4 Ways to Fix the Windows 10 Task Scheduler When It Malfunctions

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The Windows Task Scheduler is a quite handy tool if you like automating tasks on your PC. This tool helps you automatically run programs when certain conditions are met. However, If the program has issues, your scheduled tasks won’t run as required. In most cases, this could be caused by corrupted system files.

Fortunately, there are several ways to fix the Windows Task Scheduler when it malfunctions.

Let’s explore how you can get your Task Scheduler up and running again.

1. Fix the Task Scheduler Using the Registry Editor

The Task Scheduler might be malfunctioning because of some incorrect or corrupted registry keys. In this case, you can resolve this issue by altering some registry settings.

Before you proceed, you might want to backup your registry just in case something goes wrong.

  • To get started, press the Windows Key + R, type regedit, and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
  • Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SYSTEM > CurrentControlSet > Services > Schedule.
  • Locate and double-click the Start value on the right-hand side pane.

    • In the next window, type 2 in the Value data field and press OK. Close the Registry Editor and restart your PC to save these changes.

    2. Use the Correct Task Conditions in the Task Scheduler

    The Task Scheduler might be malfunctioning because of incorrect Task conditions. Here are a few Task conditions that you need to configure correctly to ensure your tasks run as required:

  • Type Task Scheduler in the Windows Start menu search bar and select the Best match.
  • Select Task Scheduler Library on the left-hand side pane.
  • In the middle pane of the Task Scheduler, look for a specific task that doesn’t run as required. Next, right-click that task and select Properties.
  • In the next window, navigate to the General tab and check the Run whether the user is logged on or not.
  • Open the Configure for drop-down menu and select Windows 10.

    • Next, navigate to the Conditions tab and uncheck the Start the task only if the computer is on AC power box. From here, navigate to the Triggers and Actions tabs and ensure that all your task conditions are correct.

    When you finish, press OK and close the Task Scheduler. Restart your PC to save these changes.

    3. Delete Corrupted Task Scheduler Tree Cache

    This issue could stem from a corrupted Task Scheduler Tree cache. Identifying and deleting the corrupted Task Scheduler Tree cache could help you fix this issue.

  • To get started, press the Windows Key + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
  • In the Registry Editor, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Microsoft > Windows NT > CurrentVersion > Schedule > TaskCache.
  • Right-click the Tree key and rename it to Tree.old or something similar. From here, run the Task Scheduler and check if you still encounter issues.

    • If this resolves your issue, then one of the entries in the Tree key is corrupted. To find out which entry it is, follow these steps:

  • Rename the Tree.old key back to Tree.
  • Rename each entry in the Tree registry key—one at a time—using the “.old” suffix. Run your Task Scheduler each time when you do this.
  • If you stop encountering issues after renaming a certain entry, then that’s the culprit. Delete that particular entry and restart your PC to save these changes.

    • 4. Use the DISM and SFC Tools

    Since this issue could be caused by corrupt system files, you could resolve it using the DISM and SFC tools. Running an SFC scan will fix corrupt or missing system files. But to ensure that SFC works properly, you’ll first need to run the DISM tool.

    Here’s how you can get started with running DISM:

  • Press the Windows key + R and type CMD.
  • Press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open an elevated Command Prompt.
  • Type the following command and press Enter:
    • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

    When the scan is complete, type the following command and press Enter:

    DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

    Restart your PC when the scan is complete.

    Next, open the Command Prompt as per the previous steps. To run an SFC scan, type the following command and press Enter:

    sfc /scannow

    When the scan is complete, close the Command Prompt and restart your PC.

    Fix Your Windows Task Scheduler to Make Automation Easy

    Automating your PC tasks is convenient—just make sure to specify the correct conditions so your tasks can run as required. Should you encounter difficulties with the Task Scheduler, you should easily resolve them using the tips we’ve provided.

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