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Auto refresh an appointment page and catch a free slot
Visa, passport, driving test and clinic slots tend to appear without notice and disappear fast. The patient way to catch one is to keep the availability page fresh, or have something watch it for you.
Set it up for an availability page
- Install the extension. Add Auto Refresh & Page Monitor to Chrome. Auto refresh is free and needs no account.
- Open the page and pick an interval. Click the extension icon, then choose a preset (5s, 15s, 30s, 1m, 5m or 10m) or set your own hours, minutes and seconds. Booking portals are usually slow and rate limited, so 1 to 5 minutes is a sensible range. Go lower only if you know slots release at a set time.
- Press Start. The ring counts down to the next reload. Pause any time, and switch on Hard refresh to skip the browser cache on every reload.
Refresh the calendar, not the booking form
Only auto refresh the page that shows availability. If you are part-way through a booking form, a reload can wipe what you entered or end your session. Many portals also time out idle sessions, so check that the page still works after a reload before you walk away.
We don't book for you and we don't get around captchas or the portal's rules. The extension keeps the page fresh so that you can act the moment a slot appears. Check the portal's terms if you're unsure what automated reloading it allows.
Let a monitor watch while you get on with your day
If the availability page is public, a monitor can check it for you for up to 30 days and alert you the moment something opens.
- “Alert me when a new appointment slot opens.”
- “Tell me when any date before December becomes available.”
- “Let me know when this page stops saying there are no appointments.”
Monitors cannot sign in, so they only work when the availability page can be seen without logging in. If your portal needs a login first, use auto refresh in your own browser instead. Alerts always go to email, and you can add WhatsApp or Telegram.
Questions
How often should I refresh an appointment page?
Every 1 to 5 minutes is a good range for most booking portals. Very short intervals can get you rate limited or logged out.
Can a monitor watch a page that needs me to log in?
No. Monitors can only check pages that load without signing in. For a login-protected portal, use auto refresh in your own browser.
Will it book the appointment for me?
No. It tells you or keeps the page fresh. You still choose and confirm the slot yourself.
What if the page has a captcha?
Auto refresh works in your own browser, so you handle any captcha yourself. A server-side monitor can't solve one, and if it can't reach a page it will tell you.