Windows 10 File Explorer Windows Don’t Refresh

Hi. I know this was an issue for some in prior Windows versions.

I just upgraded to Windows 10 from 7 and now my explorer windows don’t refresh without having to hit F5.

If i download a file, etc. the file does not show in my opened window for that folder.

Any suggestions? Is there a fix? i have not seen this asked yet?

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Thank you for posting your query on Microsoft Community.

I would suggest you follow the steps below and see if it helps:

Step 1: DISM TOOL:

On the Search bar type “cmd”. You will notice Command prompt as an option Right Click on it and select Run as Administrator. (If prompted for a password, type the password and click Allow)

Type “DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth”\

For more information about DISM click on the link below: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/947821

Step 2: System File Checker (SFC) Scan:

Press Windows Key and type “cmd”. You will notice Command prompt as an option Right Click on it and select Run as Administrator .

Type “sfc /scannow” and hit Enter.

Exit Command Prompt.

For more information about SFC Scan click on the link below:

Hope this helps.

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so far, that worked.

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It worked for a short while now it’s back doing it again!!

downloading files or moving files, the folders don’t refresh

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Hi, i was having the same problem and here is what i did to solve it:

Try these in order in CMD (as administrator as shown by Jesinta)

Dism.exe /online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup
sfc /scannow
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
sfc /scannow

Hope it’ll work for you.

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Hi, i was having the same problem and here is what i did to solve it:

Try these in order in CMD (as administrator as shown by Jesinta)

Dism.exe /online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup
sfc /scannow
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
sfc /scannow

Hope it’ll work for you.

I have the same problem and tried both solutions, but nothing changed yet :-/.

It looks like a random thing, because sometimes it works, and a few seconds later not.

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Very disappointing with windows 10. Simple thing like file explorer refresh, it becomes issue that users that have to deal with! It should be resolved before it was released, right? It is already windows 10. Yet, as always for win OS, a lot of problems for every version. When will win OS become stable system?!

I want OS that does not require applying endless patches, doing searches in google to resolve OS bugs, editing registry, running cmd . Give me a break!

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I want OS that does not require applying endless patches,

There is no such system and there never will be. That is just how software development is — you can always do it better and so they are patching. Nowadays even your car, TV and other things is being patched (my vacuum cleaner got update recently).

However I agree with you that such simple things as explorer refresh could have been found during testing.

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Very disappointing with windows 10. Simple thing like file explorer refresh, it becomes issue that users that have to deal with! It should be resolved before it was released, right? It is already windows 10. Yet, as always for win OS, a lot of problems for every version. When will win OS become stable system?!

I want OS that does not require applying endless patches, doing searches in google to resolve OS bugs, editing registry, running cmd . Give me a break!

Agree! I keep looking everday for the solution, none. I rename files, typically pictures and when you have 200 to 300 to work on I waste quite a lot of time refinding and reentering. 🙁

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Windows explorer dont refresh

Вопрос

windows 10 version 1909, build 10.0.18363.535.

Explorer does not automatically update the view, must press f5 to view new file/folders etc.

I have tried several solutions found online but no solution solved the problem. only for a few days.
Tried changing explorer update key on registry.
Clean recent folders under appdata (effective solution for several days)
etc etc
Restarting the pc sometimes solves the problem
In explorer all add-ons are removed.
TrendMicro antivirus
sfc result no problem

Все ответы

I see this sometimes on my system, but had it already in 1903.
No 3rd party Antivirus installed on this system, so thats not the reason.

Do you get this always, or only in specific scenarios?
f.e. downloading a file via Chrome, having the «Downloads» folder open in explorer: you need to press F5 for the new file to be displayed, although the download is already finished seconds ago.

Try resetting File Explorer (explorer.exe) process:

1. Press Windows Key + R and type SYSDM.CPL in Run. Click OK or press Enter key.

2. In System Properties window, switch to Advanced tab, click Settings under Performance.

3. Next, in Performance Options, under Processor scheduling, make sure that Adjust for best performance of: is set to Programs.

4. Then in the same window, under Virtual memory, click Settings button.

5. On Virtual Memory page, make sure Automatically manage paging file sizes for all drives option is checked. Click OK, then Apply, OK on rest of windows.

6. Reboot the machine and see if issue is resolved now.

Let us know if this helps!

Note: Included link in this reply refers to blog post by a trusted Microsoft MVP.

Windows Explorer don’t refresh

I have bought a new Surface Pro 2017 3 month ago with Win 10. In explorer, view will not actualize, while creating a new folder or deleting one. I have to press F5 or right mouse click and click on actualize.

In Regedit I put in a qword with «dontrefresh» (value 0) under

and did a (cold) boot without success.

SFC /scannow didn’t find any problems.

RESET explorer settings did not work.

Deactivate shell extensions with Shellexview did not work.

Actual build is 17134.rs4_release_180410-1804 (all updates installed)

I checked a lot of internet sites and there are many users with exactly the same problem, but I didn’t find a solution.

Can you help me please?

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Please try these options one by one and check after each option.

1. Run Built-in & Guided Walk through Windows Update troubleshooter
Built-in : Windows Key+X > Click Settings > Click Update & security > Click Troubleshoot > Click Windows Update > Click Run the Troubleshooter

2. I would recommend that you perform a Windows 10 repair upgrade. Repair upgrade fixes all Windows errors and retains all files, applications and settings. (You will not lose any data while backup is a good idea) Below is a good guide to perform repair upgrade

Disclaimer — This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

Best regards
Vijay A. Verma @ http://www.eforexcel.com/

Timezone: UTC+05:30, PST+12:30
Availability Hours (UTC) : 05:00 AM — 05:00 PM

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Desktop or Explorer does not refresh automatically in Windows 10

The Windows Desktop or Windows File Explorer window or folder will automatically refresh itself when you make a change to its contents. This could be creating a new shortcut, creating or saving a new file or folder in it, and so on.

But at times, you may find that the desktop or the window may not auto-refresh, and to see the changes; you have to manually Refresh it, either by pressing F5 or via the context menu.

Explorer does not refresh automatically

If Windows 10 desktop is not refreshing automatically or auto-refresh does not work, and you need to manually refresh it, then you can follow these steps to try and fix the problem.

Open Registry Editor and navigate to the following registry key:

64-Bit users may have to look in:

Here right-click on CLSID and select Find to search for dontrefresh . If you find it, and if it has a value set to 1, change its value to 0.

You will probably find it at one of these locations depending on whether your Windows is 32-bit or Windows 64-bit:

If you do not see it, you will have to create the path \Instance\dontrefresh by right-clicking and selecting New > DWORD at each level as follows:

• Right-click > New > Key > Name it
• Right-click > New > Key > Name it Instance
• Right-click Instance > New > DWORD for 32-bit systems -OR- QWORD for 64-bit systems.
• Then again right-click this WORD, rename it to dontrefresh and give it a value 0.

This is known to have helped fix the problem in most cases.

If it does not, here are a few other suggestions:

1] Use ShellExView from Nirsoft and disable third-party shell extensions which may be obstructing the smooth functioning of Windows Explorer. This may be a trial-and-error method.

2] From the Task Manager, kill the explorer.exe process and then restart it again. Also, restore the default Explorer Settings. To do so, open Folder Options and under the General tab, press Restore Defaults. Click Apply and Exit.

3] Some have found that deleting the thumbnail cache and rebuilding the icon cache has helped them resolve the issue.

4] Reboot in Clean Boot State and try to troubleshoot the issue.

This problem appears to be quite common – so much so that there is even an acronym made for it: WEDR – Windows Explorer Doesn’t Refresh!

Microsoft has released some hotfixes to resolve such issues at KB960954 and KB823291. Please check IF they apply to your operating system and situation before you decide to download and apply them.

See this post if your Desktop icons load slowly at startup in Windows 10.

UPDATE: Please also see the comment by tralala/Truth101/Guest below.

TIP: Check this post if you find that your Recycle Bin does not refresh correctly.

Date: December 28, 2019 Tags: Desktop, Tips