I am sure that you must have noticed that when you right-click on your Windows desktop or inside an open explorer window, you see an option called Refresh in the context menu. The Refresh option has been there since you can remember!
But have you really wondered what this option actually does? Does it refresh your Windows OS and keep it running smoothly? Does it make your Windows faster? Or maybe you think it will clear your computer’s memory or refresh the RAM…? Actually it is none of these!
What does Refresh Desktop or Folder do
The Desktop is nothing but a folder in the Windows operating system. It is programmed to auto-refresh when its contents change. When the contents of the folder changes, it will auto-refresh. But at times, you may find that the desktop or folder does not auto-refresh.
You may then need to refresh your desktop manually in the following circumstances:
- The desktop does not display the files or folders you just created, moved, deleted, renamed or saved on it
- You need to re-align your desktop icons
- You find that you cannot use the desktop icons.
- Files that were created to the desktop by some 3rd-party application do not appear
- And such similar situations where the contents of the desktop or the folder do not change when expected to.
In such a case, when you press F5 or right-click on your Windows desktop and select Refresh, the situation will be corrected. Manually refreshing the desktop or folder may re-order its contents as, folders first, then files, in alphabetical order.
But if you constantly need to use the Refresh option frequently, to refresh your desktop or explorer windows, you may want to see this fix – Desktop does not refresh automatically in Windows.
Why do some people Refresh desktop constantly?
You may have noticed that some people just refresh their desktops frequently for the sake of refreshing it. It has become almost like a compulsive disorder, to refresh the desktop constantly. You may have noticed this habit especially among some Computer Engineers and Technicians who are obsessed with using the Refresh option – almost in a state of frenzy.
What is the reason for this? There is no need or reason to do this. It is just a silly habit, they simply need to break.
Do you have any friends who are in habit of using the Refresh Desktop option frequently? Maybe you want to share this post with them.
Or maybe you too are one of them … if so do try and break this habit! ;)
NOTE: The Refresh option cannot be removed from the right-click context menu, or changed as it is not a shell extension, but is hardcoded in the operating system.
Does refreshing Desktop do anything?
Although you might have thought that refreshing the Desktop frequently makes your computer faster, that is incorrect. F5 or Refresh option helps you show the latest information visible in a specific folder, including Desktop, and Downloads. It works only when the auto-refresh fails. Otherwise, refreshing the folder or Desktop doesn’t do anything.
Why do we need to refresh Desktop?
If your Desktop fails to show all the latest files on your screen, you can refresh the Desktop to obtain them. However, if you want to make your PC faster or free up RAM, refreshing the Desktop won’t do anything. The same is applicable for Desktop as well as other folders.
See this post if your Desktop keeps refreshing on its own automatically.
LOL! I kinda have this :)
but I only refresh after restarting explorer…
Thanks.
LoL im one with that wkwkwkwk
I confess, I do it constantly! :D Although it makes me rage… :(
He he he i was in wrong assumption. Thanks :)
My XP desktop refreshes automaticly….but it seems to take forever. All the icons turn to some generic looking creature first. Cause???
Every time I go to some Internet Cafe, the engineer would keep refreshing the desktop like crazy, especially if I have any sort of complaint! I have never seen anything good coming out of this silly habit.
I hate to see people doing that and I feel they are stupid. It’s very common with people working at internet cafe, printing press etc. commercial places. I see it almost everywhere.
I was born into Windows 95 and the awesome Windows Millennium Edition. Right click -> Refresh was the only way to be sure the OS was working :P
Thanks man !
lol this is totally me… I refresh every 1 minute :(
If the auto-refresh worked as it should, this wouldn’t be an issue.
you are right
i have many comp-engineer friend who frequently use refresh key because today people assume that they understood computer and they know everything about computer .
but ” there is difference between knowing the name of something and knowing something. “
I want to remove the Refresh option. Is there a way?
This is super cool! Thanks a lot, Anand.
Not possible. It is hard-coded.
You are welcome. :)
i got the refreshing addiction from my bro :D
Oops!
I have to refresh constantly, especially videos on Explorer but not at sites like youtube. What gives?
How to add ( new) item to window right click menu ..please answer me :)
Thanks so much, this was me! somebody just asked me about it and thats why i got here and lol! i will share with him its really crazy…
i do it sometimes.
m a chronic refresh addict. Also for some reason I am compulsive about invoking the task manager to check system resources. Is there a cure?
I have windows 8.Just ran a Refresh,and it has taken all my game apps,and panda security,tc.Can I re-insall these,or are they lost?
You are talking about Refresh PC https://www.thewindowsclub.com/repair-windows-8. This will keep your files and personal settings as it is, but the rest will be reset to default settings. Moreover, any downloads from App Store will be removed. So you will have to reinstall them.
thankyu Anand for helping me so quickly.Brian Vendt Australia
Not possible.
bur one thing is undeniable – the second refresh is executed much quicker than the first. It’s evidence that the computer is getting faster, so it’s working!
In refreshing disorder people think their PCs are horses and they are doing horse whipping.
that part about refreshing compulsive disorder is almost scary. i know people mindlessly doing it all the time thousand times a day, believing it actually does something. i’ve been wondering about it for years.
I have the opposite problem in Windows 10, file explorer refresh interval is too short and interrupt while I am renaming files and folders. Is there away to increase the refresh interval or turn the auto refresh off?
Try https://www.thewindowsclub.com/desktop-does-not-refresh-automatically-windows
If i create a floder/file it could not show after i refresh the page then only it’ll show it, How can i solve it
Maybe windows could remove the Refresh option and just make the code for Refresh happen automatically every 30 seconds. lol
Thanks. I do practice this but asked because I did not know if it achieved anything.
I actually like doing the Right Click > Refresh .. LOL.. its so satisfying!
Hi,please I have n issue,I would like to bypass password logon screen but I can’t can someone help
Pls see https://www.thewindowsclub.com/log-in-directly-into-windows-7-without-entering-password
Club F5
i think you just don’t know, its not a silly habit… also you knowing about what happens when we refresh , completely… it optimises speed and efficiency, in that refreshing state the whole cpu forces all of itself to complete the pertainibg task faster.. it’s like you have 100 people in team, but you use 20 ,at refreshing state , you use 90, but only some in urs some in other works….
What a load of crap. The refresh syndrome is a very silly habit that does nothing for modern pc’s. It only helped pre windows xp as it updated the desktop if it was stuck it has no performance benefits whatsoever.
try for yourself, first… it does have but only for the period in which desktop is being refreshed