diff --git a/docs/quick-start.md b/docs/quick-start.md
index 41cf490..900707b 100644
--- a/docs/quick-start.md
+++ b/docs/quick-start.md
@@ -53,3 +53,5 @@ python manage.py update_vector_indexes
 ```
 
 To skip the prompt, use the `--noinput` flag.
+
+Indexes can also be set to update automatically when a page is published, by setting `WAGTAIL_VECTOR_INDEX_UPDATE_ON_PUBLISH` to true inside your settings file.
diff --git a/src/wagtail_vector_index/apps.py b/src/wagtail_vector_index/apps.py
index f18c949..de06fd2 100644
--- a/src/wagtail_vector_index/apps.py
+++ b/src/wagtail_vector_index/apps.py
@@ -1,7 +1,18 @@
 from django.apps import AppConfig
+from django.conf import settings
 
 
 class WagtailVectorIndexAppConfig(AppConfig):
     label = "wagtail_vector_index"
     name = "wagtail_vector_index"
     verbose_name = "Wagtail Vector Index"
+
+    def ready(self):
+        update_on_publish = getattr(
+            settings, "WAGTAIL_VECTOR_INDEX_UPDATE_ON_PUBLISH", False
+        )
+        if update_on_publish:
+            # Register signals to update indexes on publish
+            from wagtail_vector_index import signals
+
+            signals.register_signal_handlers()
diff --git a/src/wagtail_vector_index/signals.py b/src/wagtail_vector_index/signals.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a2ac232
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/wagtail_vector_index/signals.py
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+from django.apps import apps
+from wagtail.signals import page_published
+
+
+def run_command_on_publish(sender, **kwargs):
+    # Check page is live as not to leak draft content
+    if kwargs["instance"].live:
+        if hasattr(kwargs["instance"], "get_vector_index"):
+            index = kwargs["instance"].get_vector_index()
+            index.rebuild_index()
+
+
+def register_signal_handlers():
+    from wagtail_vector_index.models import VectorIndexedMixin
+
+    indexes = [
+        model
+        for model in apps.get_models()
+        if issubclass(model, VectorIndexedMixin) and not model._meta.abstract
+    ]
+
+    for index in indexes:
+        page_published.connect(run_command_on_publish, sender=index)
diff --git a/tests/testapp/settings.py b/tests/testapp/settings.py
index 3befc6f..b2b1da3 100644
--- a/tests/testapp/settings.py
+++ b/tests/testapp/settings.py
@@ -263,3 +263,5 @@
         },
     },
 }
+
+WAGTAIL_VECTOR_INDEX_UPDATE_ON_PUBLISH = True  # Defaults to false