| Method | Effect | Keeps files? | |--------|--------|---------------| | Restart | Clears RAM, reloads OS | Yes | | Refresh (Windows 8/10/11) | Reinstalls OS, removes apps, keeps personal data | Yes | | Reset this PC (full) | Reinstalls OS, removes everything | No | | System Restore | Reverts system files/settings to earlier date | Yes | | Disk Cleanup / Storage Sense | Deletes temp files, cache | Yes |
With these new steps, Emily felt more confident in her ability to refresh her PC whenever it needed it. She tried restarting her PC and was pleased to find that it was now running smoothly again.
However, Emily realized that she might need to refresh more than just the page. She wanted to refresh her entire PC to get it working at its best. So, she started searching for ways to do that.
: This action redraws the desktop icons and updates the icon cache. It does not speed up your RAM or CPU; it is primarily used to fix visual glitches, like when a newly downloaded file doesn't immediately appear.
: macOS doesn't have a direct "Refresh" button for the desktop. Instead, you can "relaunch" the Finder by holding the Option key , right-clicking the Finder icon in the Dock, and selecting Relaunch . 2. Hard Refreshing Your Web Browser