diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ce6c0be9..69c522a9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -458,22 +458,6 @@ This card supports several different views:
 |`clip`|Shows an event viewer for the most recent clip for this camera/zone/label. Can also be accessed by holding down the `clips` menu icon.|
 |`image`|Shows a static image specified by the `image` parameter, can be used as a discrete default view or a screensaver (via `view_timeout`).|
 
-### Automatic Updates In The `clip` Or `snapshot` View
-
-Updates will occur whenever on every change of the state of the `camera_entity`
-or any entity configured under `update_entities`. In particular, if the desire is
-to have an auto-refreshing view of the most recent event, the `camera_entity`
-will not be sufficient alone since the Home Assistant state for Frigate camera
-entities does not change often. Instead, use the Frigate binary_sensor for that
-camera (or any other entity at your discretion) to trigger the update:
-
-```yaml
-update_entities:
-  - binary_sensor.office_person_motion
-```
-
-See the [other options](#other-options) above.
-
 ### Navigating From A Snapshot To A Clip
 
 Clicking on a snapshot will take the user to a clip that was taken at the ~same
@@ -813,6 +797,47 @@ menu:
 
 </details>
 
+## Card Refreshes / Updates
+
+Automated card refreshes / updates are minimized to avoid disruption to the
+user, in particular when media is playing. Three sets of flags govern when the
+card will automatically re-render in the absence of human interaction.
+
+The following table describes the behavior these 3 flags have.
+
+### Card Update Truth Table
+
+| `view.timeout` | `view.update_force` | `update_entities` & `camera_entity` | Behavior |
+| :-: | :-: | :-: | - |
+| Unset or `0` | *(Any value)* | Unset | Card will not automatically re-render. |
+| Unset or `0` | `false` | *(Any entity)* | Card will reload **current** view when entity state changes, unless media is playing. |
+| Unset or `0` | `true` | *(Any entity)* | Card will reload **current** view when entity state changes. |
+| `X` seconds | `false` | Unset | Card will reload **default** view `X` seconds after human interaction stops, unless media is playing. |
+| `X` seconds | `false` | *(Any entity)* | Card will reload **default** view `X` seconds after human interaction stops and reload the **current** view when entity state changes -- in both cases unless media is playing. |
+| `X` seconds | `true` | Unset | Card will reload **default** view every `X` seconds. |
+| `X` seconds | `true` | *(Any entity)* | Card will reload **default** view every `X` seconds and reload the **current** view when entity state changes.  |
+
+### Usecases For Automated Refreshes
+
+ * Refreshing the `live` thumbnails periodically.
+```yaml
+view:
+  default: live
+  timeout: 30
+  force: true
+```
+ * Using `clip` or `snapshot` as the default view (for the most recent clip or
+   snapshot respectively) and having the card automatically refresh (to fetch a
+   newer clip/snapshot) when an entity state changes. A Frigate `camera_entity`
+   is generally not sufficient for this since the Home Assistant state for
+   Frigate camera entities does not change often. Instead, use the Frigate
+   binary_sensor for that camera (or any other entity at your discretion) to
+   trigger the update:
+```yaml
+update_entities:
+  - binary_sensor.office_person_motion
+```
+
 ## Troubleshooting
 
 <a name="jsmpeg-troubleshooting"></a>
diff --git a/src/card.ts b/src/card.ts
index c488465a..4948c8cc 100644
--- a/src/card.ts
+++ b/src/card.ts
@@ -507,6 +507,10 @@ export class FrigateCard extends LitElement {
     if (this.config.camera_entity) {
       this._entitiesToMonitor.push(this.config.camera_entity);
     }
+    if (this.config.view.update_force) {
+      // If update force is enabled, start a timer right away.
+      this._resetInteractionTimer();
+    }
     this._changeView();
   }
 
@@ -538,7 +542,8 @@ export class FrigateCard extends LitElement {
     if (!this.config) {
       return false;
     }
-    if (changedProps.has('config')) {
+
+    if (changedProps.size > 1) {
       return true;
     }
 
@@ -550,7 +555,7 @@ export class FrigateCard extends LitElement {
       // are browsing the mini-gallery). Do not allow re-rendering from a Home
       // Assistant update if there's been recent interaction (e.g. clicks on the
       // card) or if there is media active playing.
-      if (this._interactionTimerID || this._mediaPlaying) {
+      if (!this.config.view.update_force && (this._interactionTimerID || this._mediaPlaying)) {
         return false;
       }
       return shouldUpdateBasedOnHass(this._hass, oldHass, this._entitiesToMonitor);
@@ -709,7 +714,10 @@ export class FrigateCard extends LitElement {
     ) {
       handleAction(node, this._hass as HomeAssistant, config, ev.detail.action);
     }
+    this._resetInteractionTimer();
+  }
 
+  protected _resetInteractionTimer(): void {
     if (this.config.view.timeout) {
       if (this._interactionTimerID) {
         window.clearTimeout(this._interactionTimerID);
@@ -717,6 +725,10 @@ export class FrigateCard extends LitElement {
       this._interactionTimerID = window.setTimeout(() => {
         this._interactionTimerID = null;
         this._changeView();
+        if (this.config.view.update_force) {
+          // If force is enabled, the timer just resets and starts over.
+          this._resetInteractionTimer();
+        }
       }, this.config.view.timeout * 1000);
     }
   }
diff --git a/src/const.ts b/src/const.ts
index 7f243208..ec6f1e21 100644
--- a/src/const.ts
+++ b/src/const.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ export const CONF_FRIGATE_ZONE = 'frigate.zone';
 
 export const CONF_VIEW_DEFAULT = 'view.default';
 export const CONF_VIEW_TIMEOUT = 'view.timeout';
+export const CONF_VIEW_UPDATE_FORCE = 'view.update_force';
 
 export const CONF_EVENT_VIEWER_AUTOPLAY_CLIP = 'event_viewer.autoplay_clip';
 export const CONF_EVENT_VIEWER_DRAGGABLE = 'event_viewer.draggable';
diff --git a/src/editor.ts b/src/editor.ts
index 4e14fcb7..7683c523 100644
--- a/src/editor.ts
+++ b/src/editor.ts
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ import {
   CONF_MENU_MODE,
   CONF_VIEW_DEFAULT,
   CONF_VIEW_TIMEOUT,
+  CONF_VIEW_UPDATE_FORCE,
 } from './const.js';
 
 interface EditorOptionsSet {
@@ -403,6 +404,9 @@ export class FrigateCardEditor extends LitElement implements LovelaceCardEditor
               <div class="values">
                 ${this._renderDropdown(CONF_VIEW_DEFAULT, viewModes)}
                 ${this._renderStringInput(CONF_VIEW_TIMEOUT, '[0-9]')}
+                ${this._renderSwitch(
+                  CONF_VIEW_UPDATE_FORCE,
+                  defaults.view.update_force)}
               </div>
             `
           : ''}
diff --git a/src/localize/languages/en.json b/src/localize/languages/en.json
index de7f6ab5..f5270e82 100644
--- a/src/localize/languages/en.json
+++ b/src/localize/languages/en.json
@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@
         "snapshots": "Snapshots gallery",
         "image": "Static image"
       },
-      "timeout": "View timeout secs (before returning to default, 0=never)"
+      "timeout": "View timeout secs (before returning to default, 0=never)",
+      "update_force": "Force card updates (ignore media playing / interaction)"
     },
     "event_viewer": {
       "autoplay_clip": "Autoplay most recent clip (In 'clip' view)",
diff --git a/src/types.ts b/src/types.ts
index d1bb6ca2..e279c1a2 100644
--- a/src/types.ts
+++ b/src/types.ts
@@ -323,6 +323,7 @@ const frigateConfigDefaultSchema = z
 const viewConfigDefault = {
   default: 'live' as const,
   timeout: 180,
+  update_force: false,
 };
 const viewConfigSchema = z
   .object({
@@ -340,6 +341,7 @@ const viewConfigSchema = z
       )
       .optional()
       .default(viewConfigDefault.timeout),
+    update_force: z.boolean().default(viewConfigDefault.update_force),
   })
   .merge(actionsSchema)
   .default(viewConfigDefault);