If your goal is to quickly clear your screen or hide specific running applications from the taskbar, these third-party tools are highly effective:

Free alternatives that help manage an overcrowded desktop by moving active program icons to a hidden state until they are needed again. 2. Microsoft's "Show or Hide Updates" Tool

A lightweight (30 KB), portable tool that requires no installation. It’s perfect for users who need to maintain privacy instantly by setting unique key combinations for different types of windows.

A long-standing utility that provides a simple interface to manage which windows are visible or hidden from the taskbar and system tray.

One of the most sought-after downloads in this category is the utility. This official Microsoft tool is used to stop specific, buggy Windows updates or drivers from installing automatically.

After downloading, you run the troubleshooter, select Hide updates , and check the boxes for specific updates you want to block.