How to Enable or Disable Scheduled Tasks on Windows

Many users do not know about a handy Windows feature known as the Task Scheduler. It is automatically used by some software to set up scheduled tasks but, typically, they use more refined approaches for their needs. The Task Scheduler can come in handy if you want to automate the execution of certain scripts or software. To this, however, you will need to learn how to enable and disable scheduled tasks on Windows.

There are several ways to do this, but we will only get over two of the primary ones – through the Task Scheduler or via the Command Prompt.

Use the Task Scheduler to Enable or Disable Scheduled Tasks on Windows

The first tool to use is the in-built interface of the Task Scheduler. You can access it via these steps:

  1. Open the Start Menu -> Task Scheduler.
  2. Expand the Task Scheduler Library folder on the left.
  3. Browse the folders to see the tasks they contain in the middle part of the window.
  4. If a task has its status set to Ready, then it is an active one.
  5. You can right-click it to select Disable.
  6. You can do the same to enable tasks.

How to Enable or Disable Scheduled Tasks on Windows

Use the CMD to Enable or Disable Scheduled Tasks on Windows

Most users should stick to the above method since it is much more intuitive compared to the Command Prompt. However, if you feel like you are tech-savvy enough, then the Windows Command Prompt can also do the job:

  1. Open Start Menu -> Command Prompt.
  2. Use this command to enable tasks - schtasks /Change /TN "\FolderName\TaskName" /Enable.
  3. Or this command to disable tasks - schtasks /Change /TN "\FolderName\TaskName" /Disable.

Of course, you will need to replace FolderName and TaskName with the appropriate folder and task names.

Can I Disable the Task Scheduler?

While it is possible to turn off this feature, you should not do it. It does not take a lot of resources to run, and you will not notice its presence at all. It works in the background, and plenty of Windows apps rely on it. Furthermore, 3rd-party programs may also rely on the Task Scheduler regularly. You should not disable it.

September 13, 2021
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