Refresh Function Key Site

April 14, 2026 | Reading Time: 3 minutes

Have a favorite keyboard myth you want busted? Drop it in the comments below.

What Does the "Refresh" Function Key Actually Do? (And Why You Probably Use It Wrong)

Here’s what actually happens: While you spam refresh, your CPU is busy redrawing icons over and over. It is working harder , not resting. You aren’t cleaning anything; you are adding a tiny, unnecessary task to an already struggling processor.

It feels productive. It feels like you’re forcing the computer to speed up. But here’s the hard truth:

Let’s break down what the refresh key actually does, when you should use it, and when you are just wasting a click. When you hit the Refresh key (F5) in Windows File Explorer or on the desktop, the operating system does one simple thing: It redraws the current window.

If you’ve ever watched someone use a Windows PC, you’ve probably seen it: the frantic right-click on the desktop, followed by a click on , or the rapid tapping of the F5 key .

April 14, 2026 | Reading Time: 3 minutes

Have a favorite keyboard myth you want busted? Drop it in the comments below.

What Does the "Refresh" Function Key Actually Do? (And Why You Probably Use It Wrong)

Here’s what actually happens: While you spam refresh, your CPU is busy redrawing icons over and over. It is working harder , not resting. You aren’t cleaning anything; you are adding a tiny, unnecessary task to an already struggling processor.

It feels productive. It feels like you’re forcing the computer to speed up. But here’s the hard truth:

Let’s break down what the refresh key actually does, when you should use it, and when you are just wasting a click. When you hit the Refresh key (F5) in Windows File Explorer or on the desktop, the operating system does one simple thing: It redraws the current window.

If you’ve ever watched someone use a Windows PC, you’ve probably seen it: the frantic right-click on the desktop, followed by a click on , or the rapid tapping of the F5 key .