Tab Automation is controlled from Chrome's side panel. Pick an open tab, arrange the steps that should run, configure Repeat, and click **Start**.

For details about any control, use the [steps reference](/steps). It covers every Add Step item, plus Values, Repeat, and Activity.

## Create an automation

Click **New Automation** in the dock. The **Add New Automation** sheet lists open, reloadable tabs across Chrome windows. The tab you pick becomes **Go To Web Page**.

Every automation is one graph. A simple timer uses [Refresh Page](/steps/refresh-page) and [Repeat](/steps/repeat). A link walk uses [For Each Link on Page](/steps/for-each-link) with steps inside Each Link.

**Add Step** inserts the actions that run on that page, in this menu order:

- [For Each Link on Page](/steps/for-each-link) — collect matching http(s) URLs and run the inner steps on each
- [Click Element](/steps/click-element) — click a picked button, link, checkbox, or tab
- [Refresh Page](/steps/refresh-page) — reload whichever page this tab is on
- [Scroll Page](/steps/scroll-page) — move to the top, the bottom, by a distance, or to a picked element
- [Go To Web Page](/steps/go-to-web-page) — open a saved http(s) URL in the same tab
- [Type Text](/steps/type-text) — fill a picked input
- [Wait / Delay](/steps/wait-delay) — pause for a duration or wait Until a page condition is true
- [If / Else](/steps/if-else) — compare a value, then run Then or Else
- [Save value](/steps/save-value) — read an element into a [Values](/steps/values) name
- [Take a Screenshot](/steps/take-a-screenshot) — download a PNG of the visible page
- [Send Alert](/steps/send-alert) — Slack, Discord, ntfy, or any HTTPS endpoint, plus desktop notification and sound when this step runs. Each Send Alert picks its own destinations. **Test** on an output fires only that output.

[Values](/steps/values) is the sheet section above Steps, not an Add Step item. [Repeat](/steps/repeat) is the End bookend; **Each cycle** and **When it stops** have the same Test pills. [Activity](/steps/activity) is the run log on each automation card.

Click **Save** to keep an automation without starting it, or **Start** to begin the graph.

## Read and control a run

Each automation row shows its current phase and the controls available for that state. Use **Pause**, **Resume**, or **Restart** for one automation. The bulk controls are **Pause All**, **Resume All**, and **Remove All**.

Open [Activity](/steps/activity) to inspect the current or earlier run: collection, target, step, cycle, and watch outcomes are recorded there. If an assigned tab closes, **Restore** can reopen its saved URL.

The masthead gear opens **Settings**. Its Screenshot folder field controls the Downloads subfolder used by [Take a Screenshot](/steps/take-a-screenshot). Webhook destinations (Slack, Discord, ntfy, or any HTTPS URL) are also created there.

## Choose a workflow guide

- [Auto refresh one Chrome tab](/blog/auto-refresh-a-tab-in-chrome)
- [Auto refresh multiple tabs](/blog/auto-refresh-multiple-tabs-chrome)
- [Keep a dashboard current](/blog/auto-refresh-dashboard-chrome)
- [Reload a background tab](/blog/auto-refresh-background-tab-chrome)
- [Walk through matching links](/blog/walk-through-links-in-chrome)
- [Choose auto refresh or page monitoring](/blog/auto-refresh-vs-page-monitor)
- [Fix Chrome notification alerts](/blog/chrome-notifications-not-working)

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