I am sure you have noticed that when you right-click your Windows desktop or an open Explorer window, you see an option called Refresh in the context menu. The Refresh option has been there for as long as 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 change, 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 realign 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 similar situations where the contents of the desktop or a folder do not change as expected.
In that case, pressing F5 or right-clicking your Windows desktop and selecting Refresh will correct the issue.
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 constantly refresh the desktop. 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 that they simply need to break.
Do you have any friends who frequently use the Refresh Desktop option? 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.
See this post if your Desktop keeps refreshing on its own automatically.
Does refreshing Desktop do anything?
Although you might have thought that refreshing the Desktop frequently makes your computer faster, that is incorrect. The F5 or Refresh option helps you view the latest information in a specific folder, including the Desktop and Downloads. It only works when 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 display the latest files, you can refresh it to see 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.
