# Tab Auto Refresh

> Automatically refresh tabs based on custom time intervals

Canonical page: [https://chrome-stats.com/d/tab-auto-refresh](https://chrome-stats.com/d/tab-auto-refresh)

## Overview

- **ID:** `tab-auto-refresh`
- **Platform:** Firefox
- **Type:** Firefox add-on
- **Status:** Available
- **Publisher:** Alex
- **Category:** appearance,alerts-updates,other,tabs
- **Daily users:** 36,578
- **Weekly downloads:** 683
- **Rating:** 3.75 / 5 (261 ratings)
- **Version:** 0.2.3
- **Last updated:** 2026-05-06
- **First published:** 2017-02-28
- **Size:** 55 KB
- **Data as of:** 2026-09-06
- **Store listing:** [Firefox Add-ons Store](https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/tab-auto-refresh/)
- **Website:** [https://mybrowseraddon.com/tab-auto-refresh.html](https://mybrowseraddon.com/tab-auto-refresh.html)

## Description

**Tab Auto Refresh** is a powerful Chrome extension that lets you automatically reload your browser tabs at custom time intervals specified in seconds. Simply open the toolbar popup UI while visiting a website, set your desired refresh time (e.g., 120 seconds), and the selected tab will reload continuously based on your settings.

This extension reloads tabs based on their URL, ensuring precise control over which pages refresh. You can easily stop the auto-refresh by clicking the stop button or setting the interval to zero. Additionally, a global reset button lets you quickly clear all ongoing reload tasks without visiting each tab individually. Tab Auto Refresh is ideal for users who need up-to-date content without manual refreshing, such as monitoring live news, stock prices, or social media feeds.

For support, bug reporting, and more information, visit the extension's homepage or check out the YouTube review to see it in action.

## Rankings

- #381 — Overall
- #11 — Alerts & Updates
- #27 — Tabs
- #51 — Other extensions
- #64 — Appearance
- #2 — auto refresh

## Permissions and access

### Permissions

- `tabs`
- `alarms`
- `storage`
- `notifications`

## Safety

- **Risk impact:** Moderate risk impact
- **Risk likelihood:** Moderate risk likelihood

### Analysis details

- Grants access to browser tabs, which can be used to track user browsing habits and history, presenting a privacy concern.
- This extension has medium user count. Unpopular extensions may not be stable or safe.

> Some risk analysis details are omitted from this free response. [Upgrade to view the full analysis](https://chrome-stats.com/pricing).

## Review summary

Users generally praise Tab Auto Refresh for reliable, straightforward functionality that refreshes tabs as configured per URL and persists after browser restarts. The add-on is valued for its simple, unobtrusive design and lack of unnecessary permissions. However, recurring concerns center on a visible countdown/counter that some find distracting and the need for better handling of active-tab refresh (preferably background refreshing or ignoring the active tab).

### Pros

- Reliable and does exactly what it promises across multiple reviews.
- Simple and unobtrusive design with no bloated features or permissions.
- Flexible interval settings per URL / fewer restrictions than similar addons.
- Works across tab focus and restarts (set-and-forget).

### Cons

- Countdown/counter is distracting or should be optional.
- Active-tab refreshing behavior is problematic; needs ability to ignore the active tab or run in background.

## Similar extensions and apps

- [Tab Auto Refresh Pro](https://chrome-stats.com/d/tab-auto-refresh-pro) — 2 users
- [Tab Auto Refresh](https://chrome-stats.com/d/tabauto-refresh) — 3 users
- [Auto Refresh Tab](https://chrome-stats.com/d/automatic-refresh-tab) — 22 users
- [Custom Auto Refresh](https://chrome-stats.com/d/custom-auto-refresh) — 48 users, 5.00 / 5
- [AutoReload](https://chrome-stats.com/d/auto-reload) — 358 users
- [Tab Reloader (page auto refresh)](https://chrome-stats.com/d/tab-reloader) — 79,188 users, 4.07 / 5
- [Tab auto reloader Pro](https://chrome-stats.com/d/tab-auto-reloader-pro) — 82 users, 4.33 / 5
- [Auto refresh page](https://chrome-stats.com/d/auto-refresh-url) — 7,844 users, 4.21 / 5
- [Tab Refresher-by Hussain](https://chrome-stats.com/d/tab-refresher-by-hussain) — 252 users, 5.00 / 5
- [AutoReload v2](https://chrome-stats.com/d/autoreload-v2) — 10 users
- [Automatic Website Reloader and Refresher](https://chrome-stats.com/d/website-reloader-and-refresher) — 51 users, 1.00 / 5
- [Refresh My Tabs](https://chrome-stats.com/d/refresh-my-tabs) — 1 users

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Source: [Chrome-Stats](https://chrome-stats.com/d/tab-auto-refresh)