Session Alive
Session Alive is designed to keep website sessions active and reduce timeout messages.
About Session Alive
Session Alive is a browser extension that keeps a website session active and reduces session timeout messages. It works through rules. Each rule has a name, a trigger URL, and a request interval. When the user visits a matching trigger URL, the extension requests a page at the set interval. A background rule sends requests with AJAX, so the page does not need to reload. A foreground rule auto-reloads the current page instead.
The extension has a main view that lists running rules with their last run time and total run count. Users can cancel a running rule, disable it, or delete it. The source describes the tool as aimed at development and testing, where session timeouts can be an obstacle. It is open source and is listed for installation from the Firefox add-ons site and the Chrome Web Store. The source does not state any pricing details.
Key features
- Background rules that request a page at a set interval without reloading the page
- Trigger URLs with asterisk wildcard matching, such as example.com/*
- Request intervals set in whole minutes, with a minimum of 1 minute
- Option to stop the request loop when the server response is not 200 OK
- Option to send HEAD requests that fetch only page header information
- Foreground auto-reload rules for sites with browser-side JavaScript idle timers
Best for: Developers and testers who work on websites with session timeouts and want to keep a session active without manual page reloads.
Good for
- Open source, with the code available in a public repository
- Background rules keep a session active without reloading the page
- HEAD request option fetches headers only, avoiding page JavaScript execution
Watch out for
- Minimum request interval is 1 minute, and only whole numbers are accepted
- Background rules are not enough for sites that use a JavaScript idle timer in the browser
- Background requests run JavaScript on the page unless the HEAD option is selected
Session Alive at a glance
- Category
- Software & Utilities › Browser Extensions
- Type
- Open-source project
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Open source
- Yes · Source code
- Language
- English
- Last checked
- Oct 6, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
Guides for Browser Extensions
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Session Alive FAQ
What should I use if a website runs a JavaScript idle timer in the browser?
The source says the background request rule is not enough in this case. It recommends using the foreground auto-reload options instead.
Does a background request run the page's JavaScript?
Yes. The source says JavaScript in the page is executed during a background request, which may interfere with the page. Selecting the HEAD request option fetches only the header information and avoids this.
How do I stop a running rule?
Use the Cancel button in the main view. The source says the rule will start again if the user navigates to the trigger URL, so the rule should be disabled or deleted to prevent this.
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