Desktop Peek is a feature offered by Windows whereby a user can temporarily view the desktop without having to minimize open windows. While Desktop Peek for Windows 7 is enabled by default; in versions 8 and 10, it is disabled by default. In Windows 7, Peek is easily accessible by hovering over the right edge of the taskbar. The user can then view the icons on the desktop through the open browser windows, which could be said to become transparent. When you move the cursor away from that area of the taskbar, the desktop is no longer visible. This is how Peek works.
This article describes the steps to enable and disable Peek for Windows 10, as well as for previous versions 7 and 8.
How to activate Desktop Peek for Windows 10
For Windows 10, Peek is disabled by default, but it only takes a few clicks to enable this feature.
The user simply has to right-click anywhere on the taskbar (as long as the space is empty),
and select Properties from the displayed options. On the Taskbar tab, the user will find a checkbox that says “Use Peek to preview desktop when mouse over Show Desktop button at the end of the taskbar”. If the user selects this option and selects Apply, Peek is enabled.
For those users who have a gray checkbox to enable Peek, it is recommended to check in System Properties if Peek is completely disabled; which could make the checkbox grayed out and unusable.
To disable Peek after it has already been enabled; the user can simply uncheck the aforementioned checkbox and press Apply. Then Peek will be disabled again.
Hotkeys can also be used to enable Peek in Windows 10. Pressing the Win key (Windows icon) with a comma (,) will activate Peek.
Desktop Peek per Windows 8
Windows 8 is another version where Peek is disabled by default. An easy way to activate Peek would be to right-click the Show Desktop option when user is on desktop. An option called Peek at desktop will appear under Show Desktop, which the user must check to enable Desktop Peek.
Another method to enable or disable Peek is the one that corresponds to the method used for Windows 10: enable or disable Peek through the properties of the taskbar. The same checkbox that in Windows 10 will appear in the taskbar tab, the user just needs to select or deselect it according to their preferences.
Desktop Peek per Windows 7
In this version of Windows, Peek is enabled by default, and not only that, it comes under the name Aero, part of three different features: Aero Peek, Aero Snap, and Aero Shake. Since this article is dedicated to Peek only, Snap and Shake will not be discussed here.
Unlike newer versions of Windows, to use Peek in Windows 7, the Aero theme must be enabled instead of the Basic and High Contrast themes. Also, Peek will only work when more than one window is open.
However, Peek in Windows 7 is used the same way as the other versions. The user can preview the desktop by placing the cursor on the right side of the taskbar. The taskbar method for enabling or disabling Peek is slightly different in this release.
The user must select Properties after right-clicking the Start button or right-clicking an empty area on the taskbar. Both navigation methods will take you to the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties, where you need to select the Taskbar tab. On this tab there will be a checkbox that says “Use Aero Peek to preview desktop”. Checking this box will enable Aero Peek and unchecking it will disable it.
The Peek at Desktop under the Show Desktop option on the taskbar can also be used to enable or disable Peek.
