gitlab-org--gitlab-foss/doc/ci/pipelines/schedules.md

---
stage: Verify
group: Pipeline Execution
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disqus_identifier: 'https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/project/pipelines/schedules.html'
type: reference, howto
---

# Scheduled pipelines **(FREE)**

Use scheduled pipelines to run GitLab CI/CD [pipelines](index.md) at regular intervals.

## Prerequisites

For a scheduled pipeline to run:

- The schedule owner must have the Developer role. For pipelines on protected branches,
  the schedule owner must be [allowed to merge](../../user/project/protected_branches.md#configure-a-protected-branch)
  to the branch.
- The [CI/CD configuration](../yaml/index.md) must be valid.

Otherwise, the pipeline is not created. No error message is displayed.

## Add a pipeline schedule

> Scheduled pipelines for tags [introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/23292) in GitLab 14.9.

To add a pipeline schedule:

1. On the top bar, select **Main menu > Projects** and find your project.
1. On the left sidebar, select **CI/CD > Schedules**.
1. Select **New schedule** and fill in the form.
   - **Interval Pattern**: Select one of the preconfigured intervals, or enter a custom
     interval in [cron notation](../../topics/cron/index.md). You can use any cron value,
     but scheduled pipelines cannot run more frequently than the instance's
     [maximum scheduled pipeline frequency](../../administration/cicd.md#change-maximum-scheduled-pipeline-frequency).
   - **Target branch or tag**: Select the branch or tag for the pipeline.
   - **Variables**: Add any number of [CI/CD variables](../variables/index.md) to the schedule.
     These variables are available only when the scheduled pipeline runs,
     and not in any other pipeline run.

If the project already has the [maximum number of pipeline schedules](../../administration/instance_limits.md#number-of-pipeline-schedules),
you must delete unused schedules before you can add another.

## Edit a pipeline schedule

> Introduced in GitLab 14.8, only a pipeline schedule owner can edit the schedule.

The owner of a pipeline schedule can edit it:

1. On the top bar, select **Main menu > Projects** and find your project.
1. In the left sidebar, select **CI/CD > Schedules**.
1. Next to the schedule, select **Edit** (**{pencil}**) and fill in the form.

The user must have the Developer role or above for the project. If the user is
not the owner of the schedule, they must first [take ownership](#take-ownership)
of the schedule.

## Run manually

To trigger a pipeline schedule manually, so that it runs immediately instead of
the next scheduled time:

1. On the top bar, select **Main menu > Projects** and find your project.
1. On the left sidebar, select **CI/CD > Schedules**.
1. On the right of the list, for
   the pipeline you want to run, select **Play** (**{play}**).

You can manually run scheduled pipelines once per minute.

## Take ownership

Scheduled pipelines execute with the permissions of the user
who owns the schedule. The pipeline has access to the same resources as the pipeline owner,
including [protected environments](../environments/protected_environments.md) and the
[CI/CD job token](../jobs/ci_job_token.md).

To take ownership of a pipeline created by a different user:

1. On the top bar, select **Main menu > Projects** and find your project.
1. On the left sidebar, select **CI/CD > Schedules**.
1. On the right of the list, for
   the pipeline you want to become owner of, select **Take ownership**.

## Related topics

- Pipeline schedules can be maintained by using the [Pipeline schedules API](../../api/pipeline_schedules.md).
- You can [control which jobs are added to scheduled pipelines](../jobs/job_control.md#run-jobs-for-scheduled-pipelines).

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