The scheduled task runs despite its only trigger being disabled

Question

The scheduled task runs despite its only trigger being disabled

TomK 10

I wanted to test starting a scheduled task manually from PowerShell, so I disabled its trigger which was set to run the task every 15 minutes. To my surprise, the task still ran every 15 minutes despite the disabled trigger. Is this the expected behavior on Windows Server 2019? If so, what is the purpose of the Enable/Disable trigger checkbox? Thank you.

Rodrigo Escrol 0 Reputation points

2025-06-02T11:51:47.58+00:00

For me, I realized that when you have a recurring Trigger, it won't respect the enabled state.

This test task, has only one trigger (it does the same with multiple triggers), recurring every minute, for one day, and it's DISABLED. No matter you stop-start, disable-enable the task, it executes every minute with the trigger disabled (as long the task is enabled, obviously).

It's like the scheduler don't get into account if the trigger is enabled or not, when has a recurring interval.

If someone from MS can look at it, and share in his internal git would be awesome.

1 answer

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Rodrigo Escrol 0 Reputation points

2025-06-02T11:51:47.58+00:00

For me, I realized that when you have a recurring Trigger, it won't respect the enabled state.

This test task, has only one trigger (it does the same with multiple triggers), recurring every minute, for one day, and it's DISABLED. No matter you stop-start, disable-enable the task, it executes every minute with the trigger disabled (as long the task is enabled, obviously).

It's like the scheduler don't get into account if the trigger is enabled or not, when has a recurring interval.

If someone from MS can look at it, and share in his internal git would be awesome.

Answer 1

Anonymous

Hello,

What happens if you remove the trigger? Will the scheduled task still execute?
Take a look at the "Conditions" and "Settings" tabs—do any particular configurations within these tabs potentially lead to the task running unexpectedly?
Can the task history offer any insights into how the task behaves?

Regards,

Karlie

W.W 0 Reputation points

2023-12-22T14:10:57.5966667+00:00
Having a similar issue. After OS upgrade from Windows Server 2012 to Windows Server 2019, If my task is enabled and the trigger is disabled, i see the task run anyway on the disabled trigger schedule.

original tasks with schedule were in OS2012 - they rode the upgrade

trying to run these to test upgrade found issue of 'task runs with trigger disabled'

never had this problem in Windows OS 2012

original tasks were built with Windows Server 2008 compatibility setting

tried deleting tasks and re-creating verified no other condition in the task would trigger the running of the task - new task still ran on disabled trigger schedule

deleted trigger - task with no trigger would run on schedule

added new trigger

updated compatibility setting to Windows Server 2019

rebooted, changed schedule to new frequency and start seconds - still starts on disabled trigger schedule

Task History looks like trigger is enabled.

Any help appreciated - i use the trigger disable to 'nicely' shutdown running processes allowing them to complete, but not restart.

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The scheduled task runs despite its only trigger being disabled

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