Home > News Tips

Let's Fix Windows 10 Desktop Keeps Refreshing! 8 Solutions!

Published/Updated on Friday, January 24, 2025

M3 Software author Wilsey Young

Written by

Wilsey Young

English

When you want the Windows OS to check and update the state of icons, files, or shortcuts displayed on the desktop, you can right-click on the blank space of the Windows desktop and tap on the "Refresh" button.

However, some Windows users report the situation that their Windows 10 desktop keeps refreshing and they are eager to know the reasons and solutions, which will be discussed in this article.

Reddit discussions on the “Windows 10 desktop keeps refreshing”

The heated discussion about the desktop keeps refreshing on Windows 10 was initiated in the Reddit post, where the original poster was frustrated that his PC desktop keeps refreshing on Windows 10. You can view the following Reddit post to see the details and find potential solutions provided by netizens.

Pc keeps refreshing itself?
by u/Fast_Block5350 in pchelp

Possible reasons why the desktop keeps refreshing on Windows 10

According to the survey and feedback from users, the factors that cause the Windows 10 desktop to keep refreshing may be diverse:

  • System files are missing or corrupted.
  • The graphic driver is outdated.
  • Software, applications, or processes that take up large CPU resources.
  • Conflicts caused by antivirus or security software.
  • Accumulated cache files

The following buttons can help you share this post quickly

 

What to do when the Windows 10 desktop keeps refreshing

Based on the possible causes listed above, here are some proven solutions we would like to provide. The following workarounds are possibly applicable to similar issues, such as "desktop icons keep refreshing on Windows 10", "screen keeps refreshing on Windows 10", and "taskbar keeps refreshing on Windows 10."

End processes taking up large amounts of CPU resources

You can open Task Manager on Windows 10 to check if there's a software, program, or application that is consuming too much CPU resources that could trigger the "Windows 10 desktop keeps refreshing" glitch.

  1. Right-click on the Start menu and tap on Task Manager.
  2. Check the apps and processes under the "Processes" tab.
  3. Right-click on the target one and click "End task."
    end task in Task Manager in Windows 10

Disable antivirus or security software

When the Windows 10 desktop keeps refreshing, you can temporarily disable the antivirus or security software that may cause the conflicts.

To disable software or applications, you can either shut them down through the taskbar at the bottom or end their task via Task Manager, like what we introduce in the solution above.

Disable Windows error reporting service

The "Windows 10 desktop keeps refreshing" glitch may be triggered by the Windows error reporting service. Here's how to disable the service:

  1. Press the Windows+R keys, type services.msc in the Run dialog box, and hit the Enter key on your keyboard.
    services msc in Run dialog box
  2. Locate the "Windows Error Reporting Service" from the list and double-click on it.
  3. Tap on the "Startup type" menu and choose "Disabled."
  4. Click "Apply" and "OK."
    disable Windows Error Reporting Service
  5. Restart your PC.

Update/Roll back the display/graphics driver

The outdated or incompatible display/graphics driver via Device Manager may help solve the "Windows 10 desktop keeps refreshing" problem.

  1. Type Device Manager in the Windows search bar.
  2. Find the display/graphics driver and right-click on it to select "Properties."
  3. Tap on "Update Driver" or "Roll Back Driver."
    update or roll back driver in Device Manager

Uninstall IDT Audio CODEC

You can open Device Manager and uninstall IDT Audio CODEC which could be to blame for the "desktop keeps refreshing Windows 10" issue.

  1. Type Device Manager in the Windows search bar.
  2. Locate IDT Audio CODEC and right-click on it to choose "Uninstall."
    uninstall IDT Audio CODEC in Device Manager

Run SFC scan

The corrupted system files may exist when your Windows 10 desktop keeps refreshing. You can use the built-in SFC (System File Checker) tool via Command Prompt to scan for and repair corrupted system files.

  1. Type cmd in the Windows search bar and select "Run as administrator."
    cmd run as administrator in Windows 10
  2. Type sfc /scannow in the command window and hit the Enter key on your keyboard.
    run SFC scan in Command Prompt 
  3. It may take a few minutes for SFC to scan for the corrupted system files and fix them.
  4. Restart your PC when the SFC scan is finished.

Run a System Restore

Performing the System Restore to restore Windows 10 to a previous version or state may help you fix the "desktop keeps refreshing on Windows 10" issue, and the following steps show how:

 Note: We suggest backing up the important data before performing System Restore or resetting the PC on your Windows 10 PC, preventing any data loss.

  1. Type "Create a restore point" in the Windows search bar.
    create a restore point in Windows search bar
  2. Go to the System Protection tab and tap on System Restore.
    System Restore in Windows 10
  3. Choose a restore point, typically when your Windows PC runs normally.
    System Restore in Windows 10

Reset the PC

Resetting your PC can definitely resolve the "Windows 10 desktop keeps refreshing" issue, but this method should be used as a last resort.

  1. Open Setting and tap on Recovery on the left side panel.
  2. Click the "Get started" button under the "Reset this PC" section.
  3. Decide whether you want to keep the files.
    Reset this PC in Windows 10
  4. Follow other instructions to reset the PC.

You can share this post by clicking the buttons below