Where the XP desktop is a period piece, this one is close enough to what most people see every day to pass at a glance , which makes it the more useful of the two as a prop and the more convincing as a joke.
What it simulates
A modern Windows desktop: dark taskbar, centred and left aligned interface elements, tiled background and desktop icons. Drawn in the browser, with nothing interactive behind it.
Where it works
- A prop for photography and video needing a plausible modern computer screen with no personal data on it.
- Mock ups and screenshots for documentation, where a real desktop would leak file names and notifications.
- A joke on a machine running a different operating system entirely.
- A neutral desktop image for a presentation about software, without exposing your own.
How to run it
- Press Start fullscreen.
- Press Esc or tap Exit to return.
This one is genuinely convincing at a distance, which is exactly why it is worth being careful with. On a shared or work machine somebody may reasonably assume the computer has been tampered with. Keep it to devices you own, and stay nearby.
What it cannot do
Nothing on the desktop opens or responds. It is not an emulator, it runs no software, and it changes nothing about the computer displaying it. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Microsoft.
Related screens
Windows XP Desktop, Microsoft boot screen, Fake Windows Update, Chrome OS Desktop.
Windows 10 screen questions
Is this a working Windows desktop?
No. It is a drawing of one. Icons do not open, the taskbar does not respond and no software runs behind it.
Why would I want a fake desktop?
Screenshots and video, mostly. A recreated desktop shows a plausible computer screen without exposing your own file names, notifications or open applications , which is why it is useful for documentation and props.