How to Fix Device Manager Keeps Refreshing?

4
22
How to Fix Device Manager Keeps Refreshing

The Device Manager may keep refreshing, which is surely an error, but not an error that may damage your system permanently. Moreover, there are quite a few ways, both simple and a bit complex, in which you can resolve this issue.

If you face this problem and are not aware of the solutions for it, you are fortunately in the right place. Keep reading this article to learn about them all.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Checking the USB devices on the PC for any issues and removing the culprits may fix the issue of the Device Manager refreshing continuously.
  • Running a System File Checker scan on your computer may detect and fix the errors to eventually resolve the issue.
  • You may also disable a few specific error reporting services as a solution to this particular problem with the Device Manager.
  • Performing a Clean Boot first and checking and enabling each service may restore things to normal and do away with the error as well.
  • Sometimes, disabling or uninstalling an antivirus or firewall may resolve the problem.

Why Does the Device Manager Keep Refreshing?

The Device Manager may keep refreshing when problems are caused by some specific types of entries remaining in the registry or by some corrupt system files.

Some specific types of antivirus software, if not uninstalled properly, may leave remnants in the registry and therefore affect its functionality and cause this issue as well.

The Device Manager may keep refreshing for a few other specific causes, such as:

  • Issues with the USB connections
  • Malfunctioning of the connected devices
  • Faulty or outdated drivers
  • The SSDP Discovery service
  • A few specific types of services or other third-party apps causing conflicts on startup

However, for all, the solutions are pretty simple and easy to perform, as you will see when you read this article in its entirety.

Ways to Fix Device Manager Keeps Refreshing Issue

How to Fix Device Manager Keeps Refreshing

More often than not, simply running a scan for malware and removing them may resolve the continuous refreshing of the Device Manager issue.

Also, checking the third-party apps and other services and removing the ones that are in conflict may make things normal.

A few other simple methods that may resolve the problem are:

  • Checking for errors in the system files by running the SFC command
  • Performing a clean boot
  • Scanning the computer
  • Checking the USB devices and connections
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All these along with a few other solutions to fix the Device Manager keeps refreshing issue are described hereunder.

Method 1: Check the USB Devices and Connections

There may be issues with the USB devices connected to your system that may cause the error of Device Manager refreshing. Checking them is a simple solution and therefore should be tried out first in order to resolve the issue.

  • Unplug every USB device that is connected to your computer.
  • Plug them in again.
  • Then, check each of them one by one to find out which device in particular is causing the problem.
  • Remove it.

You may also plug in the devices in different ports to find out a faulty USB connector that might cause this issue. Abstain from using this port.

Method 2: Perform a Clean Boot

The ‘Device Manager keeps refreshing’ problem may also be resolved by performing a clean boot, especially if you see that removing the antivirus program from your PC has not been able to fix the problem.

The steps to follow for this process are:

  • Pressing the Windows and R keys on the keyboard at the same time. This will open the Run dialog box.
  • Typing msconfig in the box.
  • Clicking on the OK button.

msconfig

  • Going to the Services tab in the System Configuration window that opens.
  • Clicking on the small box next to Hide all Microsoft services.
  • Clicking on the Disable All button on the right.
  • Clicking on the Apply button and then clicking on the OK button to save the changes.

System Configuration window

Finally, restart your computer. When the system turns on, re-enable each service one by one.

This will help pinpoint the specific service that is causing the issue. You can then disable the problematic service from the services tab.

You may also do the same for the Startup applications.

Mind you, this entire process is quite long and will take some time since you will have to reboot your system every time. So, do not rush things.

Method 3: Deactivate Specific Error Reporting Services

Another useful way to resolve the continuous refreshing issue of the Device Manager is to disable all error reporting services.

  • Go to the Run dialog box once again.
  • This time, type services.msc in the box.
  • Click OK.

services.msc

  • In the Services (Local) window that opens, look for the specific services under the Name column, such as Problem Reports Control Panel Support.
  • Right-click on it.
  • Click on Stop if you find that the service is marked as Running under the Status column.
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Services (Local)

Repeat the same steps for Windows Error Reporting Services and the Simple Service Discovery Protocol, or the SSDP Discovery service, in the same way.

However, there is an alternative way to do it if you want to disable them permanently.

  • Double-click on each of them.
  • In the new window, click on the small arrow on the box next to Startup type.
  • Choose the Disabled option from the drop-down menu.
  • Then click on the Apply button, and then click on the OK button.

Startup type

Finally, restart your computer and check whether or not the issue has been resolved. In most cases, it will.

Method 4: Scan Your Computer

More often than not, the Device Manager may keep on refreshing due to the antivirus installed or the remnants of any improperly removed software on the computer system. A simple fix to the issue is to scan the computer.

  • Open Settings by pressing the Windows and I keys on your keyboard together.
  • Choose Update & Security.

Choose Update & Security

  • Go to the Windows Defender tab.
  • Select Open Windows Defender Security Center.
  • Click on the Virus & threat protection option.
  • Click on Quick Scan in the window that pops up.

Windows Defender Security Center

Finally, reboot your PC and see whether or not the issue has been resolved.

Method 5: Run System File Checker Scan

Running a System File Checker, or SFC, scan will help in detecting and repairing the corrupt files that also may cause the Device Manager to keep refreshing, and eventually resolve the issue.

The steps that you need to follow for this are:

  • Go to the Run box.
  • Type cmd to open the Command Prompt.
  • Press the CTRL + SHIFT + ENTER keys together on the keyboard instead of hitting Enter or clicking on the OK button to run it as an administrator.

cmd

  • Click on Yes in the User Account Control window for confirmation.
  • In the Command Prompt window, type sfc /scannow.
  • Press Enter.

sfc /scannow

Wait for some time. When the scanning process is complete, any errors in the system files will be repaired, but make sure that you do not close the window until the verification process is 100% complete.

You will see the information about the errors that were found and successfully repaired, as shown above.

It is better to run the Deployment Image Servicing and Management, or DISM, command DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth as well after running the SFC command to find out whether or not there are some other issues in the system.

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

Now, if you find errors in the system after running the DISM command, you may fix the problem with a further command – DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth before you exit the Command Prompt.

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DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Now, finally, type exit in the prompt to close the window.

This will restore the health of your PC at the same time. In the end, restart your computer and see whether the issue is fixed.

Method 6: Remove Problematic Apps

A few apps, especially the third-party apps installed on your computer, may cause the Device Manager to refresh continuously. If you know about these problematic apps, removing them will therefore be an effective solution.

  • Go to Settings as you did in Method 4.
  • This time, select Apps from the window.

Remove Problematic Apps

  • Click on Apps & features from the left panel.
  • Double-click on the specific app that you think is problematic.
  • Click on the Uninstall button.

Apps & features

Repeat the process for every app that you think is creating the problem and that you want to have removed.

Method 7: Update Drivers or Disable the Built-in Device

Any faulty or outdated driver may result in such an issue. Therefore, make sure that the drivers are updated.

  • Go to the Run and hit Enter after typing devmgmt.msc in it to Open Device Manager.
  • Right-click on the specific device that keeps on appearing and disappearing.
  • Click on Update driver.

Update driver

  • In the new window, click on Search automatically for drivers.

Search automatically for drivers

Windows will search for the appropriate driver and update it to resolve the issue.

If the issue is still not resolved, there may be some built-in devices causing the issue. These devices are pretty hard to remove and therefore should be disabled.

Simply follow the above steps to go to the Device Manager and right-click on the problematic device to get the options in the drop-down menu.

Now, click on the Disable device option from the menu, which is marked with a red arrow in the image of the Device Manager window above.

However, in this case, in the confirmation window, you must click on the Yes button when it appears.

confirmation window

This will disable the built-in device that cannot be removed.

Conclusion

So, now that you are reading this line of the article, you know that Device Manager keeping on refreshing is not a very serious issue.

There are quite a few ways, as mentioned in this post, that will easily fix the issue.

So, if you ever face this problem at any time in the future, you can use one or more of these steps.

About Taylor

AvatarTaylor S. Irwin is a freelance technology writer with in-depth knowledge about computers. She has an understanding of hardware and technology gained through over 10 years of experience.

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