To guarantee better performance, browser tabs that are unused and stored in the background are frozen because they use system resources.
The issue is that the tabs will automatically reload when you return to those unused tabs, using up time and internet traffic. You might want your unused browser tabs to never shut off if your computer has enough RAM.
Therefore, use these easy fixes if you don’t want the Chrome browser to refresh the tabs when you switch between them.
Verify if Chrome is automatically refreshing a particular tab.
Assessing the extent of the issue should be your initial course of action. You must verify whether Chrome affects all of your open tabs or just the one you are now using.
The likelihood is that the issue is not with you if a particular tab is updating automatically. In order to deliver fresh content, webmasters frequently utilize plugins to refresh the websites frequently.
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So, basically, you need to examine whether Chrome automatically refreshes only one specific app or all are affected. Use the next steps if all tabs are impacted.
2. Check whether the Refresh key is pressed
The Refresh key (F5) is stuck, the webpages will refresh automatically. You can try pressing the F5 key on your keyboard to ensure it’s not stuck.
If the key is stuck, you can try cleaning it. If it isn’t stuck, check whether you have a faulty keyboard.
3. Check & Remove the Problematic Extensions
Extensions are often the prime reason for browser tabs refreshing automatically problem. Auto-refresh, Ad-blocker, and security extensions can sometimes kill the unused tabs, forcing auto-refresh when you switch back to them.
So, click on the three dots at the top-right corner and navigate to Extensions > Manage Extensions.
On the Extensions page, turn off each extension one by one. If the auto-refresh problem is resolved after turning off a specific extension, that extension is causing the problem. You need to remove it.
4. Turn Off Chrome’s Memory Saver
Google Chrome has a Memory Saver feature that freezes inactive tabs to free up system resources. This feature is often the reason Chrome automatically refreshes tabs upon switching. Here’s how you can turn it off.
1. Click the three dots at the top right corner.
2. On the Chrome menu, select Settings.
3. On the Chrome Settings, switch to the Performance tab.
4. On the right side, turn off the toggle beside Memory Saver.
5. Turn Off Auto-Discard for Inactive tabs
If you don’t want to turn off the Memory Saver feature of Google Chrome, you can turn off auto-discarding from Chrome’s discard page. Here’s what you need to do.
1. Open the Google Chrome browser and visit this page: chrome://discards/
2. Now, you will be able to see all tabs. Find the Auto Discardable tab; this is the one that auto refresh.
3. If there’s a checkmark next to the page you don’t want Chrome to refresh, click the Toggle.
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6. Use Chrome’s Task Manager to Free up System Resources
A lack of system resources like RAM can cause Chrome to behave abnormally. It’s possible that Chrome is auto-refreshing the page due to insufficient RAM.
Using Chrome’s Task Manager can free up system resources. To access it, click on the three dots at the top-right corner and then navigate to More Tools > Task Manager.
When the Chrome Task Manager opens, check the Memory Footprint column. You will see which tabs use the most RAM; identify them and close them.
7. Update the Chrome Browser
An outdated version of the Chrome browser can have bugs & glitches that can trigger auto-refresh on web pages.
The best way to rule out such possibilities is by updating the Chrome browser to the latest version.
To update your Chrome browser, click on the three dots at the top right corner and then navigate to Help > About Google Chrome.
Chrome browser will automatically check for the available updates and download & install the required files.
8. Reset Chrome Settings
If you have come this far, it’s likely that the above solutions have not resolved the problem you are facing.
So, if nothing worked for you, you can try resetting the Chrome settings to factory defaults. Resetting will remove all user-made settings and customizations but also resolve persistent issues.
To reset the Google Chrome browser, follow these steps.
1. In the upper right corner, click the three dots.
2. Choose Settings from the Chrome menu.
3. Navigate to the Reset Settings area in Chrome Settings.
4. Select Restore Settings to their original defaults from the menu on the right.
5. Select Reset Settings from the Reset Settings confirmation screen.
Here are a few easy fixes for Chrome’s automatic tab refresh issue. Please let us know in the comments if you require any additional assistance on this subject. Additionally, share the guide with others who are experiencing the same issue if it helps you solve it.