How to Access your Desktop Without Minimizing Anything

If you are a user who normally keeps files, folders and shortcut icons on your desktop (like I do), this tip will be really handy especially if you are a Windows 7 user. Almost all of my work and personal folders have a shortcut on my desktop because for me, it is the fastest way to open them in a single click. You too can get a quick access to your own folders saved on your desktops without even having to minimize your open windows. Just follow the steps below:

1. Go to your taskbar and right-click anywhere on the bar.
2. Select Properties. This will launch the dialog box for Taskbar and Start Menu Properties.
3. Locate the Toolbars tab and under that tab, check the Desktop button option. Then click OK.
4. Once you do this, you will notice a small menu named Desktop. It will appear on your taskbar with two angle brackets (>>) beside it. Every time you click on it, you will see a list of all the things that are on your Desktop, inclusive of its nesting folders.

With this handy tip, it will be one step easier for you to access anything on your Windows desktop in fewer clicks. Additionally, the Computer entry in this small menu allows you to browse your system’s entire drive and folder hierarchy, as well as any network drive. How cool is that?