Best ShowDesktop Alternative Tools in 2025The ShowDesktop utility—known for quickly minimizing all open windows and revealing the desktop—remains useful for users who want instant access to files, widgets, or a clean workspace. However, in 2025 there are many alternatives that expand functionality, improve ergonomics, increase privacy, and integrate with modern workflows (virtual desktops, window tiling, multi-monitor setups, gestures, and keyboard-driven automation). This article surveys the leading ShowDesktop alternatives across platforms, highlights key features, and recommends tools for different user needs.
Why look beyond ShowDesktop?
ShowDesktop does one thing very well: clear the screen to reveal the desktop. But modern work patterns often need more:
- Multiple virtual desktops and fast switching.
- Window tiling and snapping for rapid layout.
- Preset workspace restoration (open a set of apps in specific positions).
- Gesture and hotcorner support, or global shortcuts that are customizable.
- Cross-device syncing of workspace states.
- Privacy-focused designs and lightweight resource use.
Below are alternatives grouped by platform and use case, plus tips for choosing the right one.
Cross-platform alternatives
1) Rectangle / Rectangle Pro (macOS, Windows via Rectangle++ ports)
- What it does: primarily a window management and snapping tool that includes customizable keyboard shortcuts for hiding or minimizing all windows, arranging windows into grids, and saving layout presets.
- Strengths: Efficient keyboard-first controls, layout presets, integrates with macOS features like Spaces. Rectangle Pro adds scripting and automation hooks.
- Best for: Users who want powerful tiling/snapping plus a one-key “show desktop” behavior.
2) PowerToys — FancyZones (Windows)
- What it does: Microsoft PowerToys includes FancyZones, a window-layout editor that lets you create complex window zones and quickly move/resnap windows. PowerToys also provides global hotkeys and utilities that can mimic show-desktop behavior.
- Strengths: Native Windows support, open-source, highly customizable, low overhead.
- Best for: Windows users wanting robust window layout control and a configurable show-desktop shortcut.
3) KWin + KDE Activities (Linux)
- What it does: KDE’s window manager KWin supports window rules, scripting, and hotkeys; KDE Activities lets you define whole workspace contexts (widgets, open apps, layouts) and switch instantly to a clean desktop or another activity.
- Strengths: Extremely flexible, integrates with virtual desktops and multi-monitor setups.
- Best for: Linux power-users and people who want workspace profiles rather than a single show-desktop action.
4) wmii / i3 / Sway (Tiling WMs — Linux)
- What it does: Tiling window managers such as i3 (X11), Sway (Wayland) or wmii offer keyboard-driven window management. Many users map a key to hide/minimize or focus an empty workspace to simulate “show desktop.”
- Strengths: Lightweight, scriptable, blazing fast.
- Best for: Terminal-oriented users and those who prefer minimal resource usage and full keyboard control.
Mac-specific alternatives
5) Mission Control + Hot Corners (macOS built-in)
- What it does: Mission Control shows all open windows, while Hot Corners can be set to show the desktop. Combined with Spaces, you can configure fast, visually smooth desk switching.
- Strengths: Built-in, no extra installs, integrated with macOS gestures.
- Best for: Users who prefer native tools without third-party installs.
6) BetterTouchTool
- What it does: Customize gestures, keyboard shortcuts, and hotkeys to trigger a show-desktop action, switch Spaces, or activate custom window arrangements.
- Strengths: Extremely customizable input mapping, useful on trackpad and Touch Bar.
- Best for: Users who want gesture-driven desktop access and automation.
Windows-specific alternatives
7) AutoHotkey (scripted)
- What it does: Create a simple script to minimize all windows or switch to an empty virtual desktop. Example: a one-liner to minimize all windows or use InvokeShell Execute for modern Windows APIs.
- Strengths: Highly flexible, automates nearly anything in Windows.
- Best for: Users comfortable writing small scripts to tailor behavior precisely.
8) VirtuaWin + AutoHotkey combos (Windows)
- What it does: VirtuaWin provides lightweight virtual desktops; paired with AutoHotkey scripts you can switch to an empty desktop or quickly show desktop on any monitor layout.
- Strengths: Low overhead, modular.
- Best for: Users needing multiple virtual desktops with scriptable shortcuts.
Privacy- and resource-conscious alternatives
9) Sway/i3 (Wayland/X11)
- Why: Tiling WMs consume minimal memory and let you keep private windows off-screen or on different workspaces easily.
- Best for: Privacy-minded Linux users and low-resource systems.
10) Minimalist utilities (TinyShow, DesktopPeek clones)
- What it does: Several tiny utilities (often open-source, single-executable) implement a single “show desktop” hotkey or tray icon with no telemetry.
- Strengths: Minimal, fast, typically portable.
- Best for: Users who want exactly the ShowDesktop behavior with no extras.
Features to compare when choosing an alternative
- Shortcut/customization: Can you bind your preferred key or gesture?
- Multi-monitor behavior: Does it clear every monitor or only the active one?
- Workspace support: Does it integrate with virtual desktops or activities?
- Layout saving: Can it restore app positions and window sizes?
- Resource use: Is it lightweight enough for your machine?
- Scripting/automation: Can you extend it with scripts or plugins?
- Privacy/open-source: Is the source available and free of telemetry?
| Feature | Rectangle/Rectangle Pro | PowerToys (FancyZones) | KDE Activities/KWin | i3/Sway |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custom shortcuts | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Layout presets | Yes | Yes | Yes | Via config/scripts |
| Multi-monitor support | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Lightweight | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Very Light |
| Scripting | Pro version / AppleScript | Limited | Strong (KWin scripts) | Strong (config/scripts) |
| Open-source | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Example workflows and quick setups
- Quick “show desktop” on Windows: Install PowerToys > Settings > Keyboard Manager > assign a shortcut to minimize all windows, or create an AutoHotkey script:
; AutoHotkey example: Win + D (Minimize/restore) #d::Send, #d - Restore a saved workspace on macOS: Use Rectangle Pro or BetterTouchTool to map a shortcut that runs an AppleScript to open and position apps.
- Instant clean workspace on KDE: Create an Activity dedicated as “Clean Desktop” and map a hotkey to switch to that Activity.
Recommendations by user type
- Casual macOS user: Use built-in Mission Control + Hot Corners; add BetterTouchTool if you want gestures.
- Power Windows user: PowerToys (FancyZones) for layout control; AutoHotkey for custom shortcuts.
- Linux tinkerer: KDE Activities for full workspace profiles; i3/Sway for minimal, keyboard-centric setups.
- Privacy/low-resource: Use a tiny open-source show-desktop utility or a tiling WM like Sway.
Final thoughts
If you only need the original ShowDesktop behavior, lightweight single-purpose utilities are still the simplest option. But if your workflow involves frequent context switches, multi-monitor setups, automation, or saved workspace layouts, switching to a more capable tool like PowerToys, Rectangle Pro, KDE Activities, or a tiling window manager will save time and reduce friction. Pick based on your platform, appetite for customization, and whether you prefer GUI tools or scriptable power.
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