ASP.NET

Redirect to another page after a few seconds in ASP.NET

ASP.NET · By the Postback Notes editorial team · Published 2026-10-05

A "you will be redirected in 5 seconds" page is common after a form submission, a logout or when content has moved. There are three ways to do it in an ASP.NET page; the JavaScript version is the friendliest because it can show a countdown and still offers a link.

1. The Refresh header from code-behind

protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    // "5; url=..." : wait 5 seconds, then load the URL
    Response.AppendHeader("Refresh", "5; url=" + ResolveUrl("~/Default.aspx"));
}

Browsers honour the Refresh header even though it was never part of the HTTP standard; HTML defines the equivalent meta element. Use relative or same-site URLs only. Never put a URL taken from the query string into this header without checking it, or the page becomes an open redirect that attackers can use in phishing links.

2. A meta refresh tag

<head runat="server">
    <meta http-equiv="refresh" content="5; url=Default.aspx" />
    <title>Thank you</title>
</head>

Or add it from code so the target can vary:

var meta = new HtmlMeta { HttpEquiv = "refresh", Content = "5; url=" + ResolveUrl("~/Orders.aspx") };
Page.Header.Controls.Add(meta);

3. A JavaScript countdown

<p>Your message has been sent. You will be taken to the home page in
   <strong id="seconds">5</strong> seconds.</p>
<p><a id="next" href="<%= ResolveUrl("~/Default.aspx") %>">Go now</a></p>
<script>
    (function () {
        var left = 5;
        var counter = document.getElementById("seconds");
        var target = document.getElementById("next").href;
        var timer = setInterval(function () {
            left -= 1;
            counter.textContent = left;
            if (left <= 0) {
                clearInterval(timer);
                window.location.assign(target);
            }
        }, 1000);
    })();
</script>

The link works without JavaScript and lets impatient users skip the wait. location.assign keeps the current page in history; use location.replace if the back button should not return to the waiting page.

Showing it after a postback

For a "saved, returning to the list" message, register the script only after a successful save:

protected void btnSave_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    SaveOrder();
    pnlForm.Visible = false;
    pnlDone.Visible = true; // contains the countdown markup above
}

When not to wait

Refreshing the same page periodically is a different need, covered in Auto-refresh a page every 10 seconds. Redirecting on a button click is in Redirect on button click.

Official documentation