diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f2e8b63..d215f5c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -119,6 +119,13 @@ proxy (over the `stargate:teleport` plugin channel) to connect the player to tha
 server; once they land, the proxy forwards a delivery message so the destination
 server's Stargate instance teleports them to the gate's exit point.
 
+Each backend only loads gates from the shared database at startup (and on
+`/sg reload`), then polls for what other servers have added, changed, or removed
+every `cross-server.refresh-seconds` (default 30) while `cross-server.enabled: true`.
+So a gate built on one server shows up as a destination on another within that
+window automatically - no restart or manual reload needed, though `/sg reload`
+still works if you want it immediately.
+
 ## Permissions
 
 - `stargate.use` (default: true) — dial/cycle gates
diff --git a/stargate-paper/src/main/java/dev/skywalker3200/stargate/paper/StargatePlugin.java b/stargate-paper/src/main/java/dev/skywalker3200/stargate/paper/StargatePlugin.java
index b4ec921..2c479e5 100644
--- a/stargate-paper/src/main/java/dev/skywalker3200/stargate/paper/StargatePlugin.java
+++ b/stargate-paper/src/main/java/dev/skywalker3200/stargate/paper/StargatePlugin.java
@@ -41,6 +41,9 @@ public class StargatePlugin extends JavaPlugin {
         this.crossServerBridge = new CrossServerBridge(this, gateManager);
         if (crossServer) {
             this.crossServerBridge.register();
+            int refreshSeconds = Math.max(5, getConfig().getInt("cross-server.refresh-seconds", 30));
+            getServer().getScheduler().runTaskTimerAsynchronously(this, gateManager::refreshRemoteGates,
+                    20L * refreshSeconds, 20L * refreshSeconds);
         }
 
         getServer().getPluginManager().registerEvents(new SignCreateListener(this, gateManager), this);
diff --git a/stargate-paper/src/main/java/dev/skywalker3200/stargate/paper/gate/GateManager.java b/stargate-paper/src/main/java/dev/skywalker3200/stargate/paper/gate/GateManager.java
index 4c9a68d..6133ff9 100644
--- a/stargate-paper/src/main/java/dev/skywalker3200/stargate/paper/gate/GateManager.java
+++ b/stargate-paper/src/main/java/dev/skywalker3200/stargate/paper/gate/GateManager.java
@@ -80,6 +80,50 @@ public class GateManager {
         plugin.getLogger().info("[Stargate] Loaded " + gatesById.size() + " gate(s), " + gatesBySignBlock.size() + " local.");
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Picks up gates created/removed on OTHER servers since the last load, without touching
+     * anything local (structures, open/connected/outgoing runtime state). loadAll() only ever
+     * runs at startup or /sg reload, so without this, a server that's already running never
+     * finds out about a gate another backend created after it booted - the shared MySQL row
+     * exists, but nothing tells this JVM to look. Safe to call from any thread; the actual
+     * gatesById mutation is scheduled back onto the main thread.
+     */
+    public void refreshRemoteGates() {
+        List<Gate> all;
+        try {
+            all = storage.loadAll();
+        } catch (Exception e) {
+            plugin.getLogger().warning("[Stargate] Failed to refresh remote gates: " + e.getMessage());
+            return;
+        }
+        Bukkit.getScheduler().runTask(plugin, () -> mergeRemoteGates(all));
+    }
+
+    private void mergeRemoteGates(List<Gate> all) {
+        Set<UUID> currentRemoteIds = new HashSet<>();
+        int added = 0;
+        for (Gate gate : all) {
+            if (gate.getServerId().equals(plugin.getServerId())) continue; // local gates are handled by loadAll()/live state
+            currentRemoteIds.add(gate.getId());
+            if (!gatesById.containsKey(gate.getId())) {
+                gatesById.put(gate.getId(), new RuntimeGate(gate, null));
+                added++;
+            }
+        }
+        int removed = 0;
+        var it = gatesById.entrySet().iterator();
+        while (it.hasNext()) {
+            RuntimeGate rg = it.next().getValue();
+            if (!rg.getGate().getServerId().equals(plugin.getServerId()) && !currentRemoteIds.contains(rg.getGate().getId())) {
+                it.remove();
+                removed++;
+            }
+        }
+        if (added > 0 || removed > 0) {
+            plugin.getLogger().info("[Stargate] Remote gate sync: +" + added + " -" + removed);
+        }
+    }
+
     private String signKey(String world, int x, int y, int z) {
         return world + "," + x + "," + y + "," + z;
     }
diff --git a/stargate-paper/src/main/resources/config.yml b/stargate-paper/src/main/resources/config.yml
index 63b2c15..d23beac 100644
--- a/stargate-paper/src/main/resources/config.yml
+++ b/stargate-paper/src/main/resources/config.yml
@@ -33,6 +33,12 @@ storage:
 # share gate data.
 cross-server:
   enabled: false
+  # How often (in seconds) this server checks the shared database for gates other
+  # servers have created, updated, or removed since it last looked. Without this, a
+  # server that's already running never finds out about a gate another backend made
+  # after it booted - the row exists, but nothing prompts a reload. Doesn't touch
+  # this server's own gates or any live dial/open state.
+  refresh-seconds: 30
 
 gate:
   # Any of these materials count as the ring's frame (and count as a valid chevron