Live Auto Refresh (Hot Reload / Live Reload for WordPress Developers)

by perron

Description

THIS PLUGIN IS FOR USE DURING THE DEVELOPMENT OF WORDPRESS THEMES

Live Auto Refresh helps developers instantly see changes made to theme code or content by automatically reloading the browser. No manual refresh is needed.

This greatly enhances the productivity and accuracy of web development. It allows the developer to test and debug the website in real time and to instantly view how the content appears on the front end of all loaded logged in browsers and devices. With this feature, the developer can always ensure that the website matches the intended design and functionality.

This plugin is only active for logged-in administrators and does not affect regular site visitors.

🆕 MAJOR v3 UPDATES ~ New in this version:
– Usability: A settings page is available under Settings Live Auto Refresh
– Settings: option to monitor all file types, or default (php, css, js).
– BETA: Settings for monitoring selected plugin(s) for changes during development.
– BETA: Support for monitoring of non standard folder paths.
eg. /app/ not /wp-content/ in Roots Bedrock.
– BETA: Support for popular page builders monitoring of content saves.
– Extensibility: Developers can add support for additional builders via the perron_auto_refresh_custom_hooks filter
– Performance: File change detection uses faster file modification times.
– Security: All AJAX requests are protected by nonces, and all user input is properly sanitized.

Installation

Install to your site from the WordPress Plugin Directory
Activate the plugin through the Plugins menu in WordPress
Use the new settings page (Settings Live Auto Refresh) to enable or disable auto refresh as needed.

Screenshots

Admin Bar toggle to enable or disable the monitoring.
Console notifications of active monitoring, file change detection, style detection.
Disables monitoring after a defined timeout only if no changes have been detected.

Faq

What files does this monitor for code changes?

By default, only .php, .js, and .css files within the active theme and child theme are monitored for changes. This improves performance and avoids unnecessary checks on other files.

Do style changes reload the page?

Changes to CSS files will hot reload to display the updates styling without reloading the HTML DOM.

What content saves trigger a refresh?

Editor saves to the wordpress page or post content.

How are PHP errors handled?

If WP_DEBUG is enabled then any non critical error messages will display.
Critical errors will prevent the plugin running, so a manual reload will be required once the code error is fixed to restart monitoring.

Supports popular page builders content save monitoring

Auto refresh triggers on content save in these builders:
– WP Block Editor (Gutenberg)
– Elementor
– Beaver Builder
– Bricks Builder
– WPBakery
– Divi
– Visual Composer

How do I use the new settings page?

Go to Settings Live Auto Refresh in your WordPress admin dashboard. You can enable or disable auto refresh here, or use the admin bar toggle for quick access. The settings page also allows you to monitor all file types, or default (php, css, js). You can also select which plugins to monitor for changes during development. Interval and timeout options are also available.

Advanced extensibility:

Developers can add support for additional builder save hooks using the perron_auto_refresh_custom_hooks filter. Example:

add_filter('perron_auto_refresh_custom_hooks', function($hooks) {
    $hooks[] = 'my_custom_builder_save_hook';
    return $hooks;
});

Do you accept donations?

This plugin saves developers valuable time, so any donations are greatly appreciated!
DONATE

Reviews

Fantastic

By aderahmadw on July 7, 2025

Fantastic Works. Easy use

Awesome

By o2xav on June 17, 2025

I was starting to get huge issues with livereload VScode plugin with recent browsers, this module saved the day, works as intended and very fast on local development env.

On very few occasions, you need to refresh manually, but I suspect it has to do with the browser putting the tab to sleep.

Is great. Works fine.

By thegje on October 13, 2024

Just installed. Works fine. Pretty impressive tbh.

Works erratically with Bricks Builder

By ltpa on March 19, 2024

Good idea but not stable. Sometimes it refreshes the page, sometimes not. Usually not.

I tried it with Bricks Builder. I edit in Chrome. On my second screen I use an incognito window (logged out), also in Chrome.

Works fine !!

By notclo on February 19, 2024

Thanks for this solution 🙂

Does exactly as promised. Makes Page Building So Much Better

By ryanjhunter on January 23, 2024

Simple. It refreshes when something changes or when you update a page.

Makes page building SO NICE.

Similar to hot-reload in development.

Thanks for making this!

Changelog

3.2.1

inline toolbar button styling bugfix

3.2

improved style change hot reloading

3.1

improved style change hot reloading

3.0

Settings option to monitor all file types, or default (php, css, js).
BETA support for monitoring selected plugin during development.
BETA support for monitoring non standard folder paths.
eg. /app/ not /wp-content/ in Roots Bedrock.
BETA: for popular page builders monitoring of content saves
Extensibility: Developers can add support for additional builders via the perron_auto_refresh_custom_hooks filter

2.2

Title change to Live Auto Refresh (Hot Reload / Live Reload for WordPress Developers)

2.1

Added settings link to the plugin page.
Fixed versioning for js file.

2.0

Added settings page for enabling/disabling the plugin and to change the refresh interval.
Added settings option to alter the monitoring timeout.
Updated WP tested version to 6.8.1

1.1

Updated WP tested version to 6.7.1

1.0

Initial version