Job scheduling
Set a job's primary schedule on General, and use Schedule for additional timing and completion options.
Primary schedule
| Mode | Required fields | Behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Once | Start date and time | One scheduled execution. |
| Recurring | Start date, time, and at least one weekday | Repeated execution on the selected days. |
| Screensaver | No start date/time fields | Triggered by screensaver activity. |
Enter times in HH:mm format, for example 21:30. A screensaver job requires an actual screensaver; a blank display, lock screen, or sleeping computer should not be assumed to be the same trigger.
Additional timing
On Schedule, review:
- Repeat job execution for an additional repeat interval.
- Maximum running time of this job to bound a maintenance run.
- Last job execution on to set an end date.
- If the start time cannot be adhered to, start later for delayed execution.
Use a custom interval when the offered values do not match your plan. The editor requires a valid interval of at least one minute and does not accept an end date before the start date.
These controls supplement the primary schedule. They do not create a separate continuous execution mode.
After the job
Choose No action unless the computer should shut down or restart after completion. The available post-job actions include shutdown and restart choices.
Save applications and consider other users before enabling a post-job power action. A maintenance task that ends early can reach its completion action earlier than you expect.
Power and workload conditions
On Activity Monitor, configure AC-power requirements, stopping on battery, and waking from hibernation where needed. Windows power settings and hardware support can affect wake behavior.
CPU, disk, and process guards can delay a scheduled run. Inspect these conditions if a task did not start at its nominal time.
Verify schedules
Save the job, reopen it, and confirm the selected days, start time, drive methods, and enabled state. Use last-run information and reports to verify execution.
The job dialog displays not scheduled in Next run without calculating the next execution time. The service uses the saved schedule. Check the schedule settings, last-run information, and reports to verify execution.