This requires you to manually refresh by pressing the F5 key or using the context menu to see the changes. This issue also occurs when deleting, downloading, or moving/copying files on the Desktop or in File Explorer. Upon investigating this issue, we discovered that it often results from corrupted history within Windows. Moreover, if your desktop folder resides in OneDrive, this issue is likely to occur. Having discussed several causes, let’s delve into the methods to resolve this issue.
1. Restart the File Explorer
Restarting the File Explorer is an effective solution to this problem. It not only restarts File Explorer but also refreshes the necessary services and clears data from memory. To do this, follow the steps below:
2. Restore File Explorer to Default
The issue is frequently caused by File Explorer’s history. Clearing this history and restoring File Explorer to its default settings may fix the problem.
3. Modify the Registry
The problem may also arise if the registry entry named DontRefresh is missing. Creating this entry could enable automatic refreshing after changes are made. Before proceeding with modifications in the registry editor, ensure you create a backup. Learn how to restore the registry backup if needed by following this guide: How to Back Up and Restore the Registry.
4. Reset Desktop Icons
This unusual solution has worked for some users. Resetting the desktop icons moves them back to their default positions and, for unknown reasons, can help with this issue.
5. Uninstall OneDrive
OneDrive integration might be another reason for this problem, particularly if the desktop folder is stored in OneDrive. To resolve this issue, either unlink OneDrive from your PC or completely uninstall it. Many users have found uninstalling OneDrive to be effective.
5.1 Unlink OneDrive
5.2 Uninstall OneDrive
If nothing works, you are not out of options. You can still attempt to fix the issue by resetting Windows or performing a system restore.
