WordPress Missed Schedule – Fix It in 10 Easy Ways

Are your posts not going live when you planned? Is your carefully planned content calendar going haywire? Are you facing the brunt of missed marketing opportunities?

The WordPress missed schedule error is a common headache, but you’re in good company! Many folks using WordPress face the same issue, seeing their planned posts not publish as expected. This can really throw a wrench in your content plans and affect how you interact with your audience. But fear not—there are easy ways to address this problem.

Let’s start by understanding why these “missed schedule” errors occur. Most times, the root cause is server timeouts or conflicts with plugins. Sometimes, issues with cron jobs—or not having them properly set up—are to blame.

As experienced WordPress users, we’ve seen these problems plenty of times and are here to guide you toward solutions. We’ll walk you through straightforward troubleshooting steps to prevent these errors in the future. Whether it’s adjusting your server settings or fixing your cron jobs, we can help you make sure your WordPress schedule stays on track.

Ready to dive in and fix the issue? Let’s get started!

TL;DR: Solve WordPress missed schedule problems by reviewing and adjusting server settings, utilizing handy plugins, and setting up real cron jobs. Look for any conflicts with plugins or themes and ensure that your PHP memory limit is sufficient. As you work on these fixes, don’t forget to backup your site regularly.

1. Check server settings

To fix the WordPress missed schedule issue, start by checking your server settings.

First, make sure the server’s time and timezone match the settings in your WordPress dashboard. You can find them under Settings > General. If they don’t, posts might go live at the wrong time, causing problems.

Next, see if your server has performance issues or timeouts. A slow or busy server can stop scheduled tasks from running on time.

If needed, contact your hosting provider. They can help find and fix any problems with your server.

By sorting out these server issues, your scheduled posts should publish on time.

2. Check if your site is stuck in maintenance mode

If your site is in maintenance mode, it can stop all scheduled tasks. This can lead to the WordPress missed schedule error. Check if your site is stuck in maintenance mode. This can happen after you turn it on or after an update.

To fix it, use an FTP client to look for the .maintenance file. You’ll find it in your site’s main folder, usually named www or public_html. If you don’t see it, turn on the option to show hidden files in your FTP client.

If your site is stuck, deleting this file should solve the problem. Once you remove it, your scheduled tasks should start working properly again.

3. Clear WordPress cache and cookies

Old cache and cookies can lead to issues like WordPress missed schedules. This includes cache from caching plugins, CDNs, and your server.

To fix it, clear all caches and cookies.

After doing this, try setting your schedule again. This can help make sure everything runs smoothly and your posts go live on time.

4. Use a plugin to schedule your posts

Plugins can be one way to fix WordPress missed schedule errors. They help make sure your posts go live on time. Try using plugins like Missed Scheduled Posts Publisher or Scheduled Post Trigger for this.

To use them, go to the Plugins menu in your WordPress dashboard, then install and activate them. These plugins will check your scheduled posts and publish any that were missed. By using a plugin, you can avoid schedule problems and keep your content running smoothly.

5. Check cron jobs

WordPress uses a system called WP-Cron to handle tasks like post scheduling. If WP-Cron doesn’t work well, your posts might not go live on time, causing WordPress missed schedule errors.

WP-Cron runs when someone visits your site. So, if your site has low traffic, your scheduled posts could be late. To check if WP-Cron is working, you can use a plugin like WP Crontrol. This tool lets you see and manage cron jobs.

If it’s not running properly, you might need to change settings or set up a real server cron job. By making sure WP-Cron runs smoothly, your posts should publish as planned.

6. Disable WP-Cron and use a real cron job

WP-Cron is built into WordPress, but it has its ups and downs.

Since WP-Cron needs visitors to trigger it, it might not work well for sites with low traffic. This can cause scheduled posts to miss their times.

Sometimes, WP-Cron can also get overwhelmed and struggle on busy sites, leading to WordPress missed schedule errors.

To fix this, you can disable WP-Cron and set up a real server cron job instead. This makes scheduling more reliable and helps prevent missed posts.

First, disable WP-Cron by adding this line to your wp-config.php file:

define('DISABLE_WP_CRON', true);

Then, set up a real cron job using your hosting control panel, like cPanel. Create a cron job and set it to run every 5 or 10 minutes, using a URL that calls your WordPress cron script. This ensures your tasks run as planned, keeping your posts on track.

If needed, ask your host for details on setting up a cron job.

7. Identify and resolve all conflicts

Plugin and theme conflicts can also lead to the WordPress missed schedule issue. These conflicts can mess up how tasks are scheduled and carried out on your site.

To check for plugin issues, deactivate all your plugins. Then, try scheduling a post to see if it publishes correctly. If it does, turn your plugins back on one by one to find the troublemaker.

Theme conflicts can also cause problems with scheduling. To test this, switch to a default WordPress theme, like Twenty Twenty-Two, and try scheduling a post. If it works, your theme might be the problem.

By identifying and fixing these conflicts, you can help ensure your scheduled posts publish as expected.

8. Increase PHP memory limit

A low PHP memory limit can affect WordPress functions, like scheduling posts. If your site has many plugins or large content, it may need more memory to work well.

To increase the PHP memory limit, edit your wp-config.php file.

Then, add or change this line:

define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');

This sets the memory limit to 256 megabytes. Save the file and check if your scheduled posts are working.

Increasing PHP memory gives WordPress enough resources to handle tasks efficiently. This can ensure your posts publish as planned and solve issues like WordPress missed schedules. If you’re unsure about how to make these changes, ask your web host for help.

9. Review WordPress and site health

Keeping your WordPress and site healthy is key for smooth operation. Old WordPress versions might have bugs or security issues that can mess with scheduled posts.

First, make sure WordPress is updated to the latest version. Go to Dashboard > Updates to see if there are updates. Also, update your plugins and themes for the best performance.

Next, use the Site Health tool found under Tools > Site Health in your WordPress dashboard. This tool checks for common issues and offers advice. It can help you find problems that might affect scheduling.

By maintaining your WordPress and site health, you can reduce errors like WordPress missed schedules and ensure more reliable post scheduling.

10. Contact your web hosting provider

If none of these steps fix your WordPress missed schedule problem, your web host might be the issue. Sometimes, server settings can impact how WordPress functions.

Contact your web host’s support team. They usually have WordPress experts who can help find and fix the problem. They can look at server settings and logs to spot any hidden issues affecting your site.

If your current host can’t fix the problem, think about moving to a more reliable web host. Consider reputable ones such as Cloudways or Kinsta. A good host can ensure your site runs smoothly and meets your WordPress needs, including scheduling posts.

Final thoughts

In summary, dealing with WordPress missed schedule errors can be frustrating. But you can fix them with a few simple steps. First, understand how WP-Cron works and ensure your server settings are correct. There are also helpful plugins that can quickly solve this issue, so don’t hesitate to try them if needed.

Before making any changes to your site, remember the importance of backups. Backups protect your data and make recovery easy.

We recommend using BlogVault for this. It creates automatic backups and safely stores them off-site. This ensures your data stays secure without affecting site speed. BlogVault also has an emergency connector to recover your site if it crashes. With BlogVault, you can be confident that your site is well-protected.

FAQs

How can I fix the WordPress missed schedule error?

To fix this error, start by checking if your server time zones match with WordPress. Use plugins like Scheduled Post Trigger to keep posts on schedule. Ensure WP-Cron is working or consider using a real cron job. Check for conflicts with plugins or themes and address them. Increase your PHP memory limit if necessary. Keep everything up-to-date to maintain site health. If the problem persists, contact your web host for help. Always back up your site before making changes.

Why is my scheduled post not working in WordPress?

Scheduled posts might fail due to server time mismatches or conflicts with plugins or themes. WP-Cron may not function properly if your site has low traffic. Maintenance mode or low PHP memory limits can also cause issues. Outdated WordPress, plugins, or themes might be the culprit too. If none of these are the problem, it might be a server issue, so get in touch with your web host. Always keep a backup when troubleshooting.

What does the warning about overdue scheduled tasks in WordPress mean?

This warning means some tasks in WordPress were supposed to run but didn’t. This can occur if WP-Cron isn’t running due to low traffic or server problems. It might also indicate plugin or theme conflicts, or an overloaded server. These overdue tasks can impact things like post scheduling and updates. To resolve this, check WP-Cron, fix any conflicts, and keep your site updated. Consider contacting your web host if the issue continues.