The Task Scheduler allows you to automate tasks on your PC. You can schedule any app to run at convenient times for you without you manually opening it yourself. Now let’s discuss how to start it on Windows 10.
Many casual users of their notebook or desktop PC only use the simplest of applications available to them on a given Windows 10 installation. However, their lives could be much easier if they realized how to use the more advanced apps on the operating system.
With that in mind, let’s discuss how to start Task Scheduler in Windows 10.
What is the Task Scheduler Used for?
The Task Scheduler or Windows Task Scheduler enables you to automate tasks on your PC by picking a schedule for them. For example, you can schedule any app to run at convenient times for you without you manually opening it yourself.
It’s quite the useful app that scripts at scheduled times or time intervals what the PC should do. Microsoft introduced the feature back in Windows 95 “Microsoft Plus!” package as “System Agent”, which serves as the service’s core component to this day.
You can schedule apps to launch, run in the background, or close as you will as can be seen and managed by your Task Manager. There are different ways to start the task scheduler. They include the following methods and the steps needed to accomplish them.
Method 1: Launch It Using Windows Search.
Step 1: Click on the Windows search bar or icon on the Windows taskbar. Type in “Task Scheduler” in order to search for it. It should appear soon after as so.
Step 2: Now click on the icon for the app, the “Best Match” result, or “Open”. You can also hit the enter key after typing the name of the app.
Step 3: If there’s no search bar, just click on the “Start” button and type in “Task Scheduler” to bring up the search bar.
Step 4: You can also show the search bar by right-clicking the search bar and selecting “Search”, then clicking on “Show search box”.
Method 2: Run It with the Run Dialog Window.
Step 1: Press the Windows Key and the Letter R key at the same time (Win + R). This brings up the Run dialog window.
Step 2: Type “taskschd.msc” then press the Enter key or click “OK” to bring up the Task Scheduler app.
Method 3: Use the All Apps List on the Start Menu
Your Start menu actually has every piece of software installed onto your machine. The “Windows Administrative Tools” folder contains a hidden “Task Scheduler” icon.
Step 1: Click on the Start icon to bring up the Start menu.
Step 2: Scroll to “Windows Administrative Tools” folder from the left of the Start Menu. If you can’t find it, then open the “All Apps” list.
Step 3: Choose “Task Scheduler” to open the app.
Method 4: Start it from the Control Panel.
Step 1: Type in “Windows Administrative Tools” on the search bar. It should autofill.
Step 2: Choose the “Task Scheduler” shortcut on the list of shortcuts on the Administrative Tools folder.
Method 5: Use the Command Prompt.
Step 1: Open Command Prompt. You can do so by typing Win + R as before then typing in “cmd”.
Step 2: You can also use the search bar and type in “Command Prompt” from there.
Step 3: On the command prompt, just type in “control schedtasks” and press Enter. You don’t have to type “C:” first to get to the C: prompt do this. You can type it as soon as Command Prompt appears.
Step 4: This should work and immediately summon “Task Scheduler” right after.
How do I create an automated task in Task Scheduler?
In Summary
Task Scheduler is a very useful productivity app that can help you organize your work. You can use multiple ways to access Task Scheduler. It ranges from the easiest, which is Windows search, to the most advanced, which is opening it using Command Prompt. Regardless of your method, they all summon the same app. As they say, there’s more than one way to skin a cat!
References:
- “How to Open Task Scheduler in Windows 10“, WikiHow.com, March 29, 2019