How to hide Windows Icons on hotkey

[Cinabutts]

Doubt this will help but this is what ai gave me:

// ==WindhawkMod==
// @id              desktop-icons-toggle
// @name            Desktop Icons Toggle
// @description     Toggle desktop icons visibility with a hotkey (Ctrl+Alt+D)
// @version         1.1
// @author          Assistant
// @include         explorer.exe
// @architecture    x86-64
// @compilerOptions -luser32 -lkernel32
// ==/WindhawkMod==

// ==WindhawkModReadme==
/*
# Desktop Icons Toggle

This mod allows you to toggle the visibility of desktop icons using the hotkey **Ctrl+Alt+D**.

## Features
- Global hotkey support (Ctrl+Alt+D)
- Works with Windows 11 24H2
- Lightweight and efficient
- Simple and reliable

## Usage
1. Install and enable the mod
2. Press Ctrl+Alt+D to toggle desktop icons visibility
3. Icons will be restored when you toggle again

## Technical Details
- Uses low-level keyboard hook for reliable hotkey detection
- Finds and manipulates the desktop ListView control
- Safe cleanup on mod unload

## Compatibility
- Windows 11 24H2
- 64-bit architecture
- Requires Windhawk 1.3+
*/
// ==/WindhawkModReadme==

#include <windows.h>
#include <windhawk_api.h>

// Global variables
static HWND g_hDesktopListView = nullptr;
static BOOL g_bIconsVisible = TRUE;
static HHOOK g_hKeyboardHook = nullptr;

// Function to find desktop ListView
HWND FindDesktopListView() {
    // Find Program Manager window
    HWND hProgman = FindWindowW(L"Progman", L"Program Manager");
    if (!hProgman) {
        Wh_Log(L"Could not find Program Manager");
        return nullptr;
    }
    
    // Find SHELLDLL_DefView
    HWND hShellView = FindWindowExW(hProgman, nullptr, L"SHELLDLL_DefView", nullptr);
    if (!hShellView) {
        // Try WorkerW windows
        HWND hWorkerW = nullptr;
        while ((hWorkerW = FindWindowExW(nullptr, hWorkerW, L"WorkerW", nullptr)) != nullptr) {
            hShellView = FindWindowExW(hWorkerW, nullptr, L"SHELLDLL_DefView", nullptr);
            if (hShellView) break;
        }
    }
    
    if (!hShellView) {
        Wh_Log(L"Could not find SHELLDLL_DefView");
        return nullptr;
    }
    
    // Find the ListView
    HWND hListView = FindWindowExW(hShellView, nullptr, L"SysListView32", L"FolderView");
    if (!hListView) {
        Wh_Log(L"Could not find desktop ListView");
        return nullptr;
    }
    
    Wh_Log(L"Found desktop ListView: %p", hListView);
    return hListView;
}

// Toggle desktop icons
void ToggleDesktopIcons() {
    if (!g_hDesktopListView) {
        g_hDesktopListView = FindDesktopListView();
        if (!g_hDesktopListView) return;
    }
    
    // Toggle visibility
    g_bIconsVisible = !g_bIconsVisible;
    
    // Show/hide the ListView
    ShowWindow(g_hDesktopListView, g_bIconsVisible ? SW_SHOW : SW_HIDE);
    
    // Force desktop refresh
    HWND hDesktop = GetDesktopWindow();
    InvalidateRect(hDesktop, nullptr, TRUE);
    UpdateWindow(hDesktop);
    
    Wh_Log(L"Desktop icons %s", g_bIconsVisible ? L"shown" : L"hidden");
}

// Low-level keyboard hook
LRESULT CALLBACK LowLevelKeyboardProc(int nCode, WPARAM wParam, LPARAM lParam) {
    // Log every hook call for debugging
    static DWORD lastLogTime = 0;
    DWORD currentTime = GetTickCount();
    
    // Throttle logging to avoid spam, but still catch key presses
    if (currentTime - lastLogTime > 100) {
        Wh_Log(L"Hook called: nCode=%d, wParam=%lu", nCode, wParam);
        lastLogTime = currentTime;
    }
    
    if (nCode == HC_ACTION) {
        KBDLLHOOKSTRUCT* kb = (KBDLLHOOKSTRUCT*)lParam;
        
        // Log ALL key events for debugging
        if (wParam == WM_KEYDOWN) {
            Wh_Log(L"Key pressed: VK=%lu (0x%02X)", kb->vkCode, kb->vkCode);
            
            // Try multiple ways to detect the combo
            if (kb->vkCode == 'D' || kb->vkCode == 0x44) {
                Wh_Log(L"D key detected! Checking modifiers...");
                
                // Method 1: GetKeyState
                SHORT ctrlState1 = GetKeyState(VK_CONTROL);
                SHORT altState1 = GetKeyState(VK_MENU);
                BOOL ctrl1 = (ctrlState1 & 0x8000) != 0;
                BOOL alt1 = (altState1 & 0x8000) != 0;
                
                // Method 2: GetAsyncKeyState
                BOOL ctrl2 = (GetAsyncKeyState(VK_CONTROL) & 0x8000) != 0;
                BOOL alt2 = (GetAsyncKeyState(VK_MENU) & 0x8000) != 0;
                
                // Method 3: Check hook structure flags
                BOOL ctrl3 = (kb->flags & LLKHF_ALTDOWN) == 0 && (GetAsyncKeyState(VK_CONTROL) & 0x8000);
                BOOL alt3 = (kb->flags & LLKHF_ALTDOWN) != 0;
                
                Wh_Log(L"Modifier states - GetKeyState: Ctrl=%d Alt=%d, GetAsyncKeyState: Ctrl=%d Alt=%d, Flags: Ctrl=%d Alt=%d", 
                       ctrl1, alt1, ctrl2, alt2, ctrl3, alt3);
                
                // Try any method that shows both modifiers
                if ((ctrl1 && alt1) || (ctrl2 && alt2) || (ctrl3 && alt3)) {
                    Wh_Log(L"HOTKEY COMBO DETECTED! Toggling icons...");
                    ToggleDesktopIcons();
                    return 1;
                }
            }
            
            // Also log common modifier keys
            if (kb->vkCode == VK_CONTROL) {
                Wh_Log(L"Ctrl key pressed");
            } else if (kb->vkCode == VK_MENU) {
                Wh_Log(L"Alt key pressed");
            } else if (kb->vkCode == VK_LWIN || kb->vkCode == VK_RWIN) {
                Wh_Log(L"Windows key pressed");
            }
        }
    }
    
    return CallNextHookEx(g_hKeyboardHook, nCode, wParam, lParam);
}

// Initialize keyboard hook
BOOL InitializeHook() {
    g_hKeyboardHook = SetWindowsHookExW(
        WH_KEYBOARD_LL,
        LowLevelKeyboardProc,
        GetModuleHandleW(nullptr),
        0
    );
    
    if (!g_hKeyboardHook) {
        Wh_Log(L"Failed to install keyboard hook, error: %lu", GetLastError());
        return FALSE;
    }
    
    Wh_Log(L"Keyboard hook installed successfully");
    return TRUE;
}

// Cleanup hook
void CleanupHook() {
    if (g_hKeyboardHook) {
        UnhookWindowsHookEx(g_hKeyboardHook);
        g_hKeyboardHook = nullptr;
        Wh_Log(L"Keyboard hook removed");
    }
}

// Restore icons to visible state
void RestoreIcons() {
    if (!g_bIconsVisible && g_hDesktopListView) {
        ShowWindow(g_hDesktopListView, SW_SHOW);
        InvalidateRect(GetDesktopWindow(), nullptr, TRUE);
        g_bIconsVisible = TRUE;
        Wh_Log(L"Desktop icons restored to visible state");
    }
}

// Windhawk callbacks
BOOL Wh_ModInit() {
    Wh_Log(L"Desktop Icons Toggle mod initializing...");
    
    // Find desktop ListView
    g_hDesktopListView = FindDesktopListView();
    if (g_hDesktopListView) {
        g_bIconsVisible = IsWindowVisible(g_hDesktopListView);
        Wh_Log(L"Initial icons state: %s", g_bIconsVisible ? L"visible" : L"hidden");
    }
    
    // Initialize keyboard hook
    if (!InitializeHook()) {
        Wh_Log(L"Failed to initialize keyboard hook");
        return FALSE;
    }
    
    Wh_Log(L"Desktop Icons Toggle mod initialized successfully");
    return TRUE;
}

void Wh_ModUninit() {
    Wh_Log(L"Desktop Icons Toggle mod uninitializing...");
    
    // Restore icons before cleanup
    RestoreIcons();
    
    // Cleanup hook
    CleanupHook();
    
    Wh_Log(L"Desktop Icons Toggle mod uninitialized");
}

void Wh_ModAfterInit() {
    Wh_Log(L"Desktop Icons Toggle mod after init");
    
    // Try to find ListView again if not found initially
    if (!g_hDesktopListView) {
        Sleep(1000); // Give explorer time to fully load
        g_hDesktopListView = FindDesktopListView();
        if (g_hDesktopListView) {
            g_bIconsVisible = IsWindowVisible(g_hDesktopListView);
            Wh_Log(L"ListView found in after init: %p", g_hDesktopListView);
        }
    }
}

void Wh_ModBeforeUninit() {
    Wh_Log(L"Desktop Icons Toggle mod before uninit");
    RestoreIcons();
}

void Wh_ModSettingsChanged() {
    Wh_Log(L"Desktop Icons Toggle mod settings changed");
}

[m417z]

The Click on empty taskbar space mod has an option for that. Not a hotkey, but might work for you too.