---
stage: Verify
group: Continuous Integration
info: To determine the technical writer assigned to the Stage/Group associated with this page, see https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/engineering/ux/technical-writing/#assignments
disqus_identifier: 'https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/project/pipelines/schedules.html'
type: reference, howto
---

# Pipeline schedules **(FREE)**

> - Introduced in GitLab 9.1 as [Trigger Schedule](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-foss/-/merge_requests/10533).
> - [Renamed to Pipeline Schedule](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-foss/-/merge_requests/10853) in GitLab 9.2.

Pipelines are normally run based on certain conditions being met. For example, when a branch is pushed to repository.

Pipeline schedules can be used to also run [pipelines](index.md) at specific intervals. For example:

- Every month on the 22nd for a certain branch.
- Once every day.

In addition to using the GitLab UI, pipeline schedules can be maintained using the
[Pipeline schedules API](../../api/pipeline_schedules.md).

Schedule timing is configured with cron notation, parsed by [Fugit](https://github.com/floraison/fugit).

## Prerequisites

In order for a scheduled pipeline to be created successfully:

- The schedule owner must have [permissions](../../user/permissions.md) to merge into the target branch.
- The pipeline configuration must be valid.

Otherwise the pipeline is not created.

## Configuring pipeline schedules

To schedule a pipeline for project:

1. Navigate to the project's **CI/CD > Schedules** page.
1. Click the **New schedule** button.
1. Fill in the **Schedule a new pipeline** form.
1. Click the **Save pipeline schedule** button.

![New Schedule Form](img/pipeline_schedules_new_form.png)

NOTE:
Pipelines execution [timing is dependent](#advanced-configuration) on Sidekiq's own schedule.

In the **Schedules** index page you can see a list of the pipelines that are
scheduled to run. The next run is automatically calculated by the server GitLab
is installed on.

![Schedules list](img/pipeline_schedules_list.png)

### Using variables

> [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-foss/-/merge_requests/12328) in GitLab 9.4.

You can pass any number of arbitrary variables. They are available in
GitLab CI/CD so that they can be used in your [`.gitlab-ci.yml` file](../../ci/yaml/README.md).

![Scheduled pipeline variables](img/pipeline_schedule_variables.png)

### Using only and except

To configure a job to be executed only when the pipeline has been
scheduled (or the opposite), use
[only and except](../yaml/README.md#onlyexcept-basic) configuration keywords.

In the example below `make world` runs in scheduled pipelines, and `make build` runs in pipelines that are not scheduled:

```yaml
job:on-schedule:
  only:
    - schedules
  script:
    - make world

job:
  except:
    - schedules
  script:
    - make build
```

### Advanced configuration **(FREE SELF)**

The pipelines are not executed exactly on schedule because schedules are handled by
Sidekiq, which runs according to its interval.

For example, only two pipelines are created per day if:

- You set a schedule to create a pipeline every minute (`* * * * *`).
- The Sidekiq worker runs on 00:00 and 12:00 every day (`0 */12 * * *`).

To change the Sidekiq worker's frequency:

1. Edit the `gitlab_rails['pipeline_schedule_worker_cron']` value in your instance's `gitlab.rb` file.
1. [Reconfigure GitLab](../../administration/restart_gitlab.md#omnibus-gitlab-reconfigure) for the changes to take effect.

For GitLab.com, refer to the [dedicated settings page](../../user/gitlab_com/index.md#gitlab-cicd).

## Working with scheduled pipelines

After configuration, GitLab supports many functions for working with scheduled pipelines.

### Running manually

> [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-foss/-/merge_requests/15700) in GitLab 10.4.

To trigger a pipeline schedule manually, click the "Play" button:

![Play Pipeline Schedule](img/pipeline_schedule_play.png)

This schedules a background job to run the pipeline schedule. A flash
message provides a link to the CI/CD Pipeline index page.

NOTE:
To help avoid abuse, users are rate limited to triggering a pipeline once per
minute.

### Taking ownership

Pipelines are executed as a user, who owns a schedule. This influences what projects and other resources the pipeline has access to.

If a user does not own a pipeline, you can take ownership by clicking the **Take ownership** button.
The next time a pipeline is scheduled, your credentials are used.

![Schedules list](img/pipeline_schedules_ownership.png)

If the owner of a pipeline schedule cannot create
pipelines on the target branch, the schedule stops creating new
pipelines.

This can happen if, for example:

- The owner is blocked or removed from the project.
- The target branch or tag is protected.

In this case, someone with sufficient privileges must take ownership of the
schedule.

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