Windows

Jan 17, 2009

My Digital Life Editorial Team

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Add and Create Aero Flip 3D Shortcut (on Desktop, Quick Launch or Windows 7 Taskbar)

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Since Windows Vista, and in Windows 7, Microsoft has added Windows Aero support which among its features is Flip 3D, an application window switcher that switches between running programs in live streaming 3D view. With Flip3D, a shortcut to activate Flip 3D task switching process is also been added to Quick Launch Bar in Windows Vista, providing alternative to Win + Tab keyboard accelerator to activate Flip 3D.

If for some reason, the “Switch between windows” shortcut is lost from Quick Launch bar, or you want the Flip 3D shortcut to be placed on Desktop or other folder location, it’s always possible to retrieve and copy the Windows Switcher shortcut from %systemdrive%\Users\Default\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch folder, as detailed in restore Flip 3D switch between windows shortcut tutorial.

For Windows 7 Taskbar who doesn’t want to add back Quick Launch bar, and want to pin Flip 3D icon to Taskbar instead, or user who lost all instances of “Switch between windows” shortcut in all user profiles, use the following trick to create a shortcut to activate and trigger Flip 3D windows switching (normal Alt-Tab program switching if Windows Aero is disabled).

1. Right-click on any empty space on the desktop, and then select New -> Shortcut.

   

2. In the “Type the location of the item” text box, enter the following:

   %WinDir%\System32\rundll32.exe dwmapi #105

   

3. Click on Next button.
4. Enter a name for the shortcut, such as Flip 3D or Switches between windows.

   

5. Click on Finish button when done.
6. A Flip 3D will be created on the desktop. Note that the icon for the shortcut created is the default file icon, which is pretty much very ugly. To change the icon, right click on the icon, and then select Properties. Click on the Change Icon button in Shortcut tab. Click Browse button, and then paste the following into File name text box:

   %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe

   

   The windows switching icon is listed as one of the selection available. Highlight the icon and click OK to change the icon.

7. Drag and drop the Flip 3D shortcut to anywhere you like, including Windows 7 Taskbar or Quick Launch Bar.

   Alternatively, to pin the Flip 3D (Windows Switching) shortcut to Windows 7 Taskbar, right click on the shortcut and select Pin to Taskbar.

Related posts:

1. Keyboard Shortcut to Run Quick Launch Bar Items or Commands
2. Restore and Recover Window Switcher (Flip3D or Flip) Shortcut or Icon in Vista
3. How to Show Desktop in Windows 7 (Quick Launch Alternative)
4. How to Enable or Disable Quick Launch Bar Toolbar in Windows 7
5. Create Unlimited Levels of Menu with Free Launch Bar

16 Comments

• 
  Biggz October 31, 2011 at 4:11 am

  tks a lot . read alot of firums and this is the only one i got to work . step by step instuctions was awesome . worked on it for 2 hrs and this guide i was able to do it in 5 mins .tks again

  Reply
• 
  Joe October 22, 2011 at 1:58 am

  Is there a way to get shortcuts for aero dock? My Logitech Setpoint software won’t recognize winkey for button assignments, and I’d really like to use the left/right scroll to be winkey+right and winkey+left.

  Reply
• 
  Martin May 13, 2011 at 9:46 pm

  Worked exactly as advertised. Clear step by step instructions are hard to find these days.

  Excellent job and thanks

  Reply
• 
  Paul April 7, 2011 at 10:53 pm

  Hi, according to Vista 3D aero, you don'n need to have Aero Flip 3D Shortcut and Windows swicher.

  Just press and hold WIN button, and in the same time TAB button – by tapping tabulator, you may switch screens (running progs) – that will make you anable to switch windows in Aero 3D format

  rgds.

  Paul

  Reply
• 
  long huynh March 3, 2011 at 10:20 pm

  Help me to Add and Create Aero Flip 3D Shortcut and Windows swicher (on Desktop, Quick Launch or Windows 7 Taskbar).

  But

  1.Flpip 3D swiching.
  http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5283/5359559936_f7…

  2. Windows
  http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5122/5358946659_87…

  Reply
• 
  Budge May 24, 2010 at 6:00 am

  Why Microsoft wouldnt make this a standard button (or at least make it a lot easier to specify as a standard button) is beyond me?!?!

  Thank You very much for the guide….much appreciated!!!

  Reply
• 
  Sylvia April 1, 2010 at 12:53 am

  I am more a hater…so when I say EXCELLENT…I mean it!

  Thank you.

  Reply
• 
  V K Mahajan March 19, 2010 at 3:18 pm

  I have http://www.mydigitallife.info/2009/01/17/add-and-…

  Now it gives an article. For Gods sake from where to downloadf it.

  Reply
• 
  Jayed February 11, 2010 at 5:45 pm

  There anyway to key flip 3d to a 4 finger swipe? I'm using boot camp on a mbp and wanna know if I can get a four finger "expose" only using flip 3D. would also be cool if I could find somehow to use a 3 finger swipe to go back and forth on pages like in osx. Think it's possible?

  Reply
• 
  Tony January 9, 2010 at 3:09 am

  All Instructions given are Exact Worked Great

  Thanks.

  Reply
• 
  Umed Rawat November 22, 2009 at 5:01 am

  Thank you for this quick reference on how to enable Flip-3D really helpful. Keep it up

  Reply
• 
  jesse November 20, 2009 at 1:23 pm

  thx..worked like a charm

  Reply
• 
  yo November 18, 2009 at 10:21 pm

  Thanks! works great and exactly what i was looking for

  Reply
• 
  Simon November 7, 2009 at 10:47 am

  thanks mate i really wanted this tool back after updating to windows 7 and your help couldn't have been more helpful.

  Reply
• 
  sezar September 20, 2009 at 1:46 pm

  thanks man i really needed it.

  Reply
• 
  Pablo April 12, 2009 at 1:51 pm

  Excellent!

  Reply