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How to Schedule Tasks in Windows 10 via Task Scheduler

Learn to automate your tasks with Task Scheduler

24 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Key notes

TaskScheduleris one of the most practical preset Windows applications because it can streamline your work.

The main idea of this application is to trigger the running of different scripts and programs at a specific time or a certain event.

It has a library where all the tasks loaded are indexed, and it organizes them according to the time that must be done and their importance.

Let’s discover together in the lines below what TaskSchedulercontains and how we can use this usefulapplication.

How do I schedule tasks in Windows 10 using Task Scheduler?

1. Types of triggers

The first step of creating a task is to determine what will cause it to run, so the trigger is a set of conditions that when fulfilled, starts the task.

The triggers can be found in theTriggertab from theTask Propertiesand theCreate Taskmenu. From theCreate Taskmenu, you can create new triggers for your needs.

There are two types of triggers: the time-based trigger and the event-based trigger.

For example, let’s suppose that on this day you want to recover a few hours of work, and you want to have the same productivity, even though you know you will work more than usual.

You can set a task to be triggered every time your computer is entering an idle state.

This kind of trigger causes the task to run after a well-determined schedule configured by you. From the trigger settings, you can choose if the task will be repeated once, daily, weekly, or monthly.

This time interval is guided by the computer’s date and time. You can check theUniversalbox for making the time interval relative and synchronize it with UTC (Coordinated Universal Time).

This feature allows you to coordinate multipletasksto run independently in different time zones.

The interval of 1 is producing a daily schedule, the interval of 2 is producing an every other day schedule, and so on.

For the interval of 1, thetaskwill be repeated weekly, for the interval of 2, thetaskwill be repeated every two weeks, and so on.

The recursion system is the same, the only difference being that the minimum interval of repetition is one month.

This type of trigger runs an action when a user logs onto the computer. It has a customization feature that allows you to set the action to occur for all users or only for certain users.

This trigger determines the action to run after entering the computer in the idle state. The trigger conditions can be configured from theConditionstab of theCreate Taskmenu or from theTask Propertieswindow.

The event-based trigger determines the action to run after an event occurs. You can choose from a predefined list of events but you can also set a specific event.

If you are choosing theBasictrigger settings, only one event from the specific event log will run thetask.

If you choose theCustomtrigger settings you can enter the XML event query or a custom filter for the events that can run thetask.

This type of trigger runs thetaskwhen the computer is locked. You can configure from the settings if this action will be available for any user or for a specific user. You can do the same thing for the unlocking station process.

This feature allows you to insert a delay between the moment when thetaskwas triggered and the moment when thetaskwill take place.

For example, if you have a time based trigger, thetaskis scheduled to be triggered at 3:00 PM and you set theDelaytaskfor up to (random delay)to 30 minutes, yourtaskwill be triggered in between 3:00 PM and 3:30 PM.

Here you can set a repeating time for yourtask. So, after thetaskwill be triggered, it will wait the amount of time specified and after that, it will be triggered again. This entire process will continue until the period allocated is done.

2. Types of actions

The action is the process or a part of the process that is performed when thetaskis running. Ataskcan have up to 32 actions. Every action has some settings that determine how thetaskis performed.

You can find and edit thetask‘s actions from theActionstab of theTask Propertiesmenu or fromCreate Taskwindow.

When the list contains more than one action, they will be executed consecutively starting with the action from the top of theActionstab and ending with the action from the bottom of the list.

If you want to change the actions order all you have to do is to click on the action that you want to move and then use the arrow keys to move it above or below.

This kind of action is used for starting a program or a script.

In theSettingsmenu of theActionstab, you enter the name of the script or the program you want to start.

If one of those sequences takes command line arguments you can add, delete and edit them in theAdd arguments (optional)text box.

TheStart In (optional)is the place where you can specify the directory for the command line that will execute your script or your program.

This should be either the path to the program or the script file that leads to the files that are used by the executable file.

This action is particularly useful for people who communicate a lot via email.

In the settings of this action, you have to enter your e-mail address, the e-mail address of the person who will receive the mail, the title of the e-mail, the message you want to be sent, and you have also an optional feature to attach different files to the mail.

You must also specify the SMTP server of your e-mail.

This action is used more like a reminder because it displays on your screen a text with a title. Select theDisplay a messagecategory from theActionsmenu and type the title and the message of the reminder.

If you are facingTask Scheduler failed to launch an actionissue, we recommend you check out this detailed guide for solutions.

3. Types of Task Conditions

Task conditions decide if ataskcan run after it was triggered. Conditions are optional and their main role is to help you accomplish a more accuratetaskreported to the operating situation.

You can find them in theConditionstab of theTask PropertiesorCreate Taskmenu. Conditions are divided into 3 categories: idle conditions, network conditions, and network conditions.

With this condition, you can tell the task to run only if your computer is an idle for a certain amount of time. Every 15 minutes, Task Scheduler is checking your activity to find out if your PC has entered into an idle state.

It is considered that your computer is in an idle state if the screensaver is on or if the percentage of CPU and memory operation is 0%.

As soon as theTask Schedulerhas detected that your computer is in an idle state, it will begin the countdown of the length of time that has been set.

If you come back at this time and continue your work, theapplicationwill reset the task.

You can also set the time condition to 0 and in this case, thetaskwill run when theapplicationwill detect that your computer has entered the idle state.

If theStop if the computer ceases to be the idlecondition is on, thetaskwill stop running after the computer gets out from the idle state. Normally, this task will run just one time.

To run every time the computer remains inactive you have to check theRestart if the idle state resumes.

This condition is dedicated to laptop users because it follows the power method of the device.

While a computer receives a current flow of energy from a source, the laptop can run on a battery when you do not have a stable source of power.

With this condition, you can set ataskto run when the computer is connected to a stable and continuous source of energy after the trigger was activated. You can also set a condition.

You can also configure the condition so as not to allow thetaskto run if the device goes on the battery power.

From these conditions, you can also create a task that will tell the computer to start from sleep mode and run the actions after it was triggered. Consider that this can happen during hours of rest and may create trouble.

To avoid this, make sure the device is at a distance where it cannot bother you or turn it off when you rest.

With this condition, you can configure ataskto run if a specific named network is available or if any connection is available when thetaskis triggered.

If you consider that yourtaskwill need network conditions to run, you can also set this in the conditions.

4. Task settings

Task settings are indicating how ataskrun, is deleted, or is stopped. You can find the panel with all the available settings in theSettingstab from theTask Propertiesor from theCreate Taskmenu.

The following list contains a description of all the available settings.

Here you can specify if thetaskcan be run manually before or after it is scheduled by allowing it to run on demand. You can set ataskto run at any time on demand.

You find more information about the demand configuration in theHow to run ataskon demandtopic of this article.

This setting will assure you that ataskwill start running even if it could not run when it was scheduled from different reasons (the device was turned off,Task Schedulerwas busy).

In the default settings, theTask Schedulerwill not start thetaskimmediately when the service is available. It will wait 10 minutes and then immediately start the process.

This setting will force theTask Schedulerto restart thetaskif the previous attempt was thwarted by an error.

You have to add the time interval between the running attempts and the number of attempts to achieve.

With this setting you can establish a time limit in which thetaskcan run.

This setting is used for limiting the number oftasksthat need a long period of time to execute and in this way you can save resources for your computer.

This feature replaces an action that you should do it manually.

If you schedule ataskto run only once means that you will not need it in the future and not unnecessarily load the list oftasksyou should delete after you have used it.

This setting will delete automatically thetaskafter a period of time set by the user after it was activated.

Remember, yourtaskmust include at least one trigger with an expiration date in order to select this setting.

You must configure theTask Schedulerto know how to run thetaskin case another instance of the currenttaskis already running.

If you are looking for ways toenable Task Scheduler History, check out this guide.

5. Task security context

By default, theTask Schedulerruns thetasksin order with the security context of every user logged on when thetaskis triggered.

You can modify these settings from theSecurity optionssections of theGeneraltab after you have selected thetaskthat you want to modify.

For a better organization of yourtasks, you can group them on users or on groups of users by clicking on theChange User or Groupcategory.

If your user does not have administrator rights the button will be calledChange Userand your account will not be able to enter the Administrators group.

TheRun whether the user is logged on or notfeature allows you to runtaskseven if the specific user is not logged on.

The feature is used fortasksthat need to be run on any user of the system. If this setting is checked, thetaskswill not run interactively.

To make ataskrun only when a user is logged on, select the Run only when theuser is logged on radiobutton.

If theRun whether the user is logged on or notfeature is used, you should supply the credentials of the account no matter if you check theDo not store passwordor not.

In the account is not logged on, theTask Schedulerwill use the saved credentials in order to run thetask.

When you select theDo not store password, theapplicationwill not save the credentials when you are creating ataskbut will discard them after the user properly authenticates.

When the service requires running atask, it will use theService-for-user (S4U)extensions to the logging protocol to retrieve the user’s token.

In other words, the main purpose of theService-for-useris to secure the context of the account.

6. How to use the Task Scheduler

There are several ways you can get to access this application. You find above two of them that will work on any version of Windows that you have.

1. Press theStartbutton on your taskbar.

2. Typetask schedulerin the search box that opens and click on the first result.

3. When the Task Scheduler app opens, navigate to theLibrarysection from the left pane.

4. Select the folder where you want to create a task. If you have not already a created folder, from theActionstab, click on theNew folder…button and name your new folder.

5. Click on theCreate Taskbutton from theActionssection.

6. You must enter a name for your task in theGeneraltab of theCreate Taskdialog box.

7. Select what type of trigger you want to be attached to this action. To do this, open theTriggerstab, and click on the…button.

8. Choose the action or the set of actions which will be found in the task. Enter theActionsmenu of theCreate Task,and click on the..button and configure your action settings.

9. Take a look at theConditions and Settingstab to better customize the task for your needs.

10. Click on theOKbutton from theCreate Taskdialog box to finish the task creation process.

The process of creating an automated task via Task Scheduler in Windows 10 is simple and fast. The app allows you to configure every setting, such as the task’s name, its triggers and conditions.

To organize better the scheduled tasks we recommend you to share them in different folders depending on their role.

If you want to delete a folder to better organize yourtasks,you must ensure that it is empty, so be sure to delete all thetasksand the subfolder tasks before you delete the task folder.

TaskSchedulerhas a feature that allows you to import tasks, which will be added to a folder chosen by you. All the task characteristics can be found in an XML file.

TaskSchedulerhas also an integrated feature that allows you to export your task to different users. The task will be saved in an XML format that can be shared like a usual file.

This feature helps you to run a task after or before it was scheduled to run. This is possible only if the task is not disabled and theAllow task to be run on demandsetting is selected for your task.

TaskScheduleris offering a feature that allows you to end the activity of a task even if it is already running.

To do that, the running task must have theIf the running task does not stop when requested, force it to stopsetting activated.

This feature is commonly used when a task does not finish its activity when you finish the ending process.

When a task is disabled it can execute the actions. You can create a task and leave it off until the moment you want to use it. Here are two ways to activate a task that any kind of user can implement.

TaskSchedulerhas a feature that allows you to disable the activity of a task for a certain period of time. You can enable the task again at any time when you will need it.

The task history option can be enabled and also disabled from the Action panel. There you will find the Disable All Task History / Enable All Task History buttons, and depending on your wish, you can configure the task’s history.

Also, you can view the description of an event from the events list by clicking on theHistorytab.

Thetaskproperties contain everything we must know about every task (name, description, actions, triggers, security options, conditions, and settings).

Thetaskhistory is a list with all thetaskscreated until that moment and can be viewed along with the properties. This list is based on the events tracked byMicrosoft WindowsTask Schedulerevent log.

Every action related to ataskis considered an event, so every time when ataskruns is building a line in the event log.

We hope that our detailed guide to TasksSchedulerhas given you a broad overview of this application and that you will be able to successfully schedule your tasks in Windows going forward.

Also, if you own a business and want to make sure you have everything under control, then check out ourlist of the best scheduling software for employees.

For any questions and more suggestions, please access the comments section below.

More about the topics:task scheduler,Windows 10 Guides

Madalina Dinita

Networking & Security Specialist

Madalina has been a Windows fan ever since she got her hands on her first Windows XP computer.

She is interested in all things technology, especially emerging technologies – AI and DNA computing in particular.

Prior to joining the WindowsReport team, she worked in the corporate world for a number of years.

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Madalina Dinita

Networking & Security Specialist

Madalina is a Windows fan since forever, especially interested in AI, emerging technologies, privacy, and security.