GitHub Actions cron with Cron Studio
This opens 0 3 * * 1, 03:00 UTC every Monday, with the GitHub Actions tab ready to copy. Pick your own time zone to see what that means locally.
- Enter the schedule in UTC, or convert your local time first (the next-runs list shows both).
- Copy the on: schedule block into your workflow file.
- Add workflow_dispatch so you can run it by hand.
- Commit to the default branch; scheduled workflows only run from there.
What to know
GitHub Actions evaluates schedule cron in UTC. There is no time-zone option, so 0 9 * * * means 9 AM UTC all year, and it will drift one hour against local time when daylight saving changes. The shortest interval is every 5 minutes.
Scheduled runs are best effort. At busy times (the top of the hour especially) they can start many minutes late, and occasionally a run is dropped, so avoid minute 0 if the exact moment does not matter. The workflow file must be on the default branch, and in public repositories GitHub disables scheduled workflows after 60 days without repository activity.
For anything that must run on time, run it on your own server or a Kubernetes CronJob and treat GitHub schedules as convenience. For a nightly build or a weekly dependency check that can start a little late, they are perfectly good and cost nothing to maintain.
Updated · Cosmovex
Questions
Is GitHub Actions cron in UTC?
Yes, always. There is no time-zone setting for the schedule trigger, so convert your local time to UTC and expect a one-hour shift when daylight saving starts or ends.
Why is my GitHub Actions schedule not running?
Common causes: the workflow is not on the default branch, the repository was inactive for 60 days (public repos), or the run was delayed or dropped during high load. Check the Actions tab and re-enable the workflow.
What is the shortest schedule GitHub Actions allows?
Every 5 minutes. Anything more frequent is not supported.
Can I run a scheduled workflow manually?
Yes, add workflow_dispatch next to schedule and use the Run workflow button.
The free plan covers everything on this page. Cron Studio Pro ($19, paid once) is described on the Cron Studio page.
