Most of the Windows users are habitual of refreshing the desktop by choosing it from desktop context menu (right click) or by pressing F5. Some people just get so accustomed to it that they keep on refreshing their desktop. Most of the time, when the user is waiting for the response of an application or program, he/she tries to refresh several times hoping that it will increase the processing speed. It is “believed” that using this “refresh” functionality refreshes the RAM and releases the memory and hence it speeds up the (stuck) computer.

What does refresh desktop do?

Honestly, in today’s world refreshing the desktop does nothing but redrawing the icons on the desktop. Then why do people use it so often, you may ask. Well it’s mostly habit but this habit has its history. The history that has become the essential part of present Windows user (quite uselessly).

Around 2 decades back when personal computers were expensive and high RAM was a luxury, computers were mostly out of memory. Obviously a 4MB or 6MB RAM was not good enough. Also, the programs written back then did not concentrate much on memory and usually had generous memory leaks. In those time, refreshing the desktop display helped (to a lesser extent) in reclaiming free RAM after closing a process.

Those days and the present days. RAMs are no more the same but habit remains indifferent. Now a days when we have RAMs in GBs, refreshing the desktop means nothing. It is just a foolish habit.

Hope you liked this informative article. We will come up with more myth-buster articles. Cheers