> This page is part of the [Customer.io documentation](https://docs-customerio.netlify.app). For the complete index, see [llms.txt](https://docs-customerio.netlify.app/llms.txt). > Last updated: July 15, 2026 # Schedule an automation You can schedule your automation to start or stop at a specific date and time. Scheduling gives your team the flexibility to plan and execute time-bound marketing initiatives with fewer manual steps. For instance, you might have a seasonal automation or limited-time offer that you want to make sure is only available during the relevant time period. ## How it works When you schedule an automation, Customer.io automatically manages it based on your specified times: * **Start time**: When the automation starts to trigger and process journeys * **Stop time**: When the automation stops accepting new profiles Scheduled automations display a “Scheduled” label next to their [status indicator](/messaging/send/automations/statuses/). The “Scheduled” label shows that a start and/or stop time is set, while the status (like “Running”, “Draft”, or “Stopped”) shows the automation’s current state. The “Scheduled” label displays as long as the automation has a start or stop time scheduled in the future. For instance, an automation with the status “Draft” and the label “Scheduled” means the automation has not started but has a scheduled start or stop time that has not passed. You can hover over the label to see any scheduled times. [![An automation with two statuses in the automation list page: draft and scheduled. The hover state of scheduled shows a start and stop time.](https://docs.customer.io/images/campaign-schedule-hover.png)](#7d17bcdcb3b1c7b198565161ea7e45f3-lightbox) ## Add a schedule After you finalize your workflow, click **Start Automation** to review your automation and schedule it. [![An image of the automation builder. Top left is the name and settings. Right is the add menu. Top right is the start automation button.](https://docs.customer.io/images/campaign-workflow-builder.png)](#b4343648b8883c37fab0f5fa68352413-lightbox)  The schedule reflects the time zone of your operating system It follows the time zone of the team member who is logged in and made the schedule, not the people or data triggering the automation. 1. In the review modal, click **Schedule**. 2. (Optional) Specify a start time. 1. For automations triggered by an attribute, segment, object, or relationship, you’ll also specify whether [current and future matches or only future matches](/messaging/send/automations/overview/#forward-looking-behaviour) should trigger the automation. 3. (Optional) Specify a stop time. 1. Decide what should happen to active journeys when the stop time is reached: do they exit immediately or finish their journey? [Learn more about how these options impact your messages and users.](/messaging/send/automations/statuses/#stop-an-automation) 4. Click **Schedule Automation**. Learn more about rescheduling automations and impacts on live automations below. ### Update a draft automation’s schedule Follow the steps above to [add a schedule](#add-a-schedule). You can modify the start time until the automation activates. Return to your workflow and edit the time in the review modal. Once the automation starts, the automation switches from “Draft” to “Running” but will continue to show as “Scheduled” to indicate there’s a start or stop time associated. ### Schedule a running automation When an automation is in a running state, it may have active journeys—profiles may actively be moving through your automation workflow. If you want to add or change the stop time, you must also decide what happens to active journeys when the stop time is reached: do they exit immediately or finish their journey? 1. Go to the Automations list page and click inline with your automation name. 2. Choose **Schedule stop**. 3. Specify a stop time.  The schedule reflects the time zone of your operating system It follows the time zone of the team member who is logged in and made the schedule, not the people or data triggering the automation. 4. Decide what should happen to active journeys when the stop time is reached: do they exit immediately or finish their journey? [Learn more about how these options impact your messages and users.](/messaging/send/automations/statuses/#stop-an-automation) 5. Click **Save Schedule**. ### Reschedule a stopped automation Consider whether you want to restart this existing automation or duplicate it to start a new one. Do you want past journeys as part of your data in this automation? If so, rescheduling makes sense.  The schedule reflects the time zone of your operating system It follows the time zone of the team member who is logged in and made the schedule, not the people or data triggering the automation. 1. Go to the Automations list page and click inline with your automation name. 2. Choose **Schedule**. 3. (Optional) Specify a start time. 1. For automations triggered by an attribute, segment, object, or relationship, you’ll also specify whether [current and future matches or only future matches](/messaging/send/automations/overview/#forward-looking-behaviour) should trigger the automation. 4. (Optional) Specify a stop time. 1. Decide what should happen to active journeys when the stop time is reached: do they exit immediately or finish their journey? [Learn more about how these options impact your messages and users.](/messaging/send/automations/statuses/#stop-an-automation) 5. Click **Save Schedule**. ### Reschedule an archived automation Instead of rescheduling an archived automation, consider duplicating the automation and starting fresh. Otherwise, if you want to preserve journeys from the previous run of the automation, you must first unarchive it then follow the steps above for stopped automations. ## Delete a schedule If the automation is in a draft state, you can delete the start or stop time the same way you added it—through the review modal in the workflow. If the automation is running, you can remove the stop time: 1. Go to the Automations list page and click your automation name. 2. Click **Actions** and choose **Schedule stop**. 3. Click **Remove** next to the stop time. 4. Click **Save Schedule**. * * [How it works](#how-it-works) * [Add a schedule](#add-a-schedule) * [Update a draft automation’s schedule](#scheduling-a-draft-campaign) * [Schedule a running automation](#scheduling-a-running-campaign) * [Reschedule a stopped automation](#rescheduling-a-stopped-campaign) * [Reschedule an archived automation](#rescheduling-an-archived-campaign) * [Delete a schedule](#delete-a-schedule) Copy page Copy page [Download .md](/messaging/send/automations/schedule-automations.md) Is this page helpful? ![](https://docs.customer.io/images/export-success.png) ![](https://docs.customer.io/images/export-failure.png) # How can we make it better? Close Do you need help from Customer.io support? No Yes What part of Customer.io do you need help with? How can we improve this page? Email (optional): Please provide a valid email address I am not a bot We appreciate your feedback! Our support team will contact you as soon as possible