A Shortcut for Switching Focus

@Roy
I only have 13 items on my desktop, and most of those are placed by default (IT), so when I use the Desktop shortcut on the toolbar, there are about 20 items, 6 of which have submenus (Recycle Bin, Libraries, OneDrive, etc). I don't use them very often, so was surprised to see the entire contents of the Recycle Bin on its submenu!
Registry is off limits for users in my company. Sounds like your desktop needs some organising. I add 'favourite' network locations to Quick Access in File Explorer.

@Richard

I tried out what you mention. Looks kind of like an Internet Explorer Favorites list. (Bit of a nightmare therefore...)

The point being that every update that affects IE wipes out the Favorites list. More exactly, replaces it with an aplhabetized list so things that were right at the top are now 200 items down with the rest of the W's. Nightmare. But somewhere on the internet I found a site that told me the Registry key to copy out (when I had it re-organized for the last time) and to replace with the copy whenever this happened. Of course, any time I add to the Favorites and don't let the newbie hang at the bottom of the menu, I immediately copy out the registry key so how I organized it into the body of the list will be backed up.

Which leads to the thought that since this structuring looks similar, it might use the same "technology" and there might be a key you could do some research to locate. Someone on the internet might have the answer. Then you could back up this key like I do with IE's and whenver updating occurs that messes up or wipes out your list here, you could just put the key back in place to have your old friend back instead of manually reorganizing each time.

Maybe, but it kind of looks like it.

I am aware that some users feel the need to store everything (or at least shortcuts to everything) on their desktop. I work in a business environment and like a clean desktop but there are some shortcuts that exist on all users' desktops. When accessing these shortcuts I like to keep open applications in place so I add a Desktop toolbar to my taskbar. This has the effect of opening a menu structure whose entries are the Desktop shortcuts.
The only disadvantage I have found is that Windows updates turn off the Desktop toolbar and I have to re-instate it from time to time.

And for those who prefer the opposite way to clear off clutter -by using the mouse, left click on the top of an open window (as if you are going to move a window to another location on the screen) and shake back and forth 2 or 3 times. This will clear away everything except the window you are holding. Shake again and everything comes back.

Very nice, thank you!

What a great hot key tip! I use hot keys all the time, but didn't know about this one. I shall use it often!

Another handy tip along these lines is that you can hold down the windows key as you repeatedly press tab -- if you have an aeropeek-enabled theme for Windows, this shows a nice preview of each open window (release all keys to focus the window in front).

It's similar to holding down the Alt key as you press tab to see a gallery of window thumbnails, but this is a prettier and more detailed preview - rather Macintosh-y, IMHO.

Yes, this is a timesaver indeed.

What a great timesaver tip. THANK YOU!