Common Task Scheduler Issues
Often, troubleshooting steps address multiple issues at once, so before diving into the steps to try, let’s look at some of the more common issues.
Task Scheduler is not available: you see an error message that Task Scheduler didn’t start or isn’t available at all.Tasks don’t execute: Task Scheduler loads, but one or more tasks don’t run.Task Scheduler doesn’t run at startup: Task Scheduler works, but it doesn’t run at startup, so you have to start it manually instead.Tasks are corrupted: tasks that used to work no longer work. Task Scheduler stops randomly: tasks are executing properly, but Task Scheduler stops before everything is done.System freezes: your system freezes or crashes while Task Scheduler is running.
Often, the issues are caused by corrupted files or tasks. You may also have issues with resources or viruses. The good news is all of the above problems are fixable.
Update Your System (or Rollback an Update)
This troubleshooting tip is a two-parter. If your Windows OS isn’t up to date, it could be causing Task Scheduler not to work correctly. In this case, install the Windows update as soon as possible via “Start -> Settings -> Windows Update.” On the other hand, Windows updates are notorious for breaking system functionality. If the Task Scheduler issues didn’t start until you installed a new update, uninstall it to see if that fixes the problem. It’s possible that the update itself isn’t the problem, but it may not have installed correctly, causing issues. To uninstall Windows updates:
Run SFC Scan
Corrupted files, which can come from updates, viruses, and other sources, are a common cause of Task Scheduler problems. A quick way to check for errors is by scanning with the SFC (system file checker), a free utility included with Windows.
Verify If Task Scheduler Is Running
If you can’t find any corrupted files, see if Task Scheduler is actually running or not. You can also start the Task Scheduler service manually if it’s not running to see if any errors occur. Resetting Task Scheduler to start automatically should fix any issues if it was a one-time glitch, an update problem, or an app interfering during startup.
Remove Problematic Tasks
If all your tasks are running except one, the easiest solution is to delete that task and recreate it. But, what if you don’t know which task(s) are causing Task Scheduler not to work properly? If an SFC scan found an issue (and even if it didn’t), try running Autoruns. It’s a free tool from Microsoft that looks in depth at all startup and autorun apps and utilities. Repeat this process if you have multiple problematic/missing tasks. If you’re not certain about what a task is or does, research it to see if it’s important to your system before deleting it.
Reduce the Number of Tasks
Automating tasks might make you feel like a Windows superhero. After all, the less you have to click to get things done, the better. But, your system is only capable of doing so much at once. A rare Task Scheduler not working issue is an overabundance of tasks, which happens when you have more tasks than your system can handle scheduled at one time. Typically, this isn’t an issue as Task Scheduler executes tasks back to back based on priority. But, when there are too many tasks, Task Scheduler runs constantly and consumes all your PC’s resources until it either freezes or crashes. A good way to prevent this issue is to delete old tasks you no longer need, remove tasks that aren’t that useful, and stagger task start times. Even adjusting tasks by just a few minutes can prevent many problems.
Change Task Conditions
If you’ve created a new task and suddenly Task Scheduler isn’t working, it’s likely an issue with that task. While you could delete it, adjusting the task conditions may be all that’s necessary.
Clean Boot Windows
If Task Scheduler rarely has any issues, but isn’t working after trying all of the above, a clean boot of Windows may fix it. This only works if there’s some type of software conflict going on due to a new update, a new app installation, or an app just not loading correctly and interfering with other apps and utilities.
Reinstall Windows
If Task Scheduler is still not working and you’re having several other issues, it may be time to reinstall Windows after, of course, performing a full backup of all your files. For Windows 11, use these options to download and install Windows 11. Windows 10 users, try these installation steps instead. Image credit: geralt via Pixabay All screenshots by Crystal Crowder
The task is conflicting with another task or app.A condition is missing.The task is too complex and exceeds the default time limit of 72 hours.
For lengthy tasks, set the time manually and ensure your device doesn’t turn off during the process. Ideally, right-click your task in Task Scheduler and select “Run” to see where it stops, to determine if something might be missing or conflicting. You can also check individual tasks by selecting the task in Task Scheduler and opening the “History” tab in the middle pane at the bottom. This shows whether the task completed or failed. The only other possibility is that the task itself isn’t set correctly due to an issue with a file name, script, condition, or something else. Backtrack each element to discover what might be incorrect or missing.
