diff --git a/python/gui/qgisinterface.sip b/python/gui/qgisinterface.sip
index ce148fe136f..1ac30a40de4 100644
--- a/python/gui/qgisinterface.sip
+++ b/python/gui/qgisinterface.sip
@@ -155,6 +155,15 @@ Add a project
     virtual void newProject( bool promptToSaveFlag = false ) = 0;
 %Docstring
 Start a blank project
+%End
+
+    virtual void reloadConnections( ) = 0;
+%Docstring
+ Triggered when connections have changed.
+ This calls reloadConnections in the main application and triggers a signal that is
+ forwarded to the GUI elements that needs to be updated (i.e. the source
+ select dialogs and the browser widgets)
+.. versionadded:: 3.0
 %End
 
     virtual QgsMapLayer *activeLayer() = 0;
@@ -1256,6 +1265,7 @@ Get timeout for timed messages: default of 5 seconds
  \note
  added in version 2.7
 %End
+
 };
 
 /************************************************************************
diff --git a/src/app/qgisapp.cpp b/src/app/qgisapp.cpp
index f24080d14b9..20d73949b40 100644
--- a/src/app/qgisapp.cpp
+++ b/src/app/qgisapp.cpp
@@ -933,7 +933,7 @@ QgisApp::QgisApp( QSplashScreen *splash, bool restorePlugins, bool skipVersionCh
 
   mInternalClipboard = new QgsClipboard; // create clipboard
   connect( mInternalClipboard, &QgsClipboard::changed, this, &QgisApp::clipboardChanged );
-  mQgisInterface = new QgisAppInterface( this ); // create the interfce
+  mQgisInterface = new QgisAppInterface( this ); // create the interface
 
 #ifdef Q_OS_MAC
   // action for Window menu (create before generating WindowTitleChange event))
@@ -9666,6 +9666,11 @@ bool QgisApp::setActiveLayer( QgsMapLayer *layer )
   return true;
 }
 
+void QgisApp::reloadConnections()
+{
+  emit( connectionsChanged( ) );
+}
+
 
 QgsVectorLayer *QgisApp::addVectorLayer( const QString &vectorLayerPath, const QString &baseName, const QString &providerKey )
 {
diff --git a/src/app/qgisapp.h b/src/app/qgisapp.h
index b2c24085fe4..84958ed9ed1 100644
--- a/src/app/qgisapp.h
+++ b/src/app/qgisapp.h
@@ -792,7 +792,7 @@ class APP_EXPORT QgisApp : public QMainWindow, private Ui::MainWindow
 
 
     /**
-     * \brief dataSourceManager Open the DataSourceManager dialog/dock
+     * \brief dataSourceManager Open the DataSourceManager dialog
      * \param pageName the page name, usually the provider name or "browser" (for the browser panel)
      *        or "ogr" (vector layers) or "raster" (raster layers)
      */
@@ -858,6 +858,11 @@ class APP_EXPORT QgisApp : public QMainWindow, private Ui::MainWindow
     //! set the active layer
     bool setActiveLayer( QgsMapLayer * );
 
+    /** Reload connections emitting the connectionsChanged signal
+     * \since QGIS 3.0
+     */
+    void reloadConnections();
+
   protected:
 
     //! Handle state changes (WindowTitleChange)
diff --git a/src/app/qgisappinterface.cpp b/src/app/qgisappinterface.cpp
index 38c1c63c7d8..7165924320f 100644
--- a/src/app/qgisappinterface.cpp
+++ b/src/app/qgisappinterface.cpp
@@ -171,6 +171,11 @@ void QgisAppInterface::newProject( bool promptToSaveFlag )
   qgis->fileNew( promptToSaveFlag );
 }
 
+void QgisAppInterface::reloadConnections()
+{
+  qgis->reloadConnections( );
+}
+
 QgsMapLayer *QgisAppInterface::activeLayer()
 {
   return qgis->activeLayer();
diff --git a/src/app/qgisappinterface.h b/src/app/qgisappinterface.h
index ae6225b36cb..d7abb5cf506 100644
--- a/src/app/qgisappinterface.h
+++ b/src/app/qgisappinterface.h
@@ -81,6 +81,14 @@ class APP_EXPORT QgisAppInterface : public QgisInterface
     //! Start a new blank project
     void newProject( bool promptToSaveFlag = false ) override;
 
+    /**
+     * Triggered by plugins when connections have changed.
+     * This is forwarded to the GUI elements that needs to be updated (i.e. the source
+     * select dialogs and the browser widgets)
+     * \since QGIS 3.0
+     */
+    void reloadConnections( ) override;
+
     //! Get pointer to the active layer (layer selected in the legend)
     QgsMapLayer *activeLayer() override;
 
diff --git a/src/gui/qgisinterface.h b/src/gui/qgisinterface.h
index 171cb5f68cc..040aadc832d 100644
--- a/src/gui/qgisinterface.h
+++ b/src/gui/qgisinterface.h
@@ -165,6 +165,15 @@ class GUI_EXPORT QgisInterface : public QObject
     //! Start a blank project
     virtual void newProject( bool promptToSaveFlag = false ) = 0;
 
+    /**
+     * Triggered when connections have changed.
+     * This calls reloadConnections in the main application and triggers a signal that is
+     * forwarded to the GUI elements that needs to be updated (i.e. the source
+     * select dialogs and the browser widgets)
+     * \since QGIS 3.0
+     */
+    virtual void reloadConnections( ) = 0;
+
     //! Get pointer to the active layer (layer selected in the legend)
     virtual QgsMapLayer *activeLayer() = 0;
 
@@ -796,6 +805,7 @@ class GUI_EXPORT QgisInterface : public QObject
      * added in version 2.7
      */
     void layerSavedAs( QgsMapLayer *l, const QString &path );
+
 };
 Q_NOWARN_DEPRECATED_POP