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 might want to view the desktop to apace hibernate an app window. Here's how to quickly show your desktop on Mac.

Employ a Keyboard or Mouse Shortcut

The quickest way to view the desktop (without setting up a new feature) is to employ a keyboard shortcut. At that place are, in fact, several ways that you can do this:

  • Command+F3: Utilise the Command+F3 (Mission Control) keyboard shortcut to rapidly view the desktop. This shortcut works on nearly modern Macs.
  • Fn+F11: If you lot have an older Mac, or if you're using a keyboard that doesn't have the media keys, y'all can use the F11 or the Fn+F11 keyboard combination to reveal the desktop.

You tin can also create your own shortcut (using the keyboard or the mouse) to reveal the desktop. To practise this, click the "Apple" logo found in the top-left corner of the screen so select the "Organization Preferences" option.

Hither, click the "Mission Control" option.

At present, you'll see two drop-downward menus adjacent to the "Prove Desktop" choice. From the 1 on the left, you tin assign a keyboard shortcut, and from the 2d, you tin cull a mouse shortcut.

You can choose from the function keys, and the Shift, Control, Pick, and Control keys. Take a look at a key that you don't use oft. For u.s., choosing the Right Option primal made sense because nosotros rarely use information technology.

Change Keyboard shortcut for Show Desktop feature

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

Assign a Hot Corner

You might non know this, but there'due south a hidden feature in your Mac called Hot Corners. Information technology basically lets yous perform deportment simply past wedging the cursor at one of the four corners of the screen.

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

For example, you lot can open up the Notification Heart, Mission Control, and yes, evidence the desktop by moving the cursor to one of the edges of the screen.

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

Now, click the drop-down next to ane of the edges (we went with the height-left corner) and choose the "Desktop" pick. And then click the "OK" button to save the changes.

Choose Desktop from Hot Corners

Going forward, when y'all 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 aforementioned edge over again.

Use the Trackpad Gesture

If y'all're using a MacBook with a trackpad (or if y'all're using a Magic Trackpad), you can quickly evidence the desktop using a unproblematic gesture.

RELATED: How to Use Your Macbook'southward Trackpad Gestures

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

Trackpad gesture for showing desktop on Mac
Apple tree

The gesture is enabled by default on all Macs, but if it'southward not working for y'all, go to Organisation Preferences > Trackpad > More Gestures and here, make sure that the "Evidence Desktop" selection is checked.

Make Sure Show Desktop trackpad gesture is enabled

Next footstep? Larn how the multiple desktops characteristic can help increase your productivity on your Mac.

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