Scheduled Tasks in Claude Cowork

Scheduled Tasks let paid-plan users save a Cowork prompt and run it automatically on an hourly, daily, weekly, weekday, or on-demand schedule.

Most scheduled tasks run remotely, so your computer can be asleep and Claude Desktop can be closed. They can use connected tools, plugins, skills, web research, and files saved to your Claude account. A task that specifically needs local folders or apps can run locally, but your computer and Claude Desktop must then be available.

Quick-start scheduled task
Medium ComplexitySafety Verified
Create a scheduled task named Weekly Project Brief.

Every Friday at 4:00 PM:
1. Review this week's updates from my connected project sources.
2. Summarize progress, decisions, blockers, and next steps.
3. Separate confirmed facts from assumptions.
4. Produce a one-page brief with source links.
5. Ask for approval before sending or publishing anything.

What you can schedule

  • Daily briefings from connected email, calendar, or chat services
  • Weekly project or sales summaries
  • Recurring research on a topic or competitor
  • Reports built from files saved to your Claude account
  • On-demand versions of a reusable task

Set one up

  1. Open Scheduled in Claude's sidebar, or type /schedule in a Cowork task.
  2. Choose Create with Claude or Set up manually.
  3. Give the task a clear name and a prompt with sources, output, and limits.
  4. Choose the cadence, approval mode, and optional model.
  5. Run it once manually and inspect the result before depending on the schedule.

Remote versus local runs

Task needsCan run while the computer sleeps?Example
Connectors, web research, account filesYesSummarize connected Slack and calendar data
A folder on your computerNoOrganize files in a local project folder
A desktop app or local browserNoUpdate a spreadsheet in a desktop app

This distinction is important: scheduling a task does not make local files or apps remotely available by itself.

Reliability checklist

  • Use named sources and an exact date range.
  • State where the result should appear.
  • Require source links for factual reports.
  • Add an approval step before messages, purchases, publishing, or deletion.
  • Review past runs and pause the task if quality drifts.
  • Avoid assuming an exact start time; execution can vary with demand.

Frequently asked questions

Which plans include Scheduled Tasks?

Anthropic currently documents Scheduled Tasks for all paid plans: Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise.

What happens if my computer is off?

A remote scheduled task still runs. A local task that needs your computer cannot complete those local steps until the required desktop connection is available.

Can a scheduled task use a folder on my computer?

Yes, when you configure a local run and the computer is available. A remote scheduled task cannot independently reach a folder on a sleeping or disconnected computer.

Can I pause or edit it?

Yes. The Scheduled page shows upcoming and past runs and lets you edit, pause, resume, delete, or run a task on demand.

Related Guides

Related Features

  • Dispatch — Steer a desktop session from mobile when a scheduled local step needs you
  • Computer Use — Local app navigation that still requires an awake, connected desktop

Related Comparisons