Explorer does not auto-refresh

When I create a folder or copy files, after the operation finishes I have to manually refresh the Explorer window (F5). For example, when I create a folder, I don't see the "New Folder" until I hit F5.

Does anyone have any idea how to fix this?

5

16 Answers

Here is an incredibly simple solution that worked for me. It may work for you as well:

• In Windows Explorer: choose Tools, Folder Options > Click the Search tab > Check or uncheck ANY option
• Apply.
• If this solves your problem, you can revert to your original setting and the problem will remain solved.

For Windows 10, the folder option is updated to View -> Option in Windows Explorer

11

Refer to Windows 7 does not refresh folder views on Microsoft Answers and Windows Explorer doesn't refresh when moving/deleting. Several posters stated that the issue pertains to the Windows UI Shell and several solutions exist:

• Remove a "Network Connection" that points to a server that is not currently available.
• Disable the Client for Microsoft Networks in properties of Local Area Connection.
• Or simply going through Control Panel -> Folder Options -> View, then click 'Reset Folders'.

Let me know if these links help you out!

8

A solution that worked for me: I found that none of the steps advised above (or on other sites) was working. However, the folder I was working in was part of a "Library." I found that if I switch to working in the original file location, I no longer have the problem. It seems that there's a bug with Windows updating views within libraries.

More details: I was trying to work in Libraries\Dissertation Research, which includes several folders located on various drives. I switched to working in D:\Dropbox\Academia\Dissertation. Problem solved.

Hope this helps someone else.

1

This is my experience: A zombie network-share folder triggered this problem. After I delete that zombie(the X1500 yellow stuff below), auto-refresh works again immediately.

The proposed "Folder Options > Click the Search tab > Check or uncheck ANY option" workaround is effective for me, but it works only for current Explorer window, so closing and reopening one will bring back the bug.

One way to circumvent the issue is to use an alternative file browser, such as Explorer++ (free). The latter is not affected by the auto-refresh issue, and has a few interesting features such as tabs.

2

The problem for me was a "Libraries" linking problem. I could delete with folder update in my User folders, but no refresh when deleting in the Libraries folders.

Right click on each major folder in Libraries, then Properties, be sure proper type of optimization is selected (Documents, Music, etc.), Restore Defaults, Apply. Delete then updates in the Libraries folders.

I think it rediscovers the folders in their real location on the hard drive and resets that connection with all the proper options restored.

Found something that works for me. Open the registry:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{BDEADE7F-C265-11D0-BCED-00A0C90AB50F}\Instance\

and set the value of DontRefresh (REG_DWORD) key to 0.

Note: If you have a 64 bit windows (x64), the registry is:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{BDEADE7F-C265-11D0-BCED-00A0C90AB50F}\Instance

Also, If you do not see it, you will have to create the path by right-clicking and selecting New at each level.

5

If nothing else works restart explorer:

Open Task Manager >> Processes Tab >> find Windows Explorer >> right click >> Restart.

Take note this will lose all opened Explorer windows.

OK I was able to solve the issue (In my case), I went to "properties of Local Area Connection" I only had IPV4 checked, so I checked "Client for Microsoft Networks" problem rectified immediately !!

I'm a little late to this party, but making the following registry change fixed my Explorer update problem with no reboot:

Open regedit.exe and create this key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Update

Then create this dword value:

"UpdateMode"=dword:00000000

Close regedit and test. Worked for me on Windows 7 Pro 64bit.

Fixed my shared Network Directory Tree refresh issues by adjusting the Windows LAN Manager Server registry parameter IRPStackSize. Increasing the value of that parameter resolved refresh issues on deleted and moved file entries.

1. Open RegEdit
2. HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanServer\Parameters
3. Find the key "IRPStackSize"
   • Increase the value to 30.
   • Add a new DWORD Value with the value of Decimal 30 if missing
4. Reboot

Source: this Microsoft Answer post.

1

None of the solutions worked for me. After two years, I finally solved it:

Link Shell Extension was causing the issues.

After uninstall (choco uninstall linkshellextension), the problems were gone.

I found that disabling Client for Microsoft Networks in properties of Local Area Connection worked for me and then I re-enabled it and the problem is still gone...

This fixed it for me:

Open explorer --> right click on Documents --> in the documents library pane click the Restore Defaults button --> click Apply Problem solved :)

Right click the problem folder to go to folder properties and then click restore defaults.

It's caused by a registry key that can be checked to stop the folder from auto refreshing. This can be checked/unchecked by by processes running but not through the gui.

Client for Microsoft Windows was disabled. I enabled it.

Then I restarted Explorer by executing a bat file with this in it:

taskkill /f /fi "imagename eq explorer.exe"
START explorer.exe