How can I add Repeat task every "4 hours" to task scheduler?

Question

How can I add Repeat task every "4 hours" to task scheduler?

Fluid Poetry 0

I'm running Win11Pro.

Is there a registry hack or editing some system file which would allow me to set up tasks in the Task Scheduler such that in the advanced Trigger settings I could set this task to recur every 4 hours? I would add it could be extended to any number which would divide evenly into 24, such as 2, 4, 3, 6, 12, but I'm just looking for 4 or 6 hour options.

I believe Windows used to have no problem with manually changing the "1 hour" setting to x hours in the field, but currently it will not run on it's schedule if I do this.

The only option to get around this is inelegant, that is by adding multiple triggers at 4 hour intervals.

I am hoping to add via registry some extra recurrence time options.

I'm also going to post this in the answers.microsoft.com site, since I'm unsure if this or the other location is the best place to ask this question.

thank you for your time.

Beninu Andersen 5 Reputation points

2025-01-19T04:22:56.0333333+00:00

I'm not entirely sure what difficulties you meet. Is your problem that the field is grayed out so you cannot write in the field like demonstrated by MotoX80 below? Or is your problem that you aren't satisfied with the predefined suggestions from windows as selectable by the pull-down menu? I think the reason Windows hasn't made the long pull down with a list of each 15 minutes, is that a task is made so rarely that it shouldn't be a huge problem just writing 4 in the field when 4 is not one of the default options. But as said, I'm not sure why you cannot just write 4 in the field as you should be able to. I just tested and I can write both integers and h[:mm] format (such as 4, 2:30, 3:17, 14:00). So could you elaborate briefly and explain what the problem is when you try to write 4:00 in the field as you mentioned in your question. I'm not sure what happens when you do that, and that would clarify what the problem is.

What do you mean you have to create multiple triggers at 4 hour intervals? Is that related to the problem that you cannot write "4:00" in the field (the field is locked/inaccessible)?

Why would you want to add more recurrence time options via RegDB? Is what bothers you that you cannot set all intervals with mouse selection but has to write them manually, as that is not really a flaw but by design?

Thanks,
Beninu Andersen

3 answers

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Beninu Andersen 5 Reputation points

2025-01-19T04:22:56.0333333+00:00

I'm not entirely sure what difficulties you meet. Is your problem that the field is grayed out so you cannot write in the field like demonstrated by MotoX80 below? Or is your problem that you aren't satisfied with the predefined suggestions from windows as selectable by the pull-down menu? I think the reason Windows hasn't made the long pull down with a list of each 15 minutes, is that a task is made so rarely that it shouldn't be a huge problem just writing 4 in the field when 4 is not one of the default options. But as said, I'm not sure why you cannot just write 4 in the field as you should be able to. I just tested and I can write both integers and h[:mm] format (such as 4, 2:30, 3:17, 14:00). So could you elaborate briefly and explain what the problem is when you try to write 4:00 in the field as you mentioned in your question. I'm not sure what happens when you do that, and that would clarify what the problem is.

What do you mean you have to create multiple triggers at 4 hour intervals? Is that related to the problem that you cannot write "4:00" in the field (the field is locked/inaccessible)?

Why would you want to add more recurrence time options via RegDB? Is what bothers you that you cannot set all intervals with mouse selection but has to write them manually, as that is not really a flaw but by design?

Thanks,
Beninu Andersen

Answer 1

MotoX80 35,626

It appears to be working ok for me. I set the task to run at 11:30 and repeat every 4 hours.

User's image

Note the last run time and that the next run time is correctly set. Obviously, I'll need to wait 4 hours to verify that it executes.

Is your next run time getting set?

User's image

Answer 2

Hello there,

You should be able to update the value if you by editing the GPO XML File. Please follow below process to do that:

Create a Group Policy (GPO) with GPO Settings for Task Scheduler by going to either:

Computer Configuration -> Preferences -> Control Panel Settings -> Scheduled Tasks OR

User Configuration -> Preferences -> Control Panel Settings -> Schedule Tasks

Once the GPO is created - Click the GPO and On Right Hand Side Pane Click Details Tab to get the Unique ID of the GPO. Keep a note of this somewhere.
On your domain controller go to c:\windows\sysvol\domain\Policies\ <Search for the Unique ID of the GPO> and open the folder
Go to Machine or User depending upon where you have created the policy and then Preferences\ScheduledTasks\ScheduledTasks.xml.
Open the XML file and Edit the Time according to your requirement and SAVE. The XML Tag Value to update is in below section:

-<Triggers>-<TimeTrigger><StartBoundary>2019-10-31T14:03:16</StartBoundary><Enabled>true</Enabled>-<Repetition><Interval>PT1H</Interval><StopAtDurationEnd>false</StopAtDurationEnd></Repetition></TimeTrigger> </Triggers></Task></Properties>

Update PT1H to PT4H to change it to 4 Hours.

https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/53fd55e9-1af1-4157-b622-1e2f7eb5167a/creating-a-scheduled-task-that-runs-every-4-hours?forum=winserverGP

Hope this resolves your Query !!

--If the reply is helpful, please Upvote and Accept it as an answer--

Answer 3

Ryan B Cooley 41

It depends on when you want it to run. Daily is every day. Weekly gives you the option of choosing the days. Monthly lets you choose specific days. If you check the box that says "Repeat task every:", you can choose 1 hour, 30 minutes, 15 minutes, 10 minutes, or 5 minutes; or you can also manually change the values in the drop-down box to 4 hours or 8 hours or 2 hours or 1.5 hours, etc. just by typing the numbers in.

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How can I add Repeat task every "4 hours" to task scheduler?

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