How to Fix “Show Desktop” Shortcut Not Working in Xfce / Xubuntu
If your Xfce “Show Desktop” shortcut is missing from the Window Manager menus, or if using xfconf-query in the terminal isn’t doing anything, Xfce’s internal keymapper is likely conflicting with a ghost setting.
You can bypass the buggy internal menus completely by using wmctrl to talk directly to the display server. It works perfectly as a toggle to hide all windows and bring them all back exactly how you left them.
Step 1: Install wmctrl
Open your terminal and make sure the utility tool is installed:
$ sudo apt update && sudo apt install wmctrl -y
Step 2: Add the Toggle Shortcut
1. Open Settings Manager => Keyboard and go to the Application Shortcuts tab.
2. Click the + Add button.
3. In the command box, copy and paste this exact one-liner script:
bash -c "if xprop -root _NET_SHOWING_DESKTOP | grep -q '= 1'; then wmctrl -k off; else wmctrl -k on; fi"
4. Click OK.
5. When prompted, press your desired key combination (e.g., Super + D).
The script checks the current state of your screen. If the desktop is hidden, it reveals it; if it’s already showing, it instantly restores all your windows to their original positions.
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