> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.n8n.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.n8n.io/integrations/builtin/core-nodes/n8n-nodes-base.scheduletrigger.md).

# Schedule Trigger

Use the Schedule Trigger node to run workflows at fixed intervals and times. This works in a similar way to the Cron software utility in Unix-like systems.

{% hint style="info" %}
**You must publish the workflow**

If a workflow uses the Schedule node as a trigger, make sure that you save and publish the workflow.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="info" %}
**Timezone settings**

The node relies on the timezone setting. n8n uses either:

1. The workflow timezone, if set. Refer to [Workflow settings](/build/manage-workflows/configure-workflow-settings.md) for more information.
2. The n8n instance timezone, if the workflow timezone isn't set. The default is `America/New York` for self-hosted instances. n8n Cloud tries to detect the instance owner's timezone when they sign up, falling back to GMT as the default. Self-hosted users can change the instance setting using [Environment variables](/deploy/host-n8n/configure-n8n/basic-configuration/use-environment-variables/timezone-and-localization.md). Cloud admins can change the instance timezone in the [Admin dashboard](/deploy/use-n8n-cloud/configure-cloud/set-your-timezone.md).
   {% endhint %}

## Node parameters <a href="#node-parameters" id="node-parameters"></a>

Add **Trigger Rules** to determine when the trigger should run.

Use the **Trigger Interval** to select the time interval unit of measure to schedule the trigger for. All other parameters depend on the interval you select. Choose from:

* [Seconds trigger interval](#seconds-trigger-interval)
* [Minutes trigger interval](#minutes-trigger-interval)
* [Hours trigger interval](#hours-trigger-interval)
* [Days trigger interval](#days-trigger-interval)
* [Weeks trigger interval](#weeks-trigger-interval)
* [Months trigger interval](#months-trigger-interval)
* [Custom (Cron) interval](#custom-cron-interval)

You can add multiple **Trigger Rules** to run the node on different schedules.

Refer to the sections below for more detail on configuring each **Trigger Interval**. Refer to [Templates and examples](#templates-and-examples) for further examples.

### Seconds trigger interval <a href="#seconds-trigger-interval" id="seconds-trigger-interval"></a>

* **Seconds Between Triggers**: Enter the number of seconds between each workflow trigger. For example, if you enter `30` here, the trigger will run every 30 seconds.

### Minutes trigger interval <a href="#minutes-trigger-interval" id="minutes-trigger-interval"></a>

* **Minutes Between Triggers**: Enter the number of minutes between each workflow trigger. For example, if you enter `5` here, the trigger will run every 5 minutes.

### Hours trigger interval <a href="#hours-trigger-interval" id="hours-trigger-interval"></a>

* **Hours Between Triggers**: Enter the number of hours between each workflow trigger.
* **Trigger at Minute**: Enter the minute past the hour to trigger the node when it runs, from `0` to `59`.

For example, if you enter `6` **Hours Between Triggers** and `30` **Trigger at Minute**, the node will run every six hours at 30 minutes past the hour.

### Days trigger interval <a href="#days-trigger-interval" id="days-trigger-interval"></a>

* **Days Between Triggers**: Enter the number of days between each workflow trigger.
* **Trigger at Hour**: Select the hour of the day to trigger the node.
* **Trigger at Minute**: Enter the minute past the hour to trigger the node when it runs, from `0` to `59`.

For example, if you enter `2` **Days Between Triggers**, **9am** for **Trigger at Hour**, and `15` **Trigger at Minute**, the node will run every two days at 9:15am.

### Weeks trigger interval <a href="#weeks-trigger-interval" id="weeks-trigger-interval"></a>

* **Weeks Between Triggers**: Enter the number of weeks between each workflow trigger.
* **Trigger on Weekdays**: Select the day(s) of the week you want to trigger the node.
* **Trigger at Hour**: Select the hour of the day to trigger the node.
* **Trigger at Minute**: Enter the minute past the hour to trigger the node when it runs, from `0` to `59`.

For example, if you enter `2` **Weeks Between Triggers**, **Monday** for **Trigger on Weekdays**, **3pm** for **Trigger at Hour**, and `30` **Trigger at Minute**, the node will run every two weeks on Monday at 3:30 PM.

### Months trigger interval <a href="#months-trigger-interval" id="months-trigger-interval"></a>

* **Months Between Triggers**: Enter the number of months between each workflow trigger.
* **Trigger at Day of Month**: Enter the day of the month the day should trigger at, from `1` to `31`. If a month doesn't have this day, the node won't trigger. For example, if you enter `30` here, the node won't trigger in February.
* **Trigger at Hour**: Select the hour of the day to trigger the node.
* **Trigger at Minute**: Enter the minute past the hour to trigger the node when it runs, from `0` to `59`.

For example, if you enter `3` **Months Between Triggers**, `28` **Trigger at Day of Month**, **9am** for **Trigger at Hour**, and `0` **Trigger at Minute**, the node will run each quarter on the 28th day of the month at 9:00 AM.

### Custom (Cron) interval <a href="#custom-cron-interval" id="custom-cron-interval"></a>

Enter a custom cron **Expression** to set the schedule for the trigger.

To generate a Cron expression, you can use [crontab guru](https://crontab.guru). Paste the Cron expression that you generated using crontab guru in the **Expression** field in n8n.

#### Examples <a href="#examples" id="examples"></a>

| Type                | Cron Expression    | Description                                                  |
| ------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Every X Seconds     | `*/10 * * * * *`   | Every 10 seconds.                                            |
| Every X Minutes     | `*/5 * * * *`      | Every 5 minutes.                                             |
| Hourly              | `0 * * * *`        | Every hour on the hour.                                      |
| Daily               | `0 6 * * *`        | At 6:00 AM every day.                                        |
| Weekly              | `0 12 * * 1`       | At noon every Monday.                                        |
| Monthly             | `0 0 1 * *`        | At midnight on the 1st of every month.                       |
| Every X Days        | `0 0 */3 * *`      | At midnight every 3rd day.                                   |
| Only Weekdays       | `0 9 * * 1-5`      | At 9:00 AM Monday through Friday.                            |
| Custom Hourly Range | `0 9-17 * * *`     | Every hour from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM every day.                |
| Quarterly           | `0 0 1 1,4,7,10 *` | At midnight on the 1st of January, April, July, and October. |

{% hint style="warning" %}
**Using variables in the Cron expression**

While variables can be used in the scheduled trigger, their values only get evaluated when the workflow is published. If you alter a variable's value in the settings after a workflow is published, the changes won't alter the cron schedule. To re-evaluate the variable, unpublish the workflow and then re-publish it.
{% endhint %}

#### Why there are six asterisks in the Cron expression <a href="#why-there-are-six-asterisks-in-the-cron-expression" id="why-there-are-six-asterisks-in-the-cron-expression"></a>

The sixth asterisk in the Cron expression represents seconds. Setting this is optional. The node will execute even if you don't set the value for seconds.

|   (\*)   |   \*   |  \*  |      \*      |   \*  |          \*          |
| :------: | :----: | :--: | :----------: | :---: | :------------------: |
| (second) | minute | hour | day of month | month | day of week(Sun-Sat) |

## Templates and examples <a href="#templates-and-examples" id="templates-and-examples"></a>

[Browse n8n-nodes-base.scheduletrigger integration templates](https://n8n.io/integrations/schedule-trigger) or [search all templates](https://n8n.io/workflows/)

## Common issues <a href="#common-issues" id="common-issues"></a>

For common questions or issues and suggested solutions, refer to [Common Issues](/integrations/builtin/core-nodes/n8n-nodes-base.scheduletrigger/common-issues.md).