Keep a dashboard or admin panel up to date automatically
Plenty of dashboards, queues and admin panels only update when you reload them. Set a timer once and the page stays current while you get on with other work.
Set it up once, and it comes back by itself
- 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. Dashboards usually do well with 30 seconds to 5 minutes, depending on how fresh the numbers need to be.
- 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.
Switch on Auto-start for this page for a dashboard you open every day. The timer starts again on its own when you come back to the same page, so it becomes part of the page rather than a task you remember.
Things to check first
Some dashboards lose unsaved filters or scroll position on a full reload, so try one reload by hand first. If your tool keeps filters in the page address, they'll survive. If it already updates itself, you don't need a timer at all.
Use Hard refresh if you suspect the page is showing a cached version of the data.
For public status pages, get alerted instead
If you depend on a vendor's public status page, you don't need to stare at it. A monitor can tell you when it changes.
- “Tell me when this status page shows an incident.”
- “Alert me when the status changes from operational.”
Monitors can only check pages that load without signing in, so a private admin panel stays with auto refresh. Alerts always go to email, and you can add WhatsApp or Telegram.
Questions
How often should a dashboard refresh?
Every 30 seconds to 5 minutes suits most dashboards. Pick the longest interval where the numbers are still fresh enough for you.
Will it keep working when I come back tomorrow?
Yes, if you switch on auto-start for the page. The timer starts again when you revisit it.
Does the tab have to stay open?
Yes, auto refresh runs in your browser, so the tab needs to be open.
Can a monitor watch my private dashboard?
No. Monitors can't sign in, so they only work on public pages such as status pages.