Recommended Free Tools
GitHub Actions cron schedules are best effort, not a guarantee that every run starts on time or runs at all. Use a five-field POSIX cron expression under on.schedule, put the workflow on the default branch, choose UTC or an IANA timezone deliberately, and avoid scheduling at minute zero when practical. For work that cannot be lost, plan for missed runs rather than relying on cron alone.
How to schedule a GitHub Actions workflow
Add a schedule trigger to a workflow file in .github/workflows/. The expression has five fields: minute, hour, day of month, month, and day of week. GitHub supports schedules as often as once every five minutes; it does not support aliases such as @daily or @hourly.
name: Scheduled maintenance
on:
schedule:
# Every day at 06:17 UTC
- cron: '17 6 * * *'
workflow_dispatch:
concurrency:
group: scheduled-maintenance
cancel-in-progress: false
jobs:
maintain:
runs-on: ubuntu-latest
steps:
- uses: actions/checkout@v4
- name: Run maintenance
run: ./scripts/maintenance.shIn this example, 17 6 * * * means 06:17 each day. The nonzero minute avoids the top of the hour, a period GitHub identifies as prone to higher Actions load. workflow_dispatch makes the workflow manually runnable; it is a diagnostic or recovery option, not a fix for the schedule itself.
Does GitHub Actions cron use UTC?
Schedules use UTC unless you provide an IANA timezone. UTC keeps the scheduled instant consistent across daylight-saving changes. A local timezone can better express a wall-clock requirement, but its daylight-saving transitions affect execution: if a scheduled local time falls in the skipped spring-forward hour, GitHub advances it to the next valid time. GitHub’s example moves 2:30 a.m. to 3:00 a.m>.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
A scheduled run uses the latest commit on the repository’s default branch, and the workflow file must exist on that branch. A workflow file present only on a feature branch will not receive scheduled runs.
Can scheduled GitHub Actions runs be delayed or dropped?
Yes. GitHub describes scheduled events as subject to delay during periods of high workflow-run load, particularly around the start of an hour, and says some queued jobs may be dropped. Choosing a different minute can reduce exposure to that peak, but it does not guarantee punctual or complete delivery. GitHub does not publish a percentage for schedule punctuality or dropped-run frequency.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
If every occurrence matters, treat the scheduled trigger as a signal rather than a durable queue. Make the job idempotent, track which work has actually completed, and provide a way to detect and recover missed work. If the required delivery guarantee is stronger than GitHub documents for schedules, evaluate an external scheduler or queue against your monitoring and recovery needs.
How to prevent overlapping scheduled runs
Use the workflow’s concurrency settings when simultaneous runs could conflict. With the default behavior, a concurrency group has at most one pending run; a newer run can replace and cancel the previous pending run. That is appropriate only when newer work makes older waiting work unnecessary.
Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
GitHub also documents queueing options that retain waiting work within a queue limit. Choose queueing when each run matters, and check the current documented limits and ordering behavior before relying on it. Set cancel-in-progress: false if an active run must not be canceled by a newer run; set it to true only when stopping active work is safe. Concurrency controls overlap and pending work—it does not make schedule delivery guaranteed.
Why didn’t my GitHub Actions cron job run?
Check the likely causes in this order:
- Workflow location and state: Confirm the workflow file is on the default branch and the workflow is enabled.
- Expression and timezone: Verify that the cron expression has five fields and that the intended time is correct for UTC or the configured IANA timezone.
- Load-related delay: Check for a late run, especially if it was scheduled at minute zero. A nonzero minute can reduce exposure to this known busy period.
- Repository inactivity: In public repositories, GitHub automatically disables scheduled workflows after 60 days without repository activity. Check the workflow state and re-enable it if needed.
- Concurrency: Inspect the group configuration to see whether a newer pending run replaced an older one, or whether
cancel-in-progressstopped active work.
For a manual diagnostic run, use the workflow’s Run workflow control when workflow_dispatch is configured. A successful manual run confirms the workflow can be invoked, but does not establish that its schedule will be delivered reliably.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
Choosing a schedule design
| Choice | Useful when | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| UTC | You need a consistent instant throughout the year. | The local wall-clock time changes when daylight-saving offsets change. |
| IANA local timezone | The task is tied to local business hours or another local time. | Skipped spring-forward times advance to the next valid time. |
| Nonzero minute | You can choose a time away from the start of the hour. | Reduces exposure to peak load; does not guarantee delivery. |
| Cancel stale pending work | Only the latest requested run matters. | A newer pending run can discard older pending work. |
| Queue waiting work | Each run should be retained rather than replaced. | Queue limits and ordering apply; schedules themselves remain best effort. |
GitHub’s guidance and behavior are documented in its schedule event reference, workflow event reference, concurrency documentation, and workflow troubleshooting guide.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
