Auto refresh a ticket page in Chrome
A page that said “coming soon” a second ago can flip to “buy now” with no warning. Let the extension reload it on a timer so you don't have to mash F5, and use a monitor for the stretches when you can't be at your screen.
Set it up for a ticket 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. For an on-sale countdown, 5 to 15 seconds is plenty. For hunting returns and resale drops, 30 to 60 seconds is kinder to the site and just as useful.
- 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.
Be careful with queues and waiting rooms
Many ticket sites put buyers into a virtual waiting room. Those pages usually tell you not to refresh, because reloading can cost you your place. Once you are in a queue, press Stop or Pause and follow the site's instructions.
Also avoid very short intervals for long stretches. Sites can slow down or temporarily block a connection that reloads too aggressively. Auto Refresh only reloads the page. It does not buy tickets, skip queues or get past a bot check, and a faster timer does not get you better seats.
Can't sit at the screen? Let a monitor watch
A page monitor runs on our servers, so it keeps checking with your browser closed. Open the event page, describe what you're waiting for, and get an alert when it happens.
- “Tell me when tickets for this show go on sale.”
- “Alert me when a Buy button appears on this page.”
- “Let me know if more dates are added.”
Monitors check as often as every 5 minutes, so they are best for early notice: an on-sale announcement, new dates or returned tickets. For the exact second of a big on-sale, watch the page yourself with auto refresh. Alerts always go to email, and you can add WhatsApp or Telegram.
Questions
What refresh interval should I use for ticket sales?
Use 5 to 15 seconds in the minutes around an on-sale and 30 to 60 seconds the rest of the time. Anything faster mostly adds load without showing you the page any sooner.
Will refreshing faster get me better tickets?
No. Auto refresh just reloads the page for you. Many sites use queues or random draws, so a faster timer doesn't improve your place or your seats.
Should I keep auto refresh running in a waiting room?
No. If the site tells you not to refresh, stop the timer. Reloading a queue page can lose your place.
Does the tab have to stay open?
Yes, auto refresh runs in your browser, so the tab needs to stay open. A page monitor is the option that works with your browser closed.