Auto-Refresh iFrame
Automatically reload any embedded iFrame at a set interval in Elementor and Gutenberg using the Custom iFrame WordPress plugin.
Overview
Custom iFrame Auto-Refresh reloads any embedded iFrame at a set interval you define in seconds. Use it to keep live content current without requiring visitors to reload the page.
Custom iFrame is a WordPress plugin by CoderzStudio that embeds 100+ external sources in Elementor and Gutenberg without writing any code.
Auto-Refresh is a free feature. No Pro plan required.
Requirements
- Custom iFrame plugin installed and active
- WordPress with Elementor or the Gutenberg block editor
When to Use Auto-Refresh
Auto-Refresh is useful whenever the embedded content updates in real time:
- Live scoreboards and sports results
- Financial data or stock tickers
- Live weather widgets
- Real-time dashboards or analytics
- Live event feeds and notice boards
Do not use Auto-Refresh for static content like PDFs, videos, or forms. Reloading those has no benefit and adds unnecessary server load.
How to Enable Auto-Refresh
In Elementor
Open your page in Elementor
Go to the page with the Custom iFrame widget. Click Edit with Elementor.
Select the Custom iFrame widget
Click the widget to open its settings.
Set the Refresh Interval
In the Content tab, find Refresh Interval (seconds). Enter the number of seconds between each reload. For example, enter 30 to reload every 30 seconds.
Publish
Click Update or Publish. The iFrame reloads automatically on the live page.
In Gutenberg
Open your page in the block editor
Go to the page with the Custom iFrame block. Click Edit.
Select the Custom iFrame block
Click the block to open its settings in the right panel.
Set the Refresh Interval
In the block settings panel, find Refresh Interval (Seconds). Enter the number of seconds between each reload.
Publish
Click Update or Publish. The iFrame reloads at the set interval on the live page.
Auto-Refresh is active. The iFrame reloads every set number of seconds on the live page.
Choosing a Refresh Interval
| Content type | Suggested interval |
|---|---|
| Live sports scores | 30–60 seconds |
| Weather widget | 300 seconds (5 minutes) |
| Financial data | 60–120 seconds |
| Live dashboard | 30–120 seconds |
| News feed | 300–600 seconds |
Do not set an interval below 10 seconds. Very short intervals cause excessive reload requests that can slow your page and add unnecessary load on the embedded server.
How to Disable Auto-Refresh
Set the Refresh Interval field to 0 or leave it blank. The iFrame stops reloading and stays static.
FAQ
No. Auto-Refresh reloads only the iFrame, not the whole WordPress page. Visitors see the embed update without any page flash or scroll reset.
Most browsers pause JavaScript timers for background tabs. Auto-Refresh may slow down or pause when the tab is not active. It resumes when the visitor returns to the tab.
Yes. Each Custom iFrame widget or block has its own Refresh Interval setting. Set different values for each embed independently.
Yes. The refresh timer starts after the iFrame loads. If Smart Load (Lazy Load) is enabled, the timer begins once the embed enters the viewport.
Related Guides
Last updated today
Built with Documentation.AI