How to Schedule Automated Tasks in OpenClaw
Set up recurring tasks that your AI agent runs automatically -- daily reports, weekly digests, and monitoring checks.
Introduction
One of the most powerful features of an AI agent is the ability to work while you are not watching. Scheduled tasks (cron jobs) let you define recurring jobs -- daily reports, weekly research, hourly monitoring checks -- that your agent executes automatically at the times you specify.
Prerequisites
- A KiwiClaw account with an active agent (setup guide)
- At least one delivery channel connected for output (optional but recommended)
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Open Scheduled Tasks
Navigate to your agent's Scheduled Tasks (Cron) page in the dashboard sidebar.
Step 2: Create a New Task
Click New Task. You will see fields for the task name, schedule, and prompt.
Step 3: Set the Schedule
Choose a preset schedule (daily, weekly, hourly) or enter a custom cron expression. Examples:
- Every weekday at 8 AM:
0 8 * * 1-5 - Every Monday at 9 AM:
0 9 * * 1 - Every hour:
0 * * * * - Every day at midnight:
0 0 * * *
Step 4: Write the Task Prompt
Enter the prompt that your agent will execute at each scheduled time. Be specific:
"Search for the latest AI industry news from the past 24 hours. Summarize the top 5 stories in 2-3 sentences each. Include source URLs. Post the summary to #ai-news on Slack."
Step 5: Test the Task
Click Run Now to test the task immediately. Review the output to make sure it matches your expectations before leaving it to run on schedule.
Step 6: Monitor Execution
Check the task's run history to see past executions, outputs, and any errors. Adjust the prompt or schedule as needed.
Pro Tips
- Stagger tasks -- Do not schedule multiple heavy tasks at the same time. Space them out to avoid resource contention.
- Use channel delivery -- Have tasks deliver output to Slack or Telegram so you see results without checking the dashboard.
- Combine tasks -- A single cron job can do multiple things: check email, summarize news, and post a briefing.
- Start simple -- Begin with daily tasks and add frequency as you validate the output quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a cron job in OpenClaw?
A cron job is a scheduled task that your agent runs automatically at specified times. You provide a schedule (like 'every weekday at 8 AM') and a prompt (what the agent should do). The agent executes the prompt on schedule without any manual intervention.
Can I schedule tasks to run every few minutes?
Yes, but frequent tasks consume more of your usage quota. For most use cases, hourly or daily schedules are sufficient. If you need near-real-time monitoring, consider 15-minute or 30-minute intervals rather than every minute.
What happens if a scheduled task fails?
If a task encounters an error, it is logged in the run history. The task will retry at its next scheduled time. You can check the run history to see error details and adjust the task prompt if needed.