How to schedule tasks in ChatGPT: a practical walkthrough
CHAT GPT
Phillip Twyford
If you regularly ask ChatGPT to complete the same piece of work, scheduled tasks can save you from having to remember and repeat the prompt.
You can use the feature for a one-off reminder or a recurring task. For example, you might ask ChatGPT to prepare a morning briefing, research recent news in your industry or remind you about an important deadline.
In this guide, I will show you how I created a weekly OpenAI update and explain what you should check before relying on your first task.
There is one important detail for free users. Scheduled tasks are available on eligible free accounts, but the scheduling controls are more limited than on paid plans. I explain that below.
What are scheduled tasks in ChatGPT?
Scheduled tasks allow ChatGPT to run a prompt later or repeat it on a schedule. You describe the work you want completed and tell ChatGPT when it should happen.
According to OpenAI's current Scheduled Tasks guidance, tasks can run once, recur, monitor for changes and, where supported, respond to events. Availability can depend on your account, app version and workspace settings.
The feature is useful when the task has a clear purpose and predictable timing. Some practical examples include:
Preparing a daily or weekly industry update;
Reminding you about a deadline or follow-up;
Monitoring a topic for a relevant change;
Producing a regular planning brief; or
Reviewing information from supported connected apps.
I use a morning briefing that checks important emails and calendar commitments, then highlights what needs my attention.
Connected-app availability depends on your account and workspace, so check the apps and permissions available in your own ChatGPT settings before building a similar workflow.
Are scheduled tasks available on the ChatGPT Free plan?
Yes, scheduled tasks are available to eligible ChatGPT Free users. The free plan does have tighter limits.
OpenAI currently states that free users can have up to three active tasks. A free user can schedule a one-off task or a recurring task that runs no more than once per day. Free tasks use flexible windows such as morning, afternoon or night. Exact delivery times and hourly schedules require an eligible paid plan.
This means a weekly task is possible on the free plan, but you should not promise yourself a precise delivery time such as 9:30 unless your plan supports exact scheduling.
These limits can change. Check the official Scheduled Tasks page before publishing a training guide or setting expectations for a client or team.
How to create a scheduled task in ChatGPT
The process is similar to writing a normal prompt.
1. Open the Scheduled section
In ChatGPT, select Scheduled from the left-hand menu. This opens the area where you can create tasks and review the ones already associated with your account.
If Scheduled does not appear in the desktop app, OpenAI recommends trying ChatGPT on the web. Access depends on the account, app and app version.
2. Describe the task you want ChatGPT to complete
Write the instruction as you would write any other prompt, but include the schedule and the result you want.
For my weekly OpenAI update, I wanted ChatGPT to research significant developments from the previous seven days. I asked it to focus on useful new features, changes and practical capabilities for SME owners and marketing decision-makers.
Here is a cleaner version of that prompt:
Every Monday morning, research significant ChatGPT and OpenAI updates published during the previous seven days.
Prioritise official OpenAI sources and use other reliable primary sources only where needed. Select the five most relevant developments for SME owners and marketing decision-makers.
For each one, explain what changed and why it matters to this audience. Then suggest three short-form video ideas and one YouTube topic based on the findings. Include links to the sources used.
You can adapt the same structure to another subject. A useful scheduled prompt should state:
When the task should run
What ChatGPT should research or produce
The period of information it should cover
Who the result is for
The format you want and
Which sources or quality rules it should follow.
3. Send the prompt and check the schedule
Send the instruction. ChatGPT should create the task and show its details.
Open the task panel and check the repeat setting, day, time or time window, and the next planned run. Do not assume ChatGPT has interpreted phrases such as “next Monday” or “every morning” exactly as you intended. Read the saved schedule before leaving it to run.
4. Edit the task if needed
Open the task from Scheduled or select its title in the conversation. You can then review or change the schedule, pause the task or delete it.
The available controls may vary by account and interface. OpenAI also provides access through Settings > Notifications > Manage tasks.
5. Test the result before relying on it
In the interface I demonstrated, the task menu included a Run Now option. I used that to check whether the instructions produced the type of update I expected.
If that control is available in your account, use it. If it is not, create a one-off test or run the prompt manually in a normal chat first.
Testing matters because a task can run perfectly on schedule and still produce an unhelpful result. Check the output for relevance, accuracy, source quality and a sensible format. Then improve the prompt before making the task part of your routine.
How task notifications work
ChatGPT can notify you when a task produces an update on a supported device. OpenAI says you can manage push and email options under Settings > Notifications.
Mobile notifications require the supported ChatGPT app and permission to send notifications. If you want to rely on the alert, confirm those settings instead of assuming the phone will notify you.
How to make a scheduled task more useful
Scheduling a vague prompt gives you a vague result on a timetable. The quality still depends on the instruction.
I recommend tightening four areas before you activate a recurring task.
Define the decision the output should support
“Give me AI news” is broad. “Select the five OpenAI developments most relevant to SME owners and explain how each could affect their work” gives ChatGPT a clearer filter.
Set a time period
Without a date range, a weekly research task may repeat old stories. Ask for developments from the previous seven days and request publication dates and source links.
Specify the source standard
For product changes, I ask ChatGPT to prioritise official company information. This reduces the risk of treating rumour, recycled commentary or an outdated tutorial as a current feature.
Review connected-app permissions
If your task uses email or another connected app, check what the connection can read or change. OpenAI notes that supported apps and permissions vary by account and workspace.
An action that changes external data may also require your approval and pause the task until you respond.
A sensible first task to try
Start with a task that is useful but low risk. A weekly research briefing is a good example because you can review the sources and decide what to use.
Avoid making your first experiment a task that sends messages, changes records or handles sensitive information. Learn how the scheduling, notifications and output behave before giving a recurring task more responsibility.
Scheduled tasks are most useful when they remove a genuine repeat job from your week. Pick one recurring piece of research, planning or follow-up, write a specific prompt and test the result. Once it works, refine it rather than adding several tasks at once.
If you like this post, then you may be interested in learning how to create your first ChatGPT skill.
Frequently asked questions
Q1 Can ChatGPT run a task when I am offline?
A1 scheduled tasks are designed to run later without you keeping the original chat open. Availability and behaviour depend on the eligible task, account and workspace settings.
Q2 How many scheduled tasks can I have on the free plan?
A2 OpenAI currently lists a limit of three active tasks for free and Go accounts. You may need to pause or delete a task before creating another when you reach the limit.
Q3 Can a free user schedule an exact time?
A3 Not according to OpenAI's current guidance. Free tasks use flexible time windows. Exact delivery times require an eligible paid plan.
Q4 Where can I change task notifications?
A4 Go to Settings > Notifications. You can manage supported push and email notifications there and use Manage Tasks to open the Scheduled list.
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