Some pages, like ticket queues, dashboards or live scores, only update when you reload them. Manually refreshing every few seconds is tedious and easy to forget. An auto refresh extension sets a timer per tab, so the page reloads on its own while you do something else.
Setting a custom refresh interval
Most auto refresh extensions let you choose the interval in seconds or minutes, from a quick 5-second reload for time-sensitive pages to a slower interval for pages that update less often. A visible countdown or icon usually shows the timer is active on that tab.
Auto refreshing multiple tabs independently
Extensions built for heavier use let you set a different interval for each tab, so a dashboard can refresh every 30 seconds while a separate page refreshes every 5 minutes. This matters if you monitor several pages at once and don't want them all reloading on the same schedule.
When to avoid auto refreshing a page
Refreshing too often can trigger rate limits, log you out of some sites, or waste data on a metered connection. Use the slowest interval that still meets your need, and turn the extension off once you no longer need the page to update automatically.