diff --git a/NetNewsWire/AppDefaults.swift b/NetNewsWire/AppDefaults.swift
index 387269f24..44a19f7a5 100644
--- a/NetNewsWire/AppDefaults.swift
+++ b/NetNewsWire/AppDefaults.swift
@@ -23,6 +23,25 @@ enum RefreshInterval: Int {
 	case every2Hours = 5
 	case every4Hours = 6
 	case every8Hours = 7
+
+	func inSeconds() -> TimeInterval {
+		switch self {
+		case .manually:
+			return 0
+		case .every10Minutes:
+			return 10 * 60
+		case .every30Minutes:
+			return 30 * 60
+		case .everyHour:
+			return 60 * 60
+		case .every2Hours:
+			return 2 * 60 * 60
+		case .every4Hours:
+			return 4 * 60 * 60
+		case .every8Hours:
+			return 8 * 60 * 60
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 struct AppDefaults {
@@ -118,7 +137,6 @@ struct AppDefaults {
 		set {
 			UserDefaults.standard.set(newValue.rawValue, forKey: Key.refreshInterval)
 		}
-
 	}
 
 	static func registerDefaults() {
diff --git a/NetNewsWire/AppDelegate.swift b/NetNewsWire/AppDelegate.swift
index 8a114e7c9..a4425b9ce 100644
--- a/NetNewsWire/AppDelegate.swift
+++ b/NetNewsWire/AppDelegate.swift
@@ -25,7 +25,17 @@ class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, NSUserInterfaceValidations,
 	var authorAvatarDownloader: AuthorAvatarDownloader!
 	var feedIconDownloader: FeedIconDownloader!
 	var appName: String!
-	
+	var refreshTimer: Timer?
+	var lastTimedRefresh: Date?
+	let launchTime = Date()
+	var shuttingDown = false {
+		didSet {
+			if shuttingDown {
+				invalidateRefreshTimer()
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
 	@IBOutlet var debugMenuItem: NSMenuItem!
 	@IBOutlet var sortByOldestArticleOnTopMenuItem: NSMenuItem!
 	@IBOutlet var sortByNewestArticleOnTopMenuItem: NSMenuItem!
@@ -169,10 +179,14 @@ class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, NSUserInterfaceValidations,
 		#if RELEASE
 			debugMenuItem.menu?.removeItem(debugMenuItem)
 			DispatchQueue.main.async {
-				self.refreshAll(self)
+				self.timedRefresh(nil)
 			}
 		#endif
 
+		#if DEBUG
+			updateRefreshTimer()
+		#endif
+
 		#if !MAC_APP_STORE
 			DispatchQueue.main.async {
 				CrashReporter.check(appName: "NetNewsWire")
@@ -185,6 +199,18 @@ class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, NSUserInterfaceValidations,
 		return false
 	}
 
+	func applicationDidBecomeActive(_ notification: Notification) {
+		// It’s possible there’s a refresh timer set to go off in the past.
+		// In that case, refresh now and update the timer.
+		if let timer = refreshTimer {
+			if timer.fireDate < Date() {
+				if AppDefaults.refreshInterval != .manually {
+					timedRefresh(nil)
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	
 	func applicationDidResignActive(_ notification: Notification) {
 
 		TimelineStringFormatter.emptyCaches()
@@ -193,7 +219,7 @@ class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, NSUserInterfaceValidations,
 	}
 
 	func applicationWillTerminate(_ notification: Notification) {
-
+		shuttingDown = true
 		saveState()
 	}
 
@@ -223,8 +249,8 @@ class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, NSUserInterfaceValidations,
 	}
 
 	@objc func userDefaultsDidChange(_ note: Notification) {
-
 		updateSortMenuItems()
+		updateRefreshTimer()
 	}
 
 	// MARK: Main Window
@@ -247,6 +273,9 @@ class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, NSUserInterfaceValidations,
 	// MARK: NSUserInterfaceValidations
 
 	func validateUserInterfaceItem(_ item: NSValidatedUserInterfaceItem) -> Bool {
+		if shuttingDown {
+			return false
+		}
 
 		let isDisplayingSheet = mainWindowController?.isDisplayingSheet ?? false
 
@@ -265,6 +294,54 @@ class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, NSUserInterfaceValidations,
 		return true
 	}
 
+	// MARK: Timed Refresh
+
+	@objc func timedRefresh(_ sender: Timer?) {
+		guard !shuttingDown else {
+			return
+		}
+		lastTimedRefresh = Date()
+		updateRefreshTimer()
+		refreshAll(self)
+	}
+
+	private func invalidateRefreshTimer() {
+		guard let timer = refreshTimer else {
+			return
+		}
+		if timer.isValid {
+			timer.invalidate()
+		}
+		refreshTimer = nil
+	}
+
+	private func updateRefreshTimer() {
+		guard !shuttingDown else {
+			return
+		}
+
+		let refreshInterval = AppDefaults.refreshInterval
+		if refreshInterval == .manually {
+			invalidateRefreshTimer()
+			return
+		}
+		let lastRefreshDate = lastTimedRefresh ?? launchTime
+		let secondsToAdd = refreshInterval.inSeconds()
+		var nextRefreshTime = lastRefreshDate.addingTimeInterval(secondsToAdd)
+		if nextRefreshTime < Date() {
+			nextRefreshTime = Date().addingTimeInterval(secondsToAdd)
+		}
+		if let currentNextFireDate = refreshTimer?.fireDate, currentNextFireDate == nextRefreshTime {
+			return
+		}
+		
+		invalidateRefreshTimer()
+		let timer = Timer(fireAt: nextRefreshTime, interval: 0, target: self, selector: #selector(timedRefresh(_:)), userInfo: nil, repeats: false)
+		RunLoop.main.add(timer, forMode: .common)
+		refreshTimer = timer
+		print("Next refresh date: \(nextRefreshTime)")
+	}
+
 	// MARK: Add Feed
 
 	func addFeed(_ urlString: String?, name: String? = nil, folder: Folder? = nil) {
diff --git a/NetNewsWire/MainWindow/MainWindowController.swift b/NetNewsWire/MainWindow/MainWindowController.swift
index d4de9f237..7323d10a5 100644
--- a/NetNewsWire/MainWindow/MainWindowController.swift
+++ b/NetNewsWire/MainWindow/MainWindowController.swift
@@ -592,7 +592,9 @@ private extension MainWindowController {
 		}
 
 		let widths = splitView.arrangedSubviews.map{ Int(floor($0.frame.width)) }
-		AppDefaults.mainWindowWidths = widths
+		if AppDefaults.mainWindowWidths != widths {
+			AppDefaults.mainWindowWidths = widths
+		}
 	}
 
 	func restoreSplitViewState() {