinal made sense because we rarely use it.

Change Keyboard shortcut for Show Desktop feature

If you're using a mouse with extra buttons, you tin too assign information technology to show the desktop.

Assign a Hot Corner

You might non know this, just there's a hidden feature in your Mac chosen Hot Corners. It basically lets you perform deportment only past wedging the cursor at one of the four corners of the screen.

RELATED: How to Create Time-Saving "Hot Corner" Shortcuts on Your Mac

For instance, you tin open the Notification Centre, Mission Control, and yes, show the desktop by moving the cursor to ane of the edges of the screen.

You lot'll find this feature past going to Organization Preferences > Mission Control. Here, click the "Hot Corners" button found in the bottom-left corner of the screen.

Click Hot Corners

At present, click the driblet-down adjacent to ane of the edges (we went with the pinnacle-left corner) and choose the "Desktop" choice. Then click the "OK" push to save the changes.

Choose Desktop from Hot Corners

Going forward, when you move your cursor to the top-left corner of the screen, your Mac will instantly move the windows away and show the desktop. To hide it, jam the cursor to the same edge over again.

Employ the Trackpad Gesture

If you lot're using a MacBook with a trackpad (or if you're using a Magic Trackpad), you tin can speedily show the desktop using a unproblematic gesture.

RELATED: How to Use Your Macbook's Trackpad Gestures

Just spread your thumb away from three fingers on the trackpad to reveal the desktop. Pinch in with your thumb and 3 fingers to hibernate the desktop.

Trackpad gesture for showing desktop on Mac
Apple

The gesture is enabled by default on all Macs, but if it's not working for you, become to System Preferences > Trackpad > More than Gestures and here, make sure that the "Show Desktop" choice is checked.

Make Sure Show Desktop trackpad gesture is enabled


Next step? Larn how the multiple desktops feature can help increase your productivity on your Mac.

RELATED: Mission Command 101: How to Use Multiple Desktops on a Mac