MacBook user using shortcut to show the desktop on Mac
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If you store work files on your desktop, you might be minimizing windows to view the desktop. Or you lot might want to view the desktop to rapidly hide an app window. Hither's how to speedily 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 utilise a keyboard shortcut. There are, in fact, several ways that you tin do this:

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

Y'all can also create your ain shortcut (using the keyboard or the mouse) to reveal the desktop. To practise this, click the "Apple" logo establish in the top-left corner of the screen then select the "System Preferences" option.

Click on System Preferences button from Apple menu in menu bar

Here, click the "Mission Control" option.

Click on Mission Control from System Preferences

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

Click dropdown next to Show Desktop

Yous can choose from the function keys, and the Shift, Control, Option, and Control keys. Take a look at a key that you don't use oft. For us, choosing the Correct Option cardinal made sense because we rarely apply information technology.

Change Keyboard shortcut for Show Desktop feature

If you're using a mouse with actress buttons, yous can also assign it to show the desktop.

Assign a Hot Corner

Y'all might not know this, only there's a hidden feature in your Mac chosen Hot Corners. It basically lets you lot perform actions simply by 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 example, yous can open the Notification Eye, Mission Control, and yes, show the desktop by moving the cursor to one of the edges of the screen.

You'll observe this feature by going to System Preferences > Mission Control. Hither, click the "Hot Corners" button found in the bottom-left corner of the screen.

Click Hot Corners

Now, click the drop-downwards side by side to ane of the edges (nosotros went with the acme-left corner) and choose the "Desktop" option. So click the "OK" push to save the changes.

Choose Desktop from Hot Corners

Going forward, when you move your cursor to the height-left corner of the screen, your Mac volition instantly move the windows away and show the desktop. To hibernate it, jam the cursor to the same edge in one case more.

Use the Trackpad Gesture

If you're using a MacBook with a trackpad (or if you're using a Magic Trackpad), you can quickly show the desktop using a elementary gesture.

RELATED: How to Apply Your Macbook's Trackpad Gestures

Just spread your pollex abroad from iii fingers on the trackpad to reveal the desktop. Pinch in with your pollex and three fingers to hibernate the desktop.

Trackpad gesture for showing desktop on Mac
Apple

The gesture is enabled by default on all Macs, only if it's not working for yous, go to System Preferences > Trackpad > More Gestures and here, make certain that the "Show Desktop" pick is checked.

Make Sure Show Desktop trackpad gesture is enabled

Next stride? Learn how the multiple desktops feature tin help increase your productivity on your Mac.

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