# Scheduled task

> Work you describe once that Claude then runs on its own, on a set cadence or on demand, handing you finished output like a briefing, report, or summary.

**Category:** Claude

A **scheduled task** turns a one-off request into a standing job. You describe it once, Claude saves your prompt as the task's instructions, and it **runs on the cadence you pick** (hourly, daily, weekly, weekdays, or on demand), delivering the finished thing each time. You come back to output, not a reminder.

Most scheduled tasks **run in the cloud**, so they fire even when your computer is asleep or the app is closed. A task that needs files or apps on your own machine runs locally instead, and that one needs the machine awake. Either way it has the same reach as any [Cowork](/glossary#cowork) task: your [connectors](/glossary#connector), [skills](/glossary#skill), and files.

It lives in the **"Scheduled"** area on paid plans. The smart habit: **run the job once by hand, confirm the output, then schedule it**, because a schedule just multiplies whatever the prompt produces.

## At work

Set a task to read your unread email and calendar each weekday at 7am and hand you a 150-word briefing. You wake up to the summary instead of building it yourself.

## Often confused with

A reminder. A reminder pings you to do the work; a scheduled task does the work and gives you the finished result.

## Related terms

- Cowork
- Automation
- Connector
- Skill

## See it in a lesson

[Scheduling and automation](/en/learn/advanced/scheduling-and-automation)

## Further reading

- [Schedule recurring tasks in Claude Cowork (Help)](https://support.claude.com/en/articles/13854387-schedule-recurring-tasks-in-claude-cowork): The official how-to: create, run, and manage tasks.
- [Get started with Claude Cowork (Help)](https://support.claude.com/en/articles/13345190-get-started-with-claude-cowork): The mode a scheduled task runs inside.
- [Delegating and scheduling tasks in Claude Cowork (tutorial)](https://claude.com/resources/tutorials/delegating-and-scheduling-tasks-in-claude-cowork): A worked walk-through from Anthropic.

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Last updated: 25/07/2026  
Source: Rollo Academy glossary