Auto Refresh Turbo FAQ
Auto Refresh Turbo stores refresh settings on your device. Optional coarse telemetry (Umami events and GlitchTip error reports) is described in the Privacy Policy.
General
What does it do?
It reloads Chrome tabs on a timer you configure — interval, optional daily window, optional random delay, and a few safety switches (stop on interaction, hard refresh, and similar).
Does core refresh work offline?
Yes for the timer itself. Core tab refresh can run offline; you only need the network for the sites you reload. The extension does not call Auto Refresh Turbo servers to fire a basic reload.
Where do I install it?
Chrome Web Store listing (URL updates when the listing goes live).
Permissions and privacy
Why these permissions?
- storage — settings and sessions on your device
- alarms — reload on time when the popup is closed
- tabs — reload tabs, session list, toolbar badge
- scripting — optional on-page features when enabled
- activeTab — temporary access tied to how you use the extension
- Host access — for optional on-page tools on sites you refresh
Full text: Privacy Policy.
Do you sell browsing data?
No. Settings stay local. We do not sell your data to advertisers or brokers.
Does page content leave my browser?
Optional on-page features process page content locally. The extension does not upload page HTML or screenshots to Auto Refresh Turbo servers for those features.
What analytics does the extension use?
Optional self-hosted Umami for coarse UI events and GlitchTip for anonymized error reports. Details and limits are in the Privacy Policy.
Using the timer
Does refresh continue when the popup is closed?
Yes. Timing uses Chrome alarms in the background.
Why did it pause by itself?
If a daily schedule is on and the clock is outside the window, the session pauses. Your settings remain. That is different from Stop, which ends the session until you Start again.
What is hard refresh?
Reload with cache bypass. It does not clear cookies. If a site sends you to login after hard refresh, switch back to normal reload.
Will typing stop the timer?
If stop on click/type is enabled (default on), interaction can stop the session so a reload does not interrupt editing. Turn it off if you want reloads while you work in the tab.
What is suspicious-page stop?
A simple heuristic — not a dedicated captcha product. When enabled, it may stop refresh if the page looks like an error or challenge screen, so you are less likely to loop on a blocker.
Can I run several tabs?
Yes. Each tab can have its own session. Add the current tab from the popup list; intervals can differ.
What does the badge show?
Optionally, a short countdown for the active tab. It is not “how many sessions are running.”
Stop after N refreshes?
Use it for a finite loop (for example a short test run). Unlimited means it runs until you Stop or the schedule pauses it.
Language and UI
How do I change language?
Open the popup and use the language picker (searchable two-column list). The choice is stored locally.
Is there a separate Options page?
Not for normal v1 use. Interval, schedule, and flags live in the popup.
Can I use it on Chrome settings pages?
No. Stick to ordinary website tabs.
Manual reload vs the extension
Manual reload is immediate and occasional. The extension is for repeated, visible, hands-free reloads — including multiple tabs and a daily window.
Still stuck?
- Walk through Start in about two minutes
- Read How it works for schedule vs Stop
- Check Privacy Policy if the question is about data
Deeper troubleshooting articles are listed on the content calendar for later months.