If you haven’t gone through the Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcuts list yet, you may be wondering if it’s possible to open all the windows which are grouped under a single icon in the Taskbar. Luckily, there is a keyboard shortcut available for this so that you don’t have to open each window in the group one at a time.
Restore all windows in a group
To restore all windows in a group, press the SHIFT key down, right-click on the group icon in the Taskbar. You’ll see a menu with the following options.
- Cascade
- Show windows stacked
- Show windows side by side
- Restore all windows
- Minimize all windows
- Close all windows
Click Restore all windows.
Open windows one at a time
To open each window at a time, hold the CTRL key and click on the group icon. This cycles through the windows in that group.
Check out the Windows 7 Keyboard shortcuts list and make the most use of it. Additionally, you’d like to read about the Hidden context menu items in Windows 7.
Related Posts
- Show the Window Menu (Restore, Minimize, Close) for Taskbar Icons in Windows 7
- Restore Point Creation Disabled by Group Policy
- How to Restore the Quick Launch Toolbar, Show Desktop and the Flip 3D Icons in Windows 7
- Restore Missing Folders to the Group Policy Editor in Windows XP
- Restore the Address Toolbar (Deskband) After Installing Windows XP SP3
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to our RSS feed! We feature Tips, Troubleshooting information, Scripts and Utilities for Microsoft Windows Operating Systems!
Prefer an E-mail subscription?
It worked after I rebooted my Windows XP Home SP3.
However, “restore” does not exactly restore them in the exact
some order when they wore opened (or stacked).
Thanks.
I have a Windows XP Home SP3 with MaxMonkey installed.
Everytime it opens, it opens the tip and stays in the System Tray.
But as soon as I move my mouse to the System Tray,
it disappears from the System Tray.
Thanks.
MaxMonkey has a “restore all” function. You just right click on the “monkey” icon and it’s right there. I’m trying to find a way to add this as a hotkey. Windows-Sihft-M doesn’t quite work. :(
@ Stephen:
I have the exact same issue. I often want to show the desktop so i can get to a folder (to copy or drag something from it), then I press Win+D to restore everything i had open, and nothing. I have to manually go back and click everything in the task bar (especially annoying if there are grouped windows), or use alt+tab+click (also annoying as it reorders everything as you select, and every thumbnail looks the same in there).
I too am a Mac user, so I guess I’m a bit spoiled by the AWESOME Expose feature. Windows has nothing that comes even close. Sigh…sorry about the rant. Windows 7 finally pissed me off this morning. Maybe I’ll go find a suggestions form at Microsoft. right….
I haven’t been able to find a way. Mac has this handy feature.
My issue is, once I Win + D, to access the desktop, do some work, Win + D doesn’t work. I can not restore all open windows.
Argh!!!!