community.windows.win_scheduled_task module – Manage scheduled tasks

Note

This module is part of the community.windows collection (version 2.4.0).

You might already have this collection installed if you are using the ansible package. It is not included in ansible-core. To check whether it is installed, run ansible-galaxy collection list.

To install it, use: ansible-galaxy collection install community.windows.

To use it in a playbook, specify: community.windows.win_scheduled_task.

Synopsis

• Creates/modifies or removes Windows scheduled tasks.

Parameters

Parameter	Comments
actions list / elements=dictionary	A list of action to configure for the task. See suboptions for details on how to construct each list entry. When creating a task there MUST be at least one action but when deleting a task this can be a null or an empty list. The ordering of this list is important, the module will ensure the order is kept when modifying the task. This module only supports the ExecAction type but can still delete the older legacy types.
arguments string	An argument string to supply for the executable.
path string / required	The path to the executable for the ExecAction.
working_directory string	The working directory to run the executable from.
allow_demand_start boolean	Whether the task can be started by using either the Run command or the Context menu. Choices: false true
allow_hard_terminate boolean	Whether the task can be terminated by using TerminateProcess. Choices: false true
author string	The author of the task.
compatibility integer	The integer value with indicates which version of Task Scheduler a task is compatible with. 0 means the task is compatible with the AT command. 1 means the task is compatible with Task Scheduler 1.0(Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008 and older). 2 means the task is compatible with Task Scheduler 2.0(Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008). 3 means the task is compatible with Task Scheduler 2.0(Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2). 4 means the task is compatible with Task Scheduler 2.0(Windows 10, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2019). Choices: 0 1 2 3 4
date string	The date when the task was registered.
delete_expired_task_after string	The amount of time that the Task Scheduler will wait before deleting the task after it expires. A task expires after the end_boundary has been exceeded for all triggers associated with the task. This is in the ISO 8601 Duration format P[n]Y[n]M[n]DT[n]H[n]M[n]S.
description string	The description of the task.
disallow_start_if_on_batteries boolean	Whether the task will not be started if the computer is running on battery power. Choices: false true
display_name string	The name of the user/group that is displayed in the Task Scheduler UI.
enabled boolean	Whether the task is enabled, the task can only run when yes. Choices: false true
execution_time_limit string	The amount of time allowed to complete the task. When set to PT0S, the time limit is infinite. When omitted, the default time limit is 72 hours. This is in the ISO 8601 Duration format P[n]Y[n]M[n]DT[n]H[n]M[n]S.
group string	The group that will run the task. group and username are exclusive to each other and cannot be set at the same time. logon_type can either be not set or equal group.
hidden boolean	Whether the task will be hidden in the UI. Choices: false true
logon_type string	The logon method that the task will run with. password means the password will be stored and the task has access to network resources. s4u means the existing token will be used to run the task and no password will be stored with the task. Means no network or encrypted files access. interactive_token means the user must already be logged on interactively and will run in an existing interactive session. group means that the task will run as a group. service_account means that a service account like System, Local Service or Network Service will run the task. Choices: "none" "password" "s4u" "interactive_token" "group" "service_account" "token_or_password"
multiple_instances integer	An integer that indicates the behaviour when starting a task that is already running. 0 will start a new instance in parallel with existing instances of that task. 1 will wait until other instances of that task to finish running before starting itself. 2 will not start a new instance if another is running. 3 will stop other instances of the task and start the new one. Choices: 0 1 2 3
name string / required	The name of the scheduled task without the path.
password string	The password for the user account to run the scheduled task as. This is required when running a task without the user being logged in, excluding the builtin service accounts and Group Managed Service Accounts (gMSA). If set, will always result in a change unless update_password is set to no and no other changes are required for the service.
path string	Task folder in which this task will be stored. Will create the folder when state=present and the folder does not already exist. Will remove the folder when state=absent and there are no tasks left in the folder. Default: "\\"
priority integer	The priority level (0-10) of the task. When creating a new task the default is 7. See https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa383512.aspx for details on the priority levels.
restart_count integer	The number of times that the Task Scheduler will attempt to restart the task.
restart_interval string	How long the Task Scheduler will attempt to restart the task. If this is set then restart_count must also be set. The maximum allowed time is 31 days. The minimum allowed time is 1 minute. This is in the ISO 8601 Duration format P[n]Y[n]M[n]DT[n]H[n]M[n]S.
run_level aliases: runlevel string	The level of user rights used to run the task. If not specified the task will be created with limited rights. Choices: "limited" "highest"
run_only_if_idle boolean	Whether the task will run the task only if the computer is in an idle state. Choices: false true
run_only_if_network_available boolean	Whether the task will run only when a network is available. Choices: false true
source string	The source of the task.
start_when_available boolean	Whether the task can start at any time after its scheduled time has passed. Choices: false true
state string	When state=present will ensure the task exists. When state=absent will ensure the task does not exist. Choices: "absent" "present" ← (default)
stop_if_going_on_batteries boolean	Whether the task will be stopped if the computer begins to run on battery power. Choices: false true
triggers list / elements=dictionary	A list of triggers to configure for the task. See suboptions for details on how to construct each list entry. The ordering of this list is important, the module will ensure the order is kept when modifying the task. There are multiple types of triggers, see https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa383868.aspx for a list of trigger types and their options. The suboption options listed below are not required for all trigger types, read the description for more details.
days_of_month string	The days of the month from 1 to 31 for the triggers. If you wish to set the trigger for the last day of any month use run_on_last_day_of_month. Can be a list or comma separated string of day numbers. Required when type=monthly.
days_of_week string	The days of the week for the trigger. Can be a list or comma separated string of full day names e.g. monday instead of mon. Required when type is weekly. Optional when type=monthlydow.
delay string	The time to delay the task from running once the trigger has been fired. Optional when type is boot, event, logon, registration, session_state_change. Is in the ISO 8601 Duration format P[n]Y[n]M[n]DT[n]H[n]M[n]S.
enabled boolean	Whether to set the trigger to enabled or disabled Used in all trigger types. Choices: false true
end_boundary string	The end time for when the trigger is deactivated. This is in ISO 8601 DateTime format YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss.
execution_time_limit string	The maximum amount of time that the task is allowed to run for. Optional for all the trigger types. Is in the ISO 8601 Duration format P[n]Y[n]M[n]DT[n]H[n]M[n]S.
months_of_year string	The months of the year for the trigger. Can be a list or comma separated string of full month names e.g. march instead of mar. Optional when type is monthlydow, monthly.
random_delay string	The delay time that is randomly added to the start time of the trigger. Optional when type is daily, monthlydow, monthly, time, weekly. Is in the ISO 8601 Duration format P[n]Y[n]M[n]DT[n]H[n]M[n]S.
repetition string	Allows you to define the repetition action of the trigger that defines how often the task is run and how long the repetition pattern is repeated after the task is started. It takes in the following keys, duration, interval, stop_at_duration_end
duration string	Defines how long the pattern is repeated. The value is in the ISO 8601 Duration format P[n]Y[n]M[n]DT[n]H[n]M[n]S. By default this is not set which means it will repeat indefinitely.
interval string	The amount of time between each restart of the task. The value is written in the ISO 8601 Duration format P[n]Y[n]M[n]DT[n]H[n]M[n]S.
stop_at_duration_end boolean	Whether a running instance of the task is stopped at the end of the repetition pattern. Choices: false true
run_on_last_day_of_month boolean	Boolean value that sets whether the task runs on the last day of the month. Optional when type is monthly. Choices: false true
run_on_last_week_of_month boolean	Boolean value that sets whether the task runs on the last week of the month. Optional when type is monthlydow. Choices: false true
start_boundary string	The start time for the task, even if the trigger meets the other start criteria, it won’t start until this time is met. If you wish to run a task at 9am on a day you still need to specify the date on which the trigger is activated, you can set any date even ones in the past. Required when type is daily, monthlydow, monthly, time, weekly. Optional for the rest of the trigger types. This is in ISO 8601 DateTime format YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss.
state_change string added in community.windows 1.6.0	Allows you to define the kind of Terminal Server session change that triggers a task. Optional when type=session_state_change Choices: "console_connect" "console_disconnect" "remote_connect" "remote_disconnect" "session_lock" "session_unlock"
subscription string	Only used and is required for type=event. The XML query string that identifies the event that fires the trigger.
type string / required	The trigger type, this value controls what below options are required. Choices: "boot" "daily" "event" "idle" "logon" "monthlydow" "monthly" "registration" "time" "weekly" "session_state_change"
user_id string	The username that the trigger will target. Optional when type is logon, session_state_change. Can be the username or SID of a user. When type=logon and you want the trigger to fire when a user in a group logs on, leave this as null and set group to the group you wish to trigger.
weeks_interval integer	The interval of weeks to run on, e.g. 1 means every week while 2 means every other week. Optional when type=weekly.
weeks_of_month string	The weeks of the month for the trigger. Can be a list or comma separated string of the numbers 1 to 4 representing the first to 4th week of the month. Optional when type=monthlydow.
update_password boolean	Whether to update the password even when not other changes have occurred. When yes will always result in a change when executing the module. Choices: false true ← (default)
username aliases: user string	The user to run the scheduled task as. Will default to the current user under an interactive token if not specified during creation. The user account specified must have the SeBatchLogonRight logon right which can be added with ansible.windows.win_user_right.
version string	The version number of the task.
wake_to_run boolean	Whether the task will wake the computer when it is time to run the task. Choices: false true

Notes

Note

• The option names and structure for actions and triggers of a service follow the RegisteredTask naming standard and requirements, it would be useful to read up on this guide if coming across any issues https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa382542.aspx.

• A Group Managed Service Account (gMSA) can be used by setting logon_type to password and omitting the password parameter. For more information on gMSAs, see https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/Core-Infrastructure-and-Security/Windows-Server-2012-Group-Managed-Service-Accounts/ba-p/255910

See Also

See also

community.windows.win_scheduled_task_stat

Get information about Windows Scheduled Tasks.

ansible.windows.win_user_right

Manage Windows User Rights.

Examples

- name: Create a task to open 2 command prompts as SYSTEM
  community.windows.win_scheduled_task:
    name: TaskName
    description: open command prompt
    actions:
      - path: cmd.exe
        arguments: /c hostname
      - path: cmd.exe
        arguments: /c whoami
    triggers:
      - type: daily
        start_boundary: '2017-10-09T09:00:00'
    username: SYSTEM
    state: present
    enabled: true

- name: Create task to run a PS script as NETWORK service on boot
  community.windows.win_scheduled_task:
    name: TaskName2
    description: Run a PowerShell script
    actions:
      - path: C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe
        arguments: -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -NonInteractive -File C:\TestDir\Test.ps1
    triggers:
      - type: boot
    username: NETWORK SERVICE
    run_level: highest
    state: present

- name: Update Local Security Policy to allow users to run scheduled tasks
  ansible.windows.win_user_right:
    name: SeBatchLogonRight
    users:
      - LocalUser
      - DOMAIN\NetworkUser
    action: add

- name: Change above task to run under a domain user account, storing the passwords
  community.windows.win_scheduled_task:
    name: TaskName2
    username: DOMAIN\User
    password: Password
    logon_type: password

- name: Change the above task again, choosing not to store the password
  community.windows.win_scheduled_task:
    name: TaskName2
    username: DOMAIN\User
    logon_type: s4u

- name: Change above task to use a gMSA, where the password is managed automatically
  community.windows.win_scheduled_task:
    name: TaskName2
    username: DOMAIN\gMsaSvcAcct$
    logon_type: password

- name: Create task with multiple triggers
  community.windows.win_scheduled_task:
    name: TriggerTask
    path: \Custom
    actions:
      - path: cmd.exe
    triggers:
      - type: daily
      - type: monthlydow
    username: SYSTEM

- name: Set logon type to password but don't force update the password
  community.windows.win_scheduled_task:
    name: TriggerTask
    path: \Custom
    actions:
      - path: cmd.exe
    username: Administrator
    password: password
    update_password: false

- name: Disable a task that already exists
  community.windows.win_scheduled_task:
    name: TaskToDisable
    enabled: false

- name: Create a task that will be repeated every minute for five minutes
  community.windows.win_scheduled_task:
    name: RepeatedTask
    description: open command prompt
    actions:
      - path: cmd.exe
        arguments: /c hostname
    triggers:
      - type: registration
        repetition:
          interval: PT1M
          duration: PT5M
          stop_at_duration_end: true

- name: Create task to run a PS script in Windows 10 compatibility on boot with a delay of 1min
  community.windows.win_scheduled_task:
    name: TriggerTask
    path: \Custom
    actions:
      - path: C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe
        arguments: -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -NonInteractive -File C:\TestDir\Test.ps1
    triggers:
      - type: boot
        delay: PT1M
    username: SYSTEM
    compatibility: 4

Authors

• Peter Mounce (@petemounce)

• Jordan Borean (@jborean93)

Collection links

• Issue Tracker
• Repository (Sources)
• Communication