How to Automate Batch Files With Task Scheduler on Windows

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Published Oct 3, 2023

Chifundo is a writer for MakeUseOf. He initially studied banking but discovered a passion for writing and became a freelance writer in 2017. He has written articles, blogs, essays, and web content for dozens of clients onUpwork, as well as high-authority sites like How-To Geek and Make Tech Easier.

Chifundo loves that writing allows him to learn and explore different topics and turn them into engaging, easy-to-understand content that helps people.

He mainly writes for Windows on MakeUseOf, having been a Windows user since Windows 98. He has helped people solve Windows problems at home and in the organizations he has worked for. He loves to help people understand various Windows features to use the OS to its full potential.

In his spare time, Chifundo loves to design and code video games. He mainly focuses on 2D games and dreams of becoming an indie developer. He also does pixel and vector art, which he uses for his personal projects.

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It can get pretty tiring when you have to run batch files over and over again during certain times or events on your computer. Luckily, Windows offers a way for you to automate that process so you don't have to manually do it all the time.

In this guide, we're going to show you how to automate a batch file using Task Scheduler.

Should You Schedule Your Batch Files on Windows?

Of course, not all batch files need to be automated. But if they contain tasks that you need to perform consistently, then automating the process will ensure that you don't skip a beat. For example, if you created a batch file to automate repetitive tasks, such as creating a backup or opening certain programs when you log into your computer, then it makes sense that you might automate those batch files.

It is an efficient way to ensure that you don't forget to run the batch file at specific times or when certain events happen. Not to mention that it also saves you time and effort, especially if you have a lot of batch files to run, allowing you to be more productive.

Scheduling a Batch File to Run Automatically on Windows

To start the batch file automation process, you'll have toopen Task Scheduler. To do that, click onSearch in the Taskbar and entertask scheduler in the search box. In the results, clickTask Scheduler to open the app.

the Task Scheduler in Windows Search — Screenshot by Chifundo Kasiya -- No attribution required

In the right panel, underActions, click onCreate Basic Task.

the Task Schedular on Windows — Screenshot by Chifundo Kasiya -- No attribution required

Give the task a descriptive name and then click onNext. TheDescription part is optional, but it's good practice to fill it in so you don't forget what the task does.

creating a basic task in Task Scheduler on Windows — Screenshot by Chifundo Kasiya -- No attribution required

Pick a trigger, which is when you want the task to run, by clicking on the appropriate radio button, and then click onNext. In our example, we pickedDaily, meaning we want to run the task every day.

choosing a trigger in Task Scheduler — Screenshot by Chifundo Kasiya -- No attribution required

Each trigger has its own parameters that you need to set. For theDaily trigger, you have to pick the day and time it starts, as well as how many days the task will recur. Once you set those, clickNext.

setting the preferences for the daily trigger in Task Scheduler — Screenshot by Chifundo Kasiya -- No attribution required

Now, you need to select an action, and for our batch file, will are going to select theStart a program radio button and clickNext.

choosing an action in Task Scheduler on Windows — Screenshot by Chifundo Kasiya -- No attribution required

UnderProgram/Script click onBrowse, select the batch file you want to automate, and then click onNext.

choosing a program or script to automate in Task Scheduler — Screenshot by Chifundo Kasiya -- No attribution required

Finally, clickFinish. Now, Task Scheduler will run that batch depending on the trigger you set, which isDaily in our case

Removing the Batch File From the Task Scheduler

When you no longer wish to run the batch file, you can easily disable the task, which will just stop it until you enable it again, or remove it from Task Scheduler completely.

To do that, open Task Scheduler (as shown above) and select the task you automated, which will be in the middle panel. In the right panel, underActions, click on eitherDisable to stop it for now orDelete to remove it from Task Scheduler.

a scheduled Task in Task Scheduler on Windows — Screenshot by Chifundo Kasiya -- No attribution required

If you clicked onDelete, confirm your action by clickingYes in the popup. That means if you want to automate the batch file again, you'll have to do the scheduling process all over (as shown in the previous section).

If you clicked onDisable instead, you can enable it again by selecting the task in Task Scheduler and clicking onEnable (where theDelete button used to be). This will resume running the batch file at the times you scheduled or after the event you told it to look out for.

Run Your Batch Files Automatically on Windows

If you're getting tired of running the same batch files over and over or know you're prone to forgetting to run them, then you should consider automating them. You don't need special knowledge to do so either, as Windows makes it easy to do with the Task Scheduler. You can also stop the automation process at any time by disabling or deleting the task.