If, after a Windows update or driver update, your desktop and your taskbar continue to refresh with a black screen, then it is a typical driver issue that has caused the problem. Some users have also reported that third-party apps are also causing the problem, but the former is the likely cause. In this article, I will suggest a solution to get rid of The desktop and taskbar stay refreshing problem in Windows 10.
Taskbar and desktop stay cool with a black screen
The funny part of this problem is that it keeps flashing the taskbar and the desktop every few seconds. This can be in a continuous loop or can happen every 3-4 seconds. You will not be able to see any icons on the desktop, and the taskbar will be useless as it continues to refresh. Even if you right-click it to open the task manager, it may not work. However, if you use Ctrl + Alt + Del and then open Task Manager, you should notice high CPU usage for Explorer.exe. So basically, its File Explorer crashes and restarts. There are two ways to fix this desktop refresh problem:
- Disable preview of files on desktop or delete files
- Clear cache of icons and thumbnails
- Updating the graphics restore driver
- System Restauration
- Uninstall any recently installed software
It is likely that there is a DLL or program linked to the user interface, and when it crashes, it also blocks the file explorer with it.
1]Disable preview of files on desktop or delete files
One of the users had a problem with the PDF files. The desktop displays a preview of the data as a thumbnail. Data related to the application crashed Windows Explorer. You can either choose to delete these files from the desktop, or disable thumbnail preview of the files on the desktop. You can also choose to hide the desktop icons to check if this is the problem.
2]Clear cache of icons and thumbnails
Windows maintains the cache of icons and thumbnails so you can load the desktop faster or any folder. We suggest that you clear the cache of icons and thumbnails using the script. That done, when you restart File Explorer, it will rebuild the cache.
taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
cd /d %userprofile%AppDataLocal
attrib -h IconCache.db
del /f IconCache.db
cd /d %userprofile%AppDataLocalMicrosoftWindowsExplorer
attrib -h thumbcache_*.db
attrib -h iconcache_*.db
del /f thumbcache_*.db
del /f iconcache_*.db
start explorerRun the command in PowerShell and you should be done.
3]Updating the graphics restore driver
If the graphics driver is causing the problem, especially after updating Windows 10, it is best to uninstall it. There is a good chance that the driver is causing future problems because it does not work properly.
- Open Device Manager (WIN + X, followed by M)
- Expand Display adapters
- Right-click the adapter, and then click Properties.
- Switch to the Driver tab, then choose Roll Back Driver.
The button will only be activated when the driver has been recently installed. The other solution is to find the previous version of the driver and install it. You will need to go through the OEM website, download and install it.
If you are using an older driver, you may need to update your graphics driver.
4]System Restauration
If you have a system image backup or system restore point, I suggest you try this. It will automatically bring back the old settings and drivers, and the problem will go away more easily.
5]Uninstall any recently installed software
If you recently installed graphics-related software, try uninstalling it. If, after uninstalling, the problem is resolved, you may need to find an alternative or connect to the developer on the subject. They may have a temporary fix available if they are reported in large numbers.
Other suggestions:
- If you installed one on your PC, uninstall it and see – IDT Audio, iCloud / iPhoto, AeroGlass, NVIDIA GeForce Experience.
- Physically clean your keyboard – Maybe a key is blocked.
- Check if this is happening in a clean boot state and if not, try to identify the offender.
I hope something in the post will help you.