Auto Refresh Timer

WHAT IT DOES

Auto Refresh Timer is a browser extension that allows you to set an automatic page refresh timer with a user-defined interval. The tool displays a live countdown to the next refresh, with a progress bar showing how much time remains. You can start, pause, and stop the timer, and the page refreshes automatically when the countdown reaches zero. The tool supports continuous refresh cycles and keeps track of how many times the page has been refreshed. The timer interval can be set from 5 seconds to 1 hour, with quick preset buttons for common intervals. The tool is ideal for monitoring live dashboards, stock prices, sports scores, auction sites, chat rooms, or any page that needs periodic updating.

WHERE IT RUNS

Auto Refresh Timer runs on any webpage, overlaying a floating panel that does not interfere with page content. It operates entirely in your browser as a lightweight userscript, using setInterval for timing and location.reload() for page refresh. It works on any page, whether static or dynamic, with no external dependencies. All timer settings are stored locally using GM_setValue—no data is ever sent to any server.

HOW TO USE

After installation, open the floating panel by clicking the extension icon. The panel displays a large countdown timer showing the time remaining until the next refresh. Set the interval by entering a number in the "Interval (seconds)" field and clicking Set, or click one of the preset buttons (10s, 30s, 1m, 2m, 5m, 10m). Click the Start button to begin the timer—the countdown starts and the progress bar fills as time elapses. Click Pause to temporarily stop the timer, and Stop to reset the timer and stop the refresh cycle. When the countdown reaches zero, the page refreshes automatically and the timer resets to the full interval. The refresh counter tracks how many times the page has been refreshed. The timer state persists across page reloads, so if the page refreshes, the timer continues automatically.

REAL MECHANISM — WHY THIS WORKS

Most page refresh tools require external applications or browser extensions that can only trigger a refresh at a fixed interval. Auto Refresh Timer uses a simple but effective mechanism: setInterval with a 1-second tick that decrements a counter. The interval is stored in seconds, and the counter is initialized to that value when the timer starts. On each tick, the counter decrements, updates the display, and checks if the counter has reached zero. When zero is reached, the tool calls location.reload() to refresh the page. The tool also stores the timer state in GM_setValue, including the remaining time and running status. Before a page refresh, the tool saves the current state, and on page load, it retrieves the state and restores the timer. This ensures that the timer continues even after the page reloads. The progress bar is updated based on the ratio of remaining time to total interval, providing a visual indication of progress. The refresh counter is stored in sessionStorage to survive page reloads. This approach ensures reliable, persistent, and fully private auto-refresh functionality without requiring any external services or network access.

THE PANEL

The floating panel is fully draggable and remembers its position per site, snapping to the edges of the viewport when dragged near them. You can collapse the panel to a small icon to minimize screen distraction and expand it back with a single click. The panel is resizable from the bottom-right corner, giving you more space to view the timer controls. Press the Escape key to close the panel instantly. The panel remains open across page navigation within the same domain, maintaining your current view state. All preferences—panel position, timer interval, and running state—are saved per domain for a seamless experience.

PLEASE NOTE

Auto Refresh Timer requires the free BotGentz extension to be installed and enabled, as it relies on the cross-extension messaging API provided by BotGentz for DOM access permissions. The timer accuracy depends on the browser's JavaScript engine and may be affected by system load or tab throttling. The minimum interval is 5 seconds and the maximum is 3600 seconds (1 hour). The timer persists across page reloads and continues automatically. Use the Stop button to fully stop the timer if you don't want the page to refresh. All timer data is stored locally in your browser using GM_setValue. No interval data, refresh counts, or usage information is ever sent to any server. The extension does not read, store, or transmit any personal information. It only stores and triggers page refreshes locally at your request.