diff --git a/internal/config/config.go b/internal/config/config.go
index ef2bf01..796644e 100644
--- a/internal/config/config.go
+++ b/internal/config/config.go
@@ -70,6 +70,8 @@ type BehaviorConfig struct {
 	ConfirmOverwrite        bool `toml:"confirm_overwrite"`
 	CalculateDirSizeOnSpace bool `toml:"calculate_dir_size_on_space"`
 	FollowSymlinks          bool `toml:"follow_symlinks"`
+	AutoRefresh             bool `toml:"auto_refresh"`
+	AutoRefreshInterval     int  `toml:"auto_refresh_interval"`
 }
 
 func Default() Config {
@@ -111,6 +113,8 @@ func Default() Config {
 			ConfirmOverwrite:        true,
 			CalculateDirSizeOnSpace: true,
 			FollowSymlinks:          false,
+			AutoRefresh:             true,
+			AutoRefreshInterval:     5,
 		},
 	}
 }
@@ -205,6 +209,14 @@ func (c *Config) Validate() error {
 	if c.UI.CenterWidthPercent < 20 || c.UI.CenterWidthPercent > 60 {
 		return errors.New("ui.center_width_percent must be between 20 and 60")
 	}
+	if c.Behavior.AutoRefresh {
+		if c.Behavior.AutoRefreshInterval < 1 {
+			c.Behavior.AutoRefreshInterval = 5
+		}
+		if c.Behavior.AutoRefreshInterval > 60 {
+			return errors.New("behavior.auto_refresh_interval must be between 1 and 60")
+		}
+	}
 	switch strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(c.Browser.Sort.By)) {
 	case "", "name":
 		c.Browser.Sort.By = "name"
diff --git a/internal/ui/model.go b/internal/ui/model.go
index bd538c0..4a5dbc6 100644
--- a/internal/ui/model.go
+++ b/internal/ui/model.go
@@ -167,6 +167,7 @@ type copyDoneMsg struct {
 
 type dismissNoticeMsg struct{}
 type dismissYankFlashMsg struct{}
+type tickMsg struct{}
 type externalOpenMsg struct {
 	path string
 	err  error
@@ -333,6 +334,9 @@ func NewModel(cfg config.Config, configPath string) (Model, error) {
 }
 
 func (m Model) Init() tea.Cmd {
+	if m.cfg.Behavior.AutoRefresh {
+		return tea.Batch(m.loadPreviewCmd(), autoRefreshTickCmd(m.cfg.Behavior.AutoRefreshInterval))
+	}
 	return m.loadPreviewCmd()
 }
 
@@ -919,6 +923,20 @@ func (m Model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		m.syncPreviewContent()
 		return m, nil
 
+	case tickMsg:
+		if !m.cfg.Behavior.AutoRefresh ||
+			m.busy ||
+			m.copyJob != nil ||
+			m.archiveJob != nil ||
+			m.modal.kind != modalNone ||
+			m.filterMode ||
+			m.cursorMode || m.visualMode ||
+			m.viewMode {
+			return m, autoRefreshTickCmd(m.cfg.Behavior.AutoRefreshInterval)
+		}
+		m.autoRefreshPanes()
+		return m, tea.Batch(autoRefreshTickCmd(m.cfg.Behavior.AutoRefreshInterval), m.loadPreviewCmd())
+
 	case externalOpenMsg:
 		if msg.err != nil {
 			m.status = fmt.Sprintf("Open failed: %v", msg.err)
@@ -1768,6 +1786,21 @@ func (m *Model) refreshAllPanes(status string) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 	return m, m.loadPreviewCmd()
 }
 
+func (m *Model) autoRefreshPanes() {
+	for _, id := range []PaneID{PaneLeft, PaneRight} {
+		pane := m.paneByID(id)
+		if pane.InRemote() || pane.InArchive() {
+			continue
+		}
+		if name := selectedName(pane); name != "" {
+			pane.SaveCursor(pane.Path, name)
+		}
+		if err := m.reloadPane(id, pane.LoadCursor(pane.Path)); err != nil {
+			log.Printf("[REFRESH] pane=%s path=%s err=%v", id, pane.Path, err)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func (m *Model) moveCursor(delta int) {
 	// When a filter query is active on this pane, move through filtered entries
 	// only, so the cursor always lands on a matching item.
@@ -4867,6 +4900,12 @@ func dismissYankFlashCmd(delay time.Duration) tea.Cmd {
 	})
 }
 
+func autoRefreshTickCmd(seconds int) tea.Cmd {
+	return tea.Tick(time.Duration(seconds)*time.Second, func(time.Time) tea.Msg {
+		return tickMsg{}
+	})
+}
+
 func (m *Model) startCopyJob(kind fileOpKind, sourcePaths []string, targetDir string, overwrite bool, stats vfs.TransferStats) tea.Cmd {
 	m.nextCopyJob++
 	jobID := m.nextCopyJob
diff --git a/vcom.toml b/vcom.toml
index 0050ba1..ea51e44 100644
--- a/vcom.toml
+++ b/vcom.toml
@@ -41,3 +41,5 @@ confirm_delete = true
 confirm_overwrite = true
 calculate_dir_size_on_space = true
 follow_symlinks = false
+auto_refresh = true
+auto_refresh_interval = 5