Why is my n8n Schedule Trigger not running?

Most often the workflow is not published. A schedule only runs by itself after you click Publish. Also check the workflow time zone in Settings.

How do I run an n8n workflow every Monday?

Schedule Trigger > Trigger Interval Weeks, remove Sunday, choose Monday, set Trigger at Hour, then Publish.

Can I use cron in n8n?

Yes. Choose Custom (Cron) as the Trigger Interval and type a cron expression, such as 30 8 * * 1-5 for weekdays at 8:30.

n8n Schedule Trigger Tutorial: Run Every Monday at 8am

Free · Live nown8n Automation Toolkit n8n~6 min23 stepsBeginner

Updated October 17, 2026. Built against the tool’s current screens and checked step by step. How we check this lesson

The n8n Schedule Trigger starts a workflow by itself at set times. In this free lesson a made-up consulting firm builds a Monday 8am timesheet reminder in a practice copy of the n8n editor: Trigger Interval Weeks, Monday, 8am; a test run with Execute step; a reminder message built with an expression; and a check of the workflow's time zone in Settings. You also learn the rule that trips everyone up: a schedule only runs by itself after you publish.

At a glance

Question	Answer
What you build	Use the n8n Schedule Trigger to run a workflow by itself: every Monday at 8am, a timesheet reminder. Set the interval, test it now, and check the time zone.
Tools	n8n
Time	About 6 minutes, 23 steps in 5 parts
Level	Beginner, no coding needed
Cost	Free
Ways to learn it	Practice it step by step

The 5 parts, in short

Pick the trigger: Add the first step, On a schedule.
Every Monday at 8am: Open Trigger Interval, Weeks, Remove Sunday, Open the weekdays, and 3 more steps.
Test it now: Test it now, Read the output.
Write the reminder: Add a step, Search for Edit, Pick Edit Fields, Add a field, and 5 more steps.
Time zone and going live: Open the workflow menu, Settings, Check the time zone.

Start here first: n8n: What Is n8n? Build Your First Workflow (module 1 of n8n Automation Toolkit)

In the course: Part 9 · n8n Automation Toolkit (Module 73 of the full course)

Part of: n8n for Beginners: Your First Automations (step 4 of 9). Next up: n8n: Send Form Answers Straight to Google Sheets

n8n Schedule Trigger with the Trigger Interval list open: Seconds, Minutes, Hours, Days, Weeks, Months and Custom (Cron)

Schedule settings used

Trigger Rules > Trigger Interval 1, as set in the lesson.

Setting	Value
Trigger Interval	Weeks
Weeks Between Triggers	1
Trigger on Weekdays	Monday
Trigger at Hour	8am
Trigger at Minute	0
Timezone (Settings)	Default - America/New York

Set the schedule

Add first step... > On a schedule opens the Schedule Trigger. Under Trigger Interval 1, choose an interval from Seconds to Months or Custom (Cron). For Weeks you pick Weeks Between Triggers, Trigger on Weekdays, Trigger at Hour and Trigger at Minute.

Test it now

Execute step fires the trigger once, immediately, and outputs one item with the timestamp, Readable date, Day of week, Hour, Minute and Timezone. A test says the day you click; the real runs carry the time they fired.

Publish to make it run

The node says it will run on the schedule you define once you publish. Until you click Publish, nothing happens on Monday. Check ··· > Settings > Timezone first so 8am means 8am where your team is.

Links

n8n (affiliate link): the workflow tool this lesson teaches (free trial, no credit card).
n8n docs: Schedule Trigger: intervals, cron and time zones.

Disclosure: links marked "affiliate link" are partner links. If you sign up through one, Stepthrough may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The lesson is free either way and does not depend on it.

Try it yourself, free

Reading the steps is a start. Doing them is how it sticks. The interactive module walks you through every click in a practice copy of n8n, checks each step, and never touches your real accounts.

Start “n8n: Run a Workflow on a Schedule (Every Monday at 8am)”

Step by step: n8n: Run a Workflow on a Schedule (Every Monday at 8am)

All 23 steps of the interactive module, in order. In the module you watch each one, then do it yourself in a practice copy that checks your work.

1. Pick the trigger

Add the first step. Every Monday someone at Summit Street Consulting chases the team for timesheets, and invoices go out late when they forget. You will make n8n do the chasing. Click Add first step....
Every Monday, someone at Summit Street Consulting chases the team for timesheets. When they forget, invoices go out late. You'll make n8n do the chasing.
On a schedule. Click On a schedule: *Runs the flow every day, hour, or custom interval*.
It runs the flow every day, every hour, or on any interval you choose.

2. Every Monday at 8am

Open Trigger Interval. The note says it will run on the schedule you define here once you publish it. Under Trigger Interval 1, open Trigger Interval (it says Days).
Read the note at the top. It runs on this schedule once you publish it. Under Trigger Interval, open the box that says Days.
Weeks. The choices go from Seconds to Custom (Cron). Choose Weeks.
You can pick anything from seconds to a custom cron rule.
Remove Sunday. Weeks Between Triggers stays 1 (every week). Trigger on Weekdays starts on Sunday. Click the × on Sunday.
Weeks between triggers stays at one. Every week. It starts on Sunday.
Open the weekdays. Click the Trigger on Weekdays box.
Monday. Choose Monday.
Open Trigger at Hour. Open Trigger at Hour (it says Midnight).
Now the time. It says Midnight.
8am. Choose 8am. Trigger at Minute stays 0.
The minute stays at zero.

3. Test it now

Test it now. You don't want to wait until Monday. Click Execute step to fire the trigger once, right now.
You don't want to wait until Monday to test it. It fires the trigger once, right now.
Read the output. One item with the time it fired: Day of week: Saturday, Timezone: America/New_York. A test uses the moment you click; on Monday at 8 it will say Monday. Close the node.
One item, with the time it fired. Day of week, Saturday. Time zone, New York. A test run uses the moment you click. On Monday at eight, it'll say Monday. Close the node.

4. Write the reminder

Add a step. Click the + after Schedule Trigger.
Search for Edit. Type Edit.
Pick Edit Fields. Click Edit Fields (Set).
Add a field. Click Add Field.
Name it. Type message.
Name it message.
Drag in the day. Drag Day of week from the INPUT onto value (here, click it).
Here, click it.
Finish the message. Paste the rest of the message after the expression.
Run it. Click Execute step.
Close the node. The output reads Saturday reminder: please submit last week's timesheets by noon today. In real life you would add a Gmail or Slack node next to send it. Close the node.
The message is ready. In real life you'd add a Gmail or a Slack step next, to send it to the team. Close the node.

5. Time zone and going live

Open the workflow menu. One more check: the time zone. Click ··· next to the workflow name.
One last check. Eight a m where?
Settings. Click Settings.
Check the time zone. Timezone says Default - America/New York: the workflow runs at 8am in that zone. Change it here if your office is elsewhere. Close the window with the × (no need to save).
Time zone says, default, America New York. So it runs at eight in the morning, New York time. If your office is somewhere else, change it here. Close the window.

Screenshots

n8n Schedule Trigger set to Weeks, Monday, 8am, with a test OUTPUT of 1 item: timestamp, Readable date, Day of week Saturday and Timezone America/New_York

n8n Edit Fields with a message field built from {{ $json['Day of week'] }} and the text reminder: please submit last week's timesheets by noon today.

The n8n workflow menu next to the workflow name, with Rename, Duplicate, Export JSON, Version history, Settings and Archive

Frequently asked questions

Why is my n8n Schedule Trigger not running?: Most often the workflow is not published. A schedule only runs by itself after you click Publish. Also check the workflow time zone in Settings.
How do I run an n8n workflow every Monday?: Schedule Trigger > Trigger Interval Weeks, remove Sunday, choose Monday, set Trigger at Hour, then Publish.
Can I use cron in n8n?: Yes. Choose Custom (Cron) as the Trigger Interval and type a cron expression, such as 30 8 * * 1-5 for weekdays at 8:30.

Start this module free

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