PeekDesktop brings macOS Sonoma-style click-to-reveal-desktop behavior to Windows, with tray options for desktop clicks, taskbar clicks, double-click activation, and Explorer or fly-away peek styles.
Publisher’s description
What is PeekDesktop?
PeekDesktop by Scott Hanselman is open-source Windows software in the customisation category. It is written in C#.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides Portable installers for 64-bit and ARM64 Windows. It runs without installation (portable).
Updates and version history
The current version is 0.9.7, released on July 10, 2026. The version history goes back to May 18, 2026: 2 releases, all linked to the official files.
Popularity and file types
The source code on GitHub (shanselman/PeekDesktop) has 900 stars. Similar programs include PowerToys, Scribus and Mattermost.
Project description on GitHub: “Click your desktop to peek at it - just like macOS Sonoma.”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Native ARM64 build for Windows on Arm
- Portable: runs without installation
In short: PeekDesktop is an open-source customisation tool for 64-bit and ARM64 PCs.
Is PeekDesktop safe to download?
- The file is served by github.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
C14BF965CE65E3418A0434377926F18B5C31A9FD5C741EB0D4D1ADE2A8C3D006· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link has not been checked yet
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 2 versions ›| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.9.7Latest | July 10, 2026 | — | 64-bit ZIPARM64 ZIP |
| 0.9.6 | May 18, 2026 | — | 64-bit ZIPARM64 ZIP |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id Hanselman.PeekDesktop -eProgram files (.exe): peekdesktop.exe
Related guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- Scott Hanselman
- Category
- Customisation
- Licence
- MIT
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/shanselman/PeekDesktop
- Written in
- C#
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit, ARM64
- Installer
- Portable
- Version
- 0.9.7
- Released
- July 10, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- May 26, 2026
- Versions listed
- 2
- GitHub stars
- 900
- GitHub forks
- 50
- Website
- github.com
- winget ID
- Hanselman.PeekDesktop
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is PeekDesktop free?
Yes. PeekDesktop is open-source software under the MIT licence.
Is PeekDesktop safe to download?
The download comes from github.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install PeekDesktop with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Does PeekDesktop run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
Yes, there is a native ARM64 installer.
Where can I download an older version of PeekDesktop?
The versions page lists all 2 versions with links to their official installer files, back to May 18, 2026.
Can I use PeekDesktop without administrator rights?
Yes, it is portable: unpack and run it.
What are alternatives to PeekDesktop?
PowerToys, Scribus, Mattermost, Rainmeter and TranslucentTB. The alternatives page compares them.
