Solved Taskbar shortcut to hide or show desktop icons


wiganken

wiganken

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Reason for the question is that my ASUS Zenbook has an OLED screen and, to prevent burn-in I would like to be able to hide the icons and get them to reappear at the click of a shortcut icon on the taskbar.
I know I can press Win+D keys to close all open windows to see the desktop icons but this is not what I mean.

I know I can right-click on any blank area on the desktop and then select View then tick or untick Show desktop icons but this is three clicks.
What I would like is to make this quicker by placing a shortcut on the taskbar that would toggle the icons on or off by one click.

Is this possible?
Thanks.
 

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    Windows 11 ProAMD Ryzen 9 8945HS32GB DDR5 SO-DIMMIntegrated AMD Radeon 780M (4.00 GHz)
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    GMKtec K11
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS
    Memory
    32GB DDR5 SO-DIMM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated AMD Radeon 780M (4.00 GHz)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 2250HM
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 HomeIntel® Core™ Ultra 7 - 255H processor16 GB LPDDR5 SDRAMIntel Arc 140T onboard graphics
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED 14" Laptop - UX3405CA-QL192W
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 - 255H processor
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5 SDRAM
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Arc 140T onboard graphics
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1200 (16:10 WUXGA resolution) OLED Touchscreen
    Hard Drives
    1TB SSD
So I found this for you. Once you open the program, it is then placed in the notification icons (near the clock). In order to show the icons again permanently, just right click and Exit the program.

I played around a bit with it. Once you open the program, it will hide your Desktop icons and open its app window. You can press the X button on the window, and it gets minimized to the notification icon area. The Desktop icons will go invisible. In order to show the icons, just click anywhere on the Desktop, and the icons will then show.

It also has autohide of the TaskBar built in it.

Try playing a bit with it and see if it works for you:
www.majorgeeks.com

Download AutoHideDesktopIcons 6.69 - MajorGeeks

AutoHideDesktopIcons allows automatic hiding/showing of your desktop icon features, including an adjustable timer and arbitrary activation options. This tool is a good choice if your desktop is cluttered with icons, as it will allow you to see more of your desktop background.
www.majorgeeks.com
 

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Windows 11
Computer type
PC/Desktop
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Custom Built
@pepanee - Thank you very much for that. It seems to be better than I could have wished for because I set it to start with Windows and set the timer to 16 seconds. The icons show after I sign-in but then they disappear after 16 seconds so I don't have to take any action. When I want them back I simply click anywhere on the desktop and they'll stay there for another 16 seconds before disappearing again. Brilliant for my OLED screen.
The only thing to note is that it does not install for all users. It is a portable app and each user has to decide whether to install or not so Administrators may have to force it onto other users in order to protect OLED screen.

I have also set my taskbat to Autohide so that too is not showing. A totally black screen. Brilliant for my OLED screen.
 
Last edited:

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 ProAMD Ryzen 9 8945HS32GB DDR5 SO-DIMMIntegrated AMD Radeon 780M (4.00 GHz)
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    GMKtec K11
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS
    Memory
    32GB DDR5 SO-DIMM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated AMD Radeon 780M (4.00 GHz)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 2250HM
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 HomeIntel® Core™ Ultra 7 - 255H processor16 GB LPDDR5 SDRAMIntel Arc 140T onboard graphics
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED 14" Laptop - UX3405CA-QL192W
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 - 255H processor
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5 SDRAM
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Arc 140T onboard graphics
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1200 (16:10 WUXGA resolution) OLED Touchscreen
    Hard Drives
    1TB SSD
You're welcome. That's good to hear. I don't know what you mean as it cannot run for other users; I'm a little confused by what you mean about that.
But if all is well, then that's good.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
Custom Built
@wiganken You might try this as well: Auto Hide Desktop ... . .. It will hide icons when you are idle for however longer you set it to.
 

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    Windows 11 Pro x64 24H2 v26200.5074
    Computer type
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    Manufacturer/Model
    Built Myself in 2025
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 9 3600X 12-Core @ 3.80GHz
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    MSI X570 Gaming Plus
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    Corsair 32GB DDR4
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    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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    ~ 2 X 1TB HDD
    ~~~~~~~~~~
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    Windows 11 Pro x64 24H2 v26100.2894AMD Ryzen 7 1800X @ 3.60Ghz16GBAMD RX580
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro x64 24H2 v26100.2894
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    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 1800X @ 3.60Ghz
    Motherboard
    Asus Crosshair VI Hero
    Memory
    16GB
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    AMD RX580
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    onBoard
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    LG 27UK650-W 27", eMachine 22"
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    CORSAIR RM850
    Case
    GAMDIAS Black ATX Mid Tower Gaming Computer PC Case w/Tempered Glass
    Cooling
    Liquid
    Keyboard
    Nulea RT05 Wireless Ergonomic
    Mouse
    Nulea MD280 Wireless Vertical Mouse
    Internet Speed
    752Mbps (Download) / 537Mbps (Upload)
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    I use this computer for photo/video editing and to track severe weather
pepanee said:
I don't know what you mean as it cannot run for other users
Click to expand...
It can run for other users but each user needs to install and use the app stand-alone. It does not install for all users. It does not show in the installed programs or apps listing.
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 ProAMD Ryzen 9 8945HS32GB DDR5 SO-DIMMIntegrated AMD Radeon 780M (4.00 GHz)
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    GMKtec K11
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS
    Memory
    32GB DDR5 SO-DIMM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated AMD Radeon 780M (4.00 GHz)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 2250HM
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 HomeIntel® Core™ Ultra 7 - 255H processor16 GB LPDDR5 SDRAMIntel Arc 140T onboard graphics
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED 14" Laptop - UX3405CA-QL192W
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 - 255H processor
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5 SDRAM
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Arc 140T onboard graphics
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1200 (16:10 WUXGA resolution) OLED Touchscreen
    Hard Drives
    1TB SSD
Last edited:

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 ProAMD Ryzen 9 8945HS32GB DDR5 SO-DIMMIntegrated AMD Radeon 780M (4.00 GHz)
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    GMKtec K11
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS
    Memory
    32GB DDR5 SO-DIMM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated AMD Radeon 780M (4.00 GHz)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 2250HM
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 HomeIntel® Core™ Ultra 7 - 255H processor16 GB LPDDR5 SDRAMIntel Arc 140T onboard graphics
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED 14" Laptop - UX3405CA-QL192W
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 - 255H processor
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5 SDRAM
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Arc 140T onboard graphics
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1200 (16:10 WUXGA resolution) OLED Touchscreen
    Hard Drives
    1TB SSD
wiganken said:
It can run for other users but each user needs to install and use the app stand-alone. It does not install for all users. It does not show in the installed programs or apps listing.
Click to expand...
Oh, so each user can have the app open during startup I believe =)
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
Custom Built
Yes, as each user signs-in the app runs in the background and is effective immediately.
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 ProAMD Ryzen 9 8945HS32GB DDR5 SO-DIMMIntegrated AMD Radeon 780M (4.00 GHz)
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    GMKtec K11
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS
    Memory
    32GB DDR5 SO-DIMM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated AMD Radeon 780M (4.00 GHz)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 2250HM
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 HomeIntel® Core™ Ultra 7 - 255H processor16 GB LPDDR5 SDRAMIntel Arc 140T onboard graphics
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED 14" Laptop - UX3405CA-QL192W
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 - 255H processor
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5 SDRAM
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Arc 140T onboard graphics
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1200 (16:10 WUXGA resolution) OLED Touchscreen
    Hard Drives
    1TB SSD
wiganken said:
It can run for other users but each user needs to install and use the app stand-alone.
Click to expand...
It's a portable app, though? So each user just has to run it from a folder that they can all access. Something like "C:\AutoHideDesktopIcons". No installation necessary.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11 Pro
OS
Windows 11 Pro
BarryGuff said:
It's a portable app, though? So each user just has to run it from a folder that they can all access. Something like "C:\AutoHideDesktopIcons". No installation necessary.
Click to expand...
Yes, that should work.
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 ProAMD Ryzen 9 8945HS32GB DDR5 SO-DIMMIntegrated AMD Radeon 780M (4.00 GHz)
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    GMKtec K11
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS
    Memory
    32GB DDR5 SO-DIMM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated AMD Radeon 780M (4.00 GHz)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 2250HM
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 HomeIntel® Core™ Ultra 7 - 255H processor16 GB LPDDR5 SDRAMIntel Arc 140T onboard graphics
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED 14" Laptop - UX3405CA-QL192W
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 - 255H processor
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5 SDRAM
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Arc 140T onboard graphics
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1200 (16:10 WUXGA resolution) OLED Touchscreen
    Hard Drives
    1TB SSD
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