diff --git a/bec_widgets/cli/client_utils.py b/bec_widgets/cli/client_utils.py
index 9554961e..84adc93a 100644
--- a/bec_widgets/cli/client_utils.py
+++ b/bec_widgets/cli/client_utils.py
@@ -443,8 +443,8 @@ class BECGuiClient(RPCBase):
         self._update_dynamic_namespace(self._server_registry)
 
     def _do_show_all(self):
-        rpc_client = RPCBase(gui_id=f"{self._gui_id}:launcher", parent=self)
-        rpc_client._run_rpc("show")  # pylint: disable=protected-access
+        if self.launcher and len(self._top_level) == 0:
+            self.launcher._run_rpc("show")  # pylint: disable=protected-access
         for window in self._top_level.values():
             window.show()
 
@@ -454,11 +454,11 @@ class BECGuiClient(RPCBase):
 
     def _hide_all(self):
         with wait_for_server(self):
-            rpc_client = RPCBase(gui_id=f"{self._gui_id}:launcher", parent=self)
-            rpc_client._run_rpc("hide")  # pylint: disable=protected-access
-            if not self._killed:
-                for window in self._top_level.values():
-                    window.hide()
+            if self._killed:
+                return
+            self.launcher._run_rpc("hide")
+            for window in self._top_level.values():
+                window.hide()
 
     def _update_dynamic_namespace(self, server_registry: dict):
         """
diff --git a/bec_widgets/cli/rpc/rpc_base.py b/bec_widgets/cli/rpc/rpc_base.py
index fdeacb13..9a5f502f 100644
--- a/bec_widgets/cli/rpc/rpc_base.py
+++ b/bec_widgets/cli/rpc/rpc_base.py
@@ -225,6 +225,12 @@ class RPCBase:
         Returns:
             The result of the RPC call.
         """
+        if method in ["show", "hide"] and gui_id is None:
+            obj = self._root._server_registry.get(self._gui_id)
+            if obj is None:
+                raise ValueError(f"Widget {self._gui_id} not found.")
+            gui_id = obj.get("container_proxy")  # type: ignore
+
         request_id = str(uuid.uuid4())
         rpc_msg = messages.GUIInstructionMessage(
             action=method,