Tab Auto-Refresh

Tab Auto-Refresh is a browser extension that automatically refreshes tabs matching configurable URL patterns.

Refresh rules are based on wildcard URL matching, support configurable refresh intervals and expiration times, and can be exported/imported using JSON.

Features

• Auto-refresh browser tabs matching URL patterns
• Wildcard URL matching (*)
• Configurable refresh intervals (minutes)
• Configurable expiry durations (hours)
• Pause/resume individual rules
• Global Pause / Resume All
• Edit or delete existing rules
• Add or remove time in 1-hour increments
• Export configuration to JSON
• Import previously exported configurations
• Dark mode support

How URL Matching Works

Rules use wildcard matching.

Examples:

*github.com/*

Matches any GitHub page.

*github.com/*/issues*

Matches GitHub issue pages.

When entering a pattern in the UI, the extension automatically adds leading and trailing wildcards when appropriate to simplify matching.

Any open tab matching the configured pattern will be refreshed at the configured interval while the rule remains active.

Firefox Installation (.xpi)

A prebuilt Firefox package is included:

mv3/tab-auto-refresh-1.0.0.xpi

To install:

1. Open Firefox
2. Navigate to:

about:addons

3. Click the gear icon (⚙)
4. Choose Install Add-on From File...
5. Select:

tab-auto-refresh-1.0.0.xpi

Firefox may prompt you to confirm the installation.

Developer / Unpacked Installation

The project includes browser-specific manifests.

Manifest files are stored in:

mv3/manifests/

Available manifests:

• manifest.firefox.json
• manifest.chrome.json

Before loading the extension:

1. Copy the appropriate manifest to the mv3/ folder
2. Rename it to:

manifest.json

Firefox (Developer Load)

1. Open:

about:debugging#/runtime/this-firefox

2. Click Load Temporary Add-on
3. Select:

mv3/manifest.json

Note: Temporary add-ons are removed when Firefox closes.

Chrome / Chromium (Developer Load)

1. Open:

chrome://extensions

2. Enable Developer Mode
3. Click Load unpacked
4. Select:

mv3/

Configuration Import / Export

Settings can be exported to a JSON file and later re-imported.

Export:

• Open the extension popup
• Click Export
• Save the generated JSON file

Import:

• Click Import
• Select a previously exported JSON file
• Settings are restored and refresh scheduling resumes automatically

Project Structure

mv3/
├── tab-auto-refresh-1.0.0.xpi
├── manifest.json
├── manifests/
│   ├── manifest.chrome.json
│   └── manifest.firefox.json
└── src/
    ├── background.js
    ├── popup.html
    ├── popup.js
    ├── import.html
    ├── import.js
    ├── styles.css
    ├── icon.png
    └── icon-128.png

Browser Compatibility

This project uses Manifest Version 3 (MV3).

Separate manifests are provided to support browser-specific MV3 implementation differences between Firefox and Chromium-based browsers.

License

See the repository license file for licensing information.

Have fun!