The user experience of an operating system arguably plays the most important role in shaping its adoption. Over the years, Microsoft, Apple, and even Linux distros have been fighting for recognition, each striving to lock in a loyal user base. However, Microsoft has consistently held a commanding lead, with Windows dominating the desktop operating system market and maintaining a substantial share over its rivals.

It's not uncommon to see these companies to steal be inspired by features from each other as incentives to get users to transition from one operating system to another. As is the case with "PeekDesktop" (via Windows Latest).

Available as a standalone app on GitHub, PeekDesktop is a free Windows utility developed by Microsoft veteran Scott Hanselman, VP of Developer Community. Similar to the “Click Wallpaper to Reveal Desktop” feature in macOS Sonoma, it lets users easily hide all open windows with a single click on the desktop — just like Win + D does.

This makes the app a perfect candidate for opening shortcuts and moving files without needing to navigate through multiple open windows. It's also worth noting that clicking on the desktop again will restore all the windows, exactly where they were.

However, Windows Latest's testing reveals that the app isn't exactly perfect. "An issue that I noted is that emptying the Recycle Bin is a bit difficult, as PeekDesktop gets in the way," the outlet indicated. "Right-clicking the Bin would open all minimized apps, and I would have to right-click again to see the context menu. This is by design, though."

The outlet also noted that the Task Manager doesn't respond to clicking the wallpaper, so it doesn't minimize with other apps. Right now, it's hard to say for certain whether this is by design or an issue that will be resolved via a future update.

That said, Hanselman indeed admitted that he drew inspiration for PeekDesktop from macOS Sonoma and hopes that the app will help Apple fans feel more comfortable if they ever choose to transition to Windows. Maybe.

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Kevin Okemwa is a seasoned tech journalist based in Nairobi, Kenya with lots of experience covering the latest trends and developments in the industry at Windows Central. With a passion for innovation and a keen eye for detail, he has written for leading publications such as OnMSFT, MakeUseOf, and Windows Report, providing insightful analysis and breaking news on everything revolving around the Microsoft ecosystem. While AFK and not busy following the ever-emerging trends in tech, you can find him exploring the world or listening to music.