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A scheduled task runs a prompt on a recurring cadence using Anthropic-managed infrastructure. Tasks keep working even when your computer is off.
A few examples of recurring work you can automate:
For custom intervals like every 2 hours or first of each month, pick the closest preset and update the schedule from the CLI with
- Reviewing open pull requests each morning
- Analyzing CI failures overnight and surfacing summaries
- Syncing documentation after PRs merge
- Running dependency audits every week
Compare scheduling options
Claude Code offers three ways to schedule recurring work:| Cloud | Desktop | /loop | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Runs on | Anthropic cloud | Your machine | Your machine |
| Requires machine on | No | Yes | Yes |
| Requires open session | No | No | Yes |
| Persistent across restarts | Yes | Yes | No (session-scoped) |
| Access to local files | No (fresh clone) | Yes | Yes |
| MCP servers | Connectors configured per task | Config files and connectors | Inherits from session |
| Permission prompts | No (runs autonomously) | Configurable per task | Inherits from session |
| Customizable schedule | Via /schedule in the CLI | Yes | Yes |
| Minimum interval | 1 hour | 1 minute | 1 minute |
Create a scheduled task
You can create a scheduled task from three places:- Web: visit claude.ai/code/scheduled and click New scheduled task
- Desktop app: open the Schedule page, click New task, and choose New remote task. See Desktop scheduled tasks for details.
- CLI: run
/schedulein any session. Claude walks you through the setup conversationally. You can also pass a description directly, like/schedule daily PR review at 9am.
Name the task and write the prompt
Give the task a descriptive name and write the prompt Claude runs each time. The prompt is the most important part: the task runs autonomously, so the prompt must be self-contained and explicit about what to do and what success looks like.The prompt input includes a model selector. Claude uses this model for each run of the task.
Select repositories
Add one or more GitHub repositories for Claude to work in. Each repository is cloned at the start of a run, starting from the default branch. Claude creates claude/-prefixed branches for its changes. To allow pushes to any branch, enable Allow unrestricted branch pushes for that repository.
Select an environment
Select a cloud environment for the task. Environments control what the cloud session has access to:
- Network access: set the level of internet access available during each run
- Environment variables: provide API keys, tokens, or other secrets Claude can use
- Setup script: run install commands before each session starts, like installing dependencies or configuring tools
Choose a schedule
Pick how often the task runs from the frequency options. The default is daily at 9:00 AM in your local time zone. Tasks may run a few minutes after their scheduled time due to stagger.If the preset options don’t fit your needs, pick the closest one and update the schedule from the CLI with
/schedule update to set a specific schedule.Review connectors
All of your connected MCP connectors are included by default. Remove any that the task doesn’t need. Connectors give Claude access to external services like Slack, Linear, or Google Drive during each run.
Create the task
Click Create. The task appears in the scheduled tasks list and runs automatically at the next scheduled time. Each run creates a new session alongside your other sessions, where you can see what Claude did, review changes, and create a pull request. To trigger a run immediately, click Run now from the task’s detail page.
Frequency options
The schedule picker offers preset frequencies that handle time zone conversion for you. Pick a time in your local zone and the task runs at that wall-clock time regardless of where the cloud infrastructure is located.Tasks may run a few minutes after their scheduled time. The offset is consistent for each task.
| Frequency | Description |
|---|---|
| Hourly | Runs every hour. |
| Daily | Runs once per day at the time you specify. Defaults to 9:00 AM local time. |
| Weekdays | Same as Daily but skips Saturday and Sunday. |
| Weekly | Runs once per week on the day and time you specify. |
/schedule update to set a specific schedule.
Repositories and branch permissions
Each repository you add is cloned on every run. Claude starts from the repository’s default branch unless your prompt specifies otherwise. By default, Claude can only push to branches prefixed withclaude/. This prevents scheduled tasks from accidentally modifying protected or long-lived branches.
To remove this restriction for a specific repository, enable Allow unrestricted branch pushes for that repository when creating or editing the task.
Connectors
Scheduled tasks can use your connected MCP connectors to read from and write to external services during each run. For example, a task that triages support requests might read from a Slack channel and create issues in Linear. When you create a task, all of your currently connected connectors are included by default. Remove any that aren’t needed to limit which tools Claude has access to during the run. You can also add connectors directly from the task form. To manage or add connectors outside of the task form, visit Settings > Connectors on claude.ai or use/schedule update in the CLI.
Environments
Each task runs in a cloud environment that controls network access, environment variables, and setup scripts. Configure environments before creating a task to give Claude access to APIs, install dependencies, or restrict network scope. See cloud environment for the full setup guide.Manage scheduled tasks
Click a task in the Scheduled list to open its detail page. The detail page shows the task’s repositories, connectors, prompt, schedule, and a list of past runs.View and interact with runs
Click any run to open it as a full session. From there you can see what Claude did, review changes, create a pull request, or continue the conversation. Each run session works like any other session: use the dropdown menu next to the session title to rename, archive, or delete it.Edit and control tasks
From the task detail page you can:- Click Run now to start a run immediately without waiting for the next scheduled time.
- Use the toggle in the Repeats section to pause or resume the schedule. Paused tasks keep their configuration but don’t run until you re-enable them.
- Click the edit icon to change the name, prompt, schedule, repositories, environment, or connectors.
- Click the delete icon to remove the task. Past sessions created by the task remain in your session list.
/schedule. Run /schedule list to see all tasks, /schedule update to change a task, or /schedule run to trigger one immediately.