Explorer does not auto-refresh

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

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!

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.

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.