Refresh the page after cloud sync

Why you see this message

When cloud sync updates a page that is already open in your browser, the extension sometimes needs a full page reload to paint highlights correctly — especially when many highlights are already on the page.

The toast looks like:

Highlights updated from cloud. Refresh the page to re-render highlights.

It includes Refresh and a Why refresh? link to this article. Your highlights are already saved; reload applies them to the visible page text.

When this happens (web pages)

After you sign in or sync, the extension compares cloud data with what is on screen. If more than 100 highlights are already painted on the page and the cloud version changed, the extension avoids re-painting everything automatically (which could slow or disrupt the page). Instead it asks you to refresh.

You may also see this when:

• You edited highlights in the dashboard or on another device, then returned to this tab.
• A large batch of highlights synced while you were reading.
• Highlights appear in the sidebar but not on the page text.

If the page has 100 or fewer highlights already applied, the extension usually re-applies changes automatically without this message.

What to do

1. Save any in-progress work on the site (if it has its own editor).
2. Click Refresh on the toast, or reload the tab manually (F5).
3. Wait for the page to finish loading — highlights should appear automatically.
4. Click the ZetaMarker icon again if the extension does not activate on its own.

You do not need to sign in again unless the extension asks you to.

PDFs

This specific “refresh the web page” toast applies to normal web pages in the extension. PDFs use the extension PDF viewer; cloud updates there are handled inside the viewer (for example Refresh highlights from cloud in the menu).

If highlights still look wrong

See Why some highlights are not shown for broken anchors after a refresh.

If editing is completely blocked with “This page changed elsewhere,” see Sync conflicts instead.

If cloud sync is paused entirely, complete account migration or check your subscription on the dashboard.