5 Fixes for Windows 11 Desktop That Keeps Refreshing

Quick Tips

• Scan your Windows PC for corrupt system files and malware to see if that’s causing the desktop to refresh.
• Try temporarily disabling the Windows Error Reporting Service to check if it prevents the desktop from refreshing randomly.
• If the issue persists, switch to a high-performance power plan and update the display drivers on your PC.

Try Basic Fixes

• Close background apps: Open the Task Manager and go through the list of apps running in the background. Apps that use a lot of CPU and resources may force Windows to refresh at intervals, so it’s best to close them.
• Scan for malware: The presence of malware or viruses can also cause Windows 11 to misbehave at times. To overrule this possibility, run a full system scan with Windows Defender or an antivirus program of your choice.

Fix 1: Run SFC and DISM Scan

Issues with the system files can also cause the Windows 11 desktop to refresh constantly. You can run the SFC (System File Checker) and DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) scans to replace damaged system files with their cached versions.

Step 1: Right-click the Start icon and select Terminal (Admin) from the list.

Step 2: In the console, type the following command and press Enter.

SFC /scannow

Step 3: Run the following commands one by one and press Enter after each to run the DISM scan:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Restart your PC after running the above commands and check if the issue is resolved.

Fix 2: Change Power Plan

Windows 11 lets you switch between different power plans to optimize performance, extend battery life, or strike a balance between the two. You can try switching to the high-performance power plan to see if that fixes the desktop auto-refreshing issue.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + I to launch the Settings app > go to System > Power & Battery.

Step 2: Use the drop-down menu next to Power mode > select Best performance.

Fix 3: Disable Windows Error Reporting Service

The Windows Error Reporting Service runs in the background to detect and report software errors to Microsoft. This service can sometimes cause problems. You can disable this service momentarily to see if it helps resolve the issue.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box > type services.msc in the box > press Enter.

Step 2: In the Services window, scroll down to find and double-click Windows Error Reporting Service.

Step 3: Use the Startup type drop-down to select Disabled and hit Apply followed by OK.

Fix 4: Update Display Driver

If your PC’s current display driver is causing issues, the desktop icons may keep flashing, or the screen may flicker. To resolve this, try updating the display drivers on your PC by following the steps below.

Step 1: Press the Windows key + S to open the search menu > type device manager > press Enter.

Step 2: In the Device Manager window, expand Display adapters > right-click on your graphics card > select Update driver.

Fix 5: Try Clean Boot

If you still can’t prevent the Windows 11 desktop from refreshing, third-party apps or services running in the background might be causing the glitch. Performing a clean boot can help you verify if that is the case.

Step 1: Press the Windows + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run dialog box > type msconfig in the Open field > press Enter.

Step 2: Navigate to the Services tab > check the box for Hide all Microsoft services > click Disable all.

Step 3: Switch to the Startup tab and click on Open Task Manager.

Step 4: Select a third-party app or program and click Disable. Repeat this step to disable all third-party apps and programs.

After completing the above steps, restart your PC. If the issue no longer exists in the clean boot state, check for recently installed apps and programs and remove them.