Refresh Command Windows Jun 2026

If you installed new software or changed system variables, CMD/PowerShell won't see the changes until you refresh them.

start cmd

Unlike Linux ( source ~/.bashrc ), Windows does not have a single command to reload system environment variables . However, here are the best methods for each scenario. refresh command windows

If you have Chocolatey installed, you can simply type RefreshEnv to update your current shell's variables instantly. If you installed new software or changed system

Your taskbar and desktop icons will disappear for a second and then reappear. It’s the fastest way to unfreeze the UI without rebooting. 3. Refreshing System Policies If you have Chocolatey installed, you can simply

| Command | Works in | Effect | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | cls | CMD & PowerShell | Clears the screen. | | clear | PowerShell only | Clears the screen. | | Ctrl + L | PowerShell (PSReadLine) | Clears screen like Linux. |