Industry guru Dave Taylor offers free tech support on a wide variety of technical and business topics, including HTML, Apple iPhone, online advertising, Cascading Style Sheets, Web design, management, Unix, Linux, search engine optimization, online dating, Mac OS X, shell script programming and Microsoft Windows.

How do I quick hide my Windows XP screen?

This is a simple question and I used to know the answer. In an office setting, I have many people coming in to ask questions. What is the keystroke command to darken my computer screen and/or bring up my screensaver. This would prevent some from trying to see what project I'm working on--dealing with human resources, etc. I'm using Windows XP.

Dave's Answer:

The easiest answer is "it depends". It depends on whether you have a computer with a true Microsoft keyboard: there's a key on it, "winkey" or the Windows key, that makes everything quite simple. If not, well, it's a bit more complicated.

If you do have the Windows key, simply press Windows+L and you'll instantly lock the computer, putting it back to the login / switch users screen. This is explained by Microsoft in a tech note and the end result after less than a second is:

Failing that, you can also get there with two keystrokes by typing Control-Alt-Delete (also known as "CTRL-ALT-DEL") to bring up the Task Manager:

As you can see, if you choose the Shut Down menu, one of your options is "Switch User", which then switches to the first screen showed above.

There are also some shareware applications you can try if these don't work for you, most notably Hide Window Hotkey, from download.com. I haven't tried it, so I don't know how it works, but the description and review on the site are certainly promising!

Help others find this article at Del.icio.us, Digg, Netscape, Reddit, and Stumble Upon

Categorized: Windows Help (Article 7687)
Tagged: hide window, hotkey, privacy, shortcut key, winxp
Previous: What cool things can I do with Twitter?
Next: How can I add an eBay search box that searches titles and descriptions?

Subscribe!

Never miss another useful Q&A article again! Subscribe to AskDaveTaylor with Google Reader.

Comments

It also depends on if you are logged into a domain or not at the office. (chance are good that you are on a domain)
If you are, youll get a different screen when using the key combinations mentioned above.
Win+L is still good, but it shows a smaller "locked" screen and you have to hit ctrl+alt+delete to enter your password again.

My preference though is to just minimize everything quickly.
This can be done with Win+D (or Win+M)

A full list of keyboard shorcuts, including those specific to the Windows key, can be found here http://support.microsoft.com/kb/126449

Posted by: Alan at November 12, 2007 9:51 AM

Hey, you can simply go to your desktop (minimize all the open windows) by pressing Windows + D and press Windows + D again to see the same screen again.

I use it all the time while working, this way you will not have to re-enter the password again after logging off.

Hope that helped.

Rakesh

Posted by: Rakesh Gupta at November 16, 2007 8:11 AM

You can also create a shortcut to a .scr file (screen saver files found in the system folder) on your desktop and set a shortcut for it. As said in the introduction it will launch the chosen screensaver. The shortcut will have to be sth. like Ctrl + Alt + a letter.

Posted by: Damien at November 19, 2007 1:04 AM

The easiest and fastest solution I know in Windows, working allways, is pressing: Win+D
This brings up your desktop, hiding all windows.

Posted by: DWizzy at November 22, 2007 6:16 AM

Switch off the monitor.

Posted by: Dom at November 26, 2007 12:21 PM

Our HR people use the show desktop icon on the quick launch menu (I know because someone deleted it once... & asked me how to get it back). But now I know more ways! Tahnks!

Posted by: Ersin at November 26, 2007 12:43 PM

Hey, how can one split a screen when using an lcd projector? When I am in my classroom projecting information on the overhead screen, I would like to still be able to use my computer and not have that information be visible to my audience. Is that possible???

Posted by: kimberly Edington at January 8, 2008 6:23 PM

I have a lot to say, but ...

I have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but most of all I'd like to say thank you for all your efforts on this Web site by buying you a chai!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!