Slideshow: How to add Flip3D to the Taskbar

By Mark W. Kaelin April 22, 2011, 12:33 AM PDT

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Slideshow: How to add Flip3D to the Taskbar

Create a shortcut on the Windows Desktop

ntWindows Vista had a graphical feature for switching between open applications called Flip3D, which was located on the Taskbar. However, for some reason that feature is absent from the Windows 7 Taskbar. If you like to get it back, all you have to do is create a desktop shortcut with a specific command and pin it to the Taskbar.

ntNote: Flip3D is still part of the Windows 7 interface via a keyboard shortcut: [Windows key] + [Tab]. But by pinning a shortcut to the Taskbar, you will be able to get the feature with the mouse, which can come in handy if you aren’t in a good position to get two hands on the keyboard.

ntCreate the shortcut

ntTo start, right-click on an empty part of the Windows Desktop, navigate to New | Shortcut as shown.

Type this command: RunDll32 DwmApi #105

ntIn the location box of the shortcut, type in this command:

ntRunDll32 DwmApi #105

Name the shortcut Flip3D

ntClick the Next button and give your new shortcut the name Flip3D, and click Finish.

Shortcut Properties screen

ntYour new shortcut has a generic icon, so it is a good idea to give it an icon that has some meaning. Right-click the shortcut and navigate to the Properties configuration screen, as shown in. Click the Change Icon button.

Choose an icon for your Flip3D shortcut

ntOn the Change Icon configuration screen, browse to the Windows directory and select explorer.exe as your icon source. I used the Flip3D icon, but you can use any icon you wish. After you choose your icon click OK twice to close the Properties screen.

Flip3D a single-click away in Windows 7

ntYou should have a shortcut on your Windows Desktop that loads the Flip3D feature. To make the feature more useful, drag the shortcut to the Windows 7 Taskbar and pin it there as shown.

ntNow, when you click your new Flip3D icon from the Windows Taskbar your open applications will fly up into a three dimensional flip book. Using the mouse wheel you can scroll through them and pick the one you would like to make active.

By Mark W. Kaelin

Mark W. Kaelin has been writing and editing stories about the information technology industry, gadgets, finance, accounting, and tech-life for more than 25 years. Most recently, he has been a regular contributor to BreakingModern.com, aNewDomain.net,

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