Thread: Create a Shortcut to Enable/Disable Aero Transparency in 7 / Vista

In the interest of all of the secrets exposed in Windows Vista, now explain how create a shortcut that turns on or off transparency in Windows Vista.

Update: This same tip works identically in Windows 7.

This tip is not new, and seems to have been featured on dozens of sites recently, but there seems to be a confusion this mechanism will not turn off Aero or the compositing engine, it just switches the transparency.

Manually Enable/Disable Aero Transparency

You can get the same result by right-clicking on the Desktop and selecting Personalize and then “Window Color and Appearance”



You must see the “Enable transparency” checkbox in this screen, which works instantly.

Create Aero Transparency Shortcut

Right-click anyplace and choose New \ Shortcut, and then enter in one of the following into the Location box to make the new shortcut.



Turn Aero Transparency Off

rundll32.exe dwmApi #104

Turn Aero Transparency On

rundll32.exe dwmApi #102

For purposes of illustration, I have found the matching screenshot with Aero transparency turned on and off but just trying to show off the fun Mario wallpaper.

With Aero Transparency On:



And with Aero Transparency Off: