Ctrl + R – does the exact same thing in Windows 11.

? No, that’s for recording.

❌

Press it anywhere on the desktop or inside a File Explorer window.

Here is the quick answer and a deeper look at why (and when) you should use it.

Table_content: header: | Computer Shortcut Keys A to Z | | | row: | Computer Shortcut Keys A to Z: Shortcut Key | : Function/Actio... Physics Wallah What is Ctrl+R? | Lenovo IN What is Ctrl+R? Ctrl+R is a keyboard shortcut that is commonly used in web browsers to reload the current webpage. It's a quick wa... Lenovo Keyboard Shortcuts for Chrome Table_title: Webpage shortcuts Table_content: header: | To do this | Press this | row: | To do this: Prints your current page. | P... California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) (.gov) Copy, Paste, and Other General Keyboard Shortcuts Windows logo key + D Display and hide the desktop. F2 Rename the selected item. F3 Search for a file or folder in File Explorer. F... gccisd 5 sites Guide: How to Refresh the Desktop in Windows - NinjaOne 9 Feb 2026 —

Refreshing your screen is a common troubleshooting step that can resolve various issues, such as:

also reloads desktop.ini settings (custom icons, folder templates).

The primary keyboard shortcut to refresh the screen in Windows 11 is the key . This universal command reloads the active window, whether you are on your desktop, in File Explorer, or using a web browser.