Programmatically show the desktop

Question

I am programming a Windows Form Application and I need to programmatically get back to the Desktop.

I tried this code, but it is not working:

using System;
using System.Windows.Forms;

private void ToggleDesktop() {

SendKeys.Send("^({ESC}D)"); //<-- Semantic error, Should simulate: WIN+D

}

Is there a possibility to do that?

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/10009623/c-keeping-window-visible-through-show-desktop-wind — Hackerman, Jan 11 '17 at 19:17
https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/robgruen/2004/02/24/programmatically-showing-the-desktop-toggledesktop/ — Blorgbeard, Jan 11 '17 at 19:17
@FreaX The second link you were given is quite helpful. Look at my answer to see how to use it properly within your project. — Yotam Salmon, Jan 11 '17 at 19:38
Yeah, now I know. The code wasn't visible at the first time! — FreaX, Jan 11 '17 at 19:45

score 12 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 11 '17 at 19:37

12

You can use the Shell32.dll windows assembly to do that.

Just add a reference to C:\Windows\System32\Shell32.dll, then go to the reference properties and put a False near Embed Interop Types (since the class you're going to use is ShellClass, which is interop.

Now, it's as simple as

Shell32.ShellClass objShel = new Shell32.ShellClass();
objShel.ToggleDesktop();

answered Jan 11 '17 at 19:37

Yotam Salmon

2,400
22
36

1

Note, you need to be running on an STA thread or you will get a weird exception. – Derek Jul 20 '18 at 13:20
i cant find documentation for Shell32.ShellClass – Dee Jul 19 '23 at 13:31
@Yotam how to use DllImport with Shell32.ShellClass in powershell? – Dee Jul 19 '23 at 13:40

Pollitzer · Answer 2 · 2017-08-08T06:40:42.683

3

Also possible (tested under Windows 8.1):

Add COM reference to "Microsoft Shell Controls and Automation"
_{(c:\windows\system32\shell32.dll)}

Then:

using Shell32;

Shell shellObject = new Shell();
shellObject.ToggleDesktop(); // WinXp: ((Shell32.IShellDispatch4)shellObject).ToggleDesktop();

edited Aug 08 '17 at 06:40

answered Aug 07 '17 at 08:03

Pollitzer

1,580
3
18
28

Works on Win10 1909. – Elliot Huffman Nov 15 '19 at 08:03

Programmatically show the desktop

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