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Start-ScheduledTask

Use Start-ScheduledTask to run a scheduled task immediately, without waiting for its trigger.

Command 1 min read Windows PowerShell 5.1 and PowerShell 7

Documentation: Microsoft Learn — PowerShell module reference

Written and tested by Dhrub Bharali · Updated

Syntax

1PS> Start-ScheduledTask [-TaskName] <String> [-TaskPath <String>] [-CimSession <CimSession[]>] [<CommonParameters>]
See the command anatomy

Read the command and its supplied arguments. This example requires real PowerShell or its module; this diagram does not execute it.

Start-ScheduledTask [-TaskName] <String> [-TaskPath <String>] [-CimSession <CimSession[]>] [<CommonParameters>]
  1. Stage 1Start-ScheduledTask-TaskName -TaskPath -CimSession

    Try it

    Windows PowerShell

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    Execution scope: The full example below requires PowerShell outside this browser. You can edit this runner to use the supported practice commands; unsupported syntax returns an explanation.

    Interactive simulation · fictional data

    Examples

    Start-ScheduledTask -TaskName Backup

    1PS> Start-ScheduledTask -TaskName Backup -TaskPath \
    Show reference output

    Sample output · fictional data, shaped like the real thing

    TaskPath TaskName State
-------- -------- -----
\        Backup   Running

    Start-ScheduledTask -TaskName Backup;

    1PS> Start-ScheduledTask -TaskName Backup; Start-Sleep 5; Get-ScheduledTaskInfo -TaskName Backup
    Show reference output

    Sample output · fictional data, shaped like the real thing

    TaskPath             TaskName     State     LastTaskResult
-------------------  -----------  --------  --------------
\                    Backup       Ready     0
\Microsoft\Windows\  Maintenance  Disabled  0

    Get-ScheduledTask -TaskName Backup

    1PS> Get-ScheduledTask -TaskName Backup | Select-Object State # Running while it works
    Show reference output

    Sample output · fictional data, shaped like the real thing

    State
--------
Ready
Disabled

    Parameters

    Parameter definitions:

    • -TaskName
    • -TaskPath
    • -CimSession

    PowerShell module reference on Microsoft Learn

    Practical use and troubleshooting

    Practical scenario: Use Start-ScheduledTask when you need to run a scheduled task immediately, without waiting for its trigger. Start with one identified target and inspect the returned values before extending the operation to a list. Keep the identity in your report so you can trace each result back to the object or path that produced it.

    Common error and fix: A successful start request can still be followed by an action failure. Query runtime information afterwards and inspect task history rather than reporting the request as completed work. In an unattended script, capture this failure with its original error record and record which target failed. An empty result and an unsuccessful query must remain distinguishable in the final report.

    See also: Stop-ScheduledTask. Start-ScheduledTask requests a registered task start; Stop-ScheduledTask requests it stop. Starting a task does not wait for the action to finish or verify its exit code. Read the linked command before substituting it; similar names do not imply identical inputs or output.

    Start-ScheduledTask reference on Microsoft Learn

    Recap

    Start-ScheduledTask Use Start-ScheduledTask to run a scheduled task immediately, without waiting for its trigger.

    Next: Register-ScheduledTask
    Genie guideStart-ScheduledTask

    Use Start-ScheduledTask to run a scheduled task immediately, without waiting for its trigger. The console below is pre-loaded — run it, then change a value and run it again.

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