Remove Desktop entry from Alt+Tab list

Is it possible to remove the entry for the desktop from Windows 7's Alt+Tab list? So far I have found a post telling me to add an entry to the registry:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Explorer/AltTabSettings

However, this reverts the Alt+Tab menu back to the Windows XP style where you don't get window previews. I just want to remove the desktop entry from the list.

MichaelM

Posted 2009-12-08T00:50:51.427

Reputation: 724

5I'm not the OP, but I want it gone because its a feature that has never been useful, but often gets in the way. I say never been useful because if I wanted that functionality I'd reach for win+d, not hit alt tab until I select desktop. It gets in the way in that especially with how Google Hangouts Chrome Extension works, somehow 'desktop' ends up being the next app so I frequently end up cycling to it on accident. – user16315 – 2014-07-16T18:59:50.780

2Before we get too far, mind giving us an explanation why you want to remove it? Perhaps there is a better way to accomplish the real task at hand. – Wayne Hartman – 2010-02-20T08:17:15.160

2I'd like to remove it because it is totally unnecessary. Windows D switches to the desktop, or restores the view if at the desktop. It is simply clutter. There are some interesting solutions below but some simply remove the Desktop icon and leave everything else the same. – Stephen Nutt – 2014-12-22T19:38:02.160

Answers

Not a fix, a replacement.

This might do it: http://insentient.net/

or: http://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/windows-7vistaxp-alt-tab-replacement/

Grizly

Posted 2009-12-08T00:50:51.427

Reputation: 866

Option A - without any software or registry hack

Hold down the left alt key Press and release the right alt key
keeping the left alt key held down Then, still keeping the left alt
key held down, tab-tab-tab away

Option B - with a tool from lifehacker

System tweaking utility Alt+Tab Tuner

Option C - Registry Hack

Create a DWORD Value called AltTabSettings in HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Explorer and set it to 1.

Gives the "old" XP styled Alt-Tab without desktop.

Found also a tip, love it: Windows Key + Tab for an over-the-top graphic preview.

Kai Noack

Posted 2009-12-08T00:50:51.427

Reputation: 1 559

1The registry hack removes the desktop option but completely changes the look to not show the content of the windows - just the icon of the app. – AlikElzin-kilaka – 2014-12-23T06:59:15.900

The download links from the Lifehacker article are now both dead. I found Alt+Tab Tuner at http://download.cnet.com/Alt-Tab-Tuner/3000-18487_4-75181434.html and at http://winaero.com/comment.php?comment.news.5 and at http://winaero.com/comment.php?comment.news.205 with Windows 8 support which vaguely looks like the original author's site.

– tripleee – 2015-01-14T05:58:22.213

1To my disappointment, Alt+Tab Tuner does not seem to offer anything better than the registry hack as far as skipping the Desktop icon is concerned. – tripleee – 2015-01-14T06:04:56.697

Option A doesn't seem to work with Windows 8.1. Though the Desktop does actually disappear from the alt-tab list, I now see extra hidden windows appear, such as the search pane. – DAB – 2016-02-12T14:21:25.153

Windows 8.1: Registry hack works, but constantly shows 3-4 ghost windows without a title. – Danijel – 2016-10-19T12:24:08.193

That was very informative. The first tip is really useful! – abhijit – 2013-08-07T06:41:24.443

Is the reason you don't want Desktop in Alt+Tab, because of it interfering with cycling through windows you've minimized, and back?

IF SO: add these three commands to AutoHotKey, which allow you to still have Desktop entry in alt+tab, but with keyboard shortcuts, allows you to restore, in order, the windows that you minimize (in order):

#s::Send,{AltDown}{Esc}{AltUp}{LWinDown}

#a::
Send,{AltDown}{ShiftDown}{Esc}{ShiftUp}{AltUp}{LWinDown}
Sleep, 0
WinMaximize,A
return

#x::
WinMaximize,A
WinMinimize,A
return

Substitute the Win+S, Win+A and Win+X input keys for whatever you like. Full info, see my thread on the "solution" here.

user78017

Posted 2009-12-08T00:50:51.427

Reputation:

DisplayFusion has an alt+tab replacement that works pretty much just like the windows 7 one, except has an option not to show the Desktop window.

jcarpenter2

Posted 2009-12-08T00:50:51.427

Reputation: 191