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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →To refresh the page currently open in a Selenium-controlled browser, call driver.Navigate().Refresh(); on an initialized IWebDriver. Then wait for or check the page state your test actually needs; issuing the refresh does not by itself prove that asynchronous content is ready.
Refresh the current page
Selenium’s C# browser-navigation example uses Navigate().Refresh() to reload the current page. Selenium’s navigation documentation also demonstrates checking the page title afterward.
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using OpenQA.Selenium;
// Assume driver is an initialized IWebDriver.
driver.Navigate().Refresh();
// Check a result appropriate to your page and test.
var title = driver.Title;IWebDriver.Navigate() provides access to browser navigation, including navigation to URLs and browser history. The refresh call acts on the current page; it does not require supplying the URL again. See the IWebDriver .NET API reference.
Wait for the result your test needs
A refresh initiates a reload, but modern pages may update asynchronously. Before the next test action, wait for a meaningful condition—such as expected text appearing or an element reaching the required state—instead of assuming a fixed delay will reliably indicate readiness. The official example reads the title after refreshing; choose an assertion that matches your application.
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Also, do not assume that a reload must change dynamic content or bypass the browser or server cache. The sources do not establish either as a universal guarantee. Assert the observable behavior your test is intended to verify.
Async refresh is wrapper-specific
Selenium’s EventFiringWebDriver support source defines both Refresh() and RefreshAsync(). That async member is associated with this wrapper; check the API of the concrete driver or wrapper in your project before using it. The standard documented call for this task is driver.Navigate().Refresh();. See the Selenium support source.
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Troubleshooting
- The page did not refresh: Confirm that
driveris initialized and controls the browser window and page you intend to reload, then calldriver.Navigate().Refresh();. - The next assertion runs too early: Wait for the expected element, text, or state rather than treating the refresh call as a signal that all application work has finished.
- The content looks unchanged: Unchanged content does not prove the refresh failed. The page may return the same result; test the specific observable outcome required by your scenario.
RefreshAsync()is unavailable: It is not established as a method on every WebDriver type. Use the documented navigation call, or consult the API for the particular wrapper you use.
Or skip the browser setup
If your goal is to capture a page image or PDF rather than test browser behavior, ScreenshotNeo provides a screenshot API and MCP server. A single GET request can return a PNG, JPEG, WebP, or PDF. Cookie banners, newsletter popups, and chat widgets are removed before capture; bot checks, blank pages, and failed loads are not billed. Its MCP server lets AI agents take screenshots, and 1,000 screenshots a month are free with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000.
For example, use cURL to save a WebP screenshot:
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpSee the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for setup and response details. Sign up for 1,000 free screenshots a month, with no card required.
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