Scheduling Tasks

Scheduling lets a task run automatically on the cadence and timezone you choose. You can add a schedule while creating a task or add one later by opening an existing task.

This guide covers time-based schedules. Webhook triggers are a separate task-trigger mode: they start a task from an event rather than at a scheduled time. For task creation and other trigger options, see Creating Tasks.

Create a scheduled task with the agent

Tell the agent what the task should do and when it should run. Include the timezone so the intended run time is clear.

Example: Create a task that runs a data quality check on my sales sheet every weekday at 9:00 AM America/New_York.

The agent can create a new scheduled task or add a schedule to an existing task. Open the task afterward if you want to review or change its settings.

Add a schedule manually

When you create a task manually, you can set its schedule under Schedule & Mode during setup. For the complete creation flow, see Creating Tasks.

To add a schedule to an existing task:

1. Open Tasks and select the task you want to schedule.

2. Select Schedule to open the configuration box.

3. Choose the frequency, run time, and timezone. The available cadence choices are:

   • Every N minutes

   • Every N hours

   • Daily

   • Weekly, including a Weekdays option and day selection

   • Monthly

4. Select Save changes.

Note: Obvious initially uses the timezone detected from your browser. Check the timezone shown before saving — the saved schedule runs according to the selected timezone regardless of where you later open Obvious.

Once saved and enabled, the task runs automatically according to its schedule settings.

Pause or resume a schedule

Pause a schedule when you want to keep its configuration but stop future automatic runs. On the Tasks page, use the Pause or Resume control shown for the scheduled task.

When a task is paused, scheduled runs do not begin. When you resume it, the saved recurrence and timezone remain available.

Troubleshoot a schedule

I cannot find Schedule

Open Tasks and select the task, then look for Schedule. If the control shows Available on Pro plans, your current plan does not include Scheduled Tasks.

The task ran at the wrong time

Open the task and check both its run time and timezone. The selected timezone controls when the schedule runs.

A paused task did not run

A paused schedule intentionally prevents automatic runs. Use Resume for the scheduled task when you want automatic runs to start again.

A saved schedule keeps repeatable work on the cadence and timezone you selected. Reopen the task whenever you need to change its timing or pause automatic runs.