WordPress Missed Schedule – 10 Easy Fixes

Is the WordPress missed schedule issue leading to “missed opportunities” for you? Well, you’re not alone!

Many WordPress users see the red warning text and get frustrated when their scheduled posts don’t work. This can be a problem whether you’re a solo blogger or running many sites. This error can mess up your content plan and audience engagement. But don’t worry—there are simple steps to fix it.

First things first: what causes these “missed schedule” errors? Typically, they’re the result of server timeouts or plugin conflicts. But they can also stem from cron jobs—or lack thereof.

As experienced WordPress users, we’ve dealt with these issues and can help you find solutions. We’ll show you quick steps to troubleshoot and make sure this doesn’t happen anymore. Whether it’s changing your server settings or fixing your cron jobs, we’ll help you get your WordPress schedule working again.

So get ready, and let’s fix that schedule!

TL;DR: WordPress missed schedule issues can be fixed by checking server settings, using helpful plugins, and setting up real cron jobs. Identify and resolve plugin or theme conflicts, and ensure adequate PHP memory limit. And while you do this, remember to take backups of your site regularly.

1. Check server settings

Fixing the WordPress missed schedule issue starts with checking your server settings.

First, look at the server’s time and timezone settings. Make sure these match the timezone settings in your WordPress dashboard under Settings > General. If they don’t match, WordPress might post things at the wrong time, causing errors.

Next, check that your server isn’t having performance problems or timeouts. A slow or overworked server might stop scheduled tasks from happening on time.

If needed, talk to your hosting provider to make sure your server is running well. They can help find any issues that might be slowing down your site. By fixing these server issues, your scheduled posts should publish properly.

2. Check if you are stuck in maintenance mode

Being in maintenance mode can stop all scheduled tasks on your site. This can cause the WordPress missed schedule error. Check if your site is stuck in maintenance mode. This might happen after you activate it yourself or after an update.

To fix this, look for the .maintenance file on your site using an FTP client. You can find it in your site’s root folder, typically named www or public_html. If you can’t find it, enable showing hidden files in your FTP client.

If your site is stuck, deleting this file should help. Once you remove it, your scheduled activities should start working again.

3. Clear WordPress cache and cookies

Outdated cache and old cookies can cause problems like WordPress missed schedules. This includes cache from caching plugins, content delivery networks (CDN), and your server.

To fix this, clear all caches and cookies.

Once you’ve done this, try setting your schedule again. Doing this can help ensure that everything runs smoothly and your posts are published on time.

4. Use a plugin to schedule your posts

Plugins can be an easy way to fix WordPress missed schedule errors. They help make sure your scheduled posts are published on time. We suggest using plugins like Missed Scheduled Posts Publisher or Scheduled Post Trigger for this.

To use these plugins, first, install and activate them through the Plugins menu in your WordPress dashboard. They will watch over your scheduled posts and publish any that might have been missed. By using a plugin, you can avoid these scheduling problems and keep your content running smoothly.

5. Check cron jobs

WordPress uses a system called WP-Cron to handle scheduled tasks, like post publishing. If WP-Cron isn’t working right, your posts might miss their schedule, leading to WordPress missed schedule errors.

Now, WP-Cron relies on site visitors to work. This means WP-Cron only runs when someone visits your site. If your site has low traffic, your scheduled posts might not publish on time.

To check if WP-Cron is running, you can use plugins like WP Crontrol. This helps you view and manage cron events.

If you find it’s not working, you might need to adjust settings or even set up a real server cron job. By ensuring WP-Cron runs smoothly, your scheduled posts should publish as planned.

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

While WP-Cron is baked into WordPress, it has its own share of pros and cons.

Because WP-Cron needs visitors to trigger it, it can be unreliable for sites with low traffic. This can cause your scheduled posts to miss their set times.

On other occasions, WP-Cron might not work well or get overwhelmed, especially on busy sites.

To avoid this, you can disable WP-Cron and set up a real server cron job instead. This can make scheduling tasks more reliable and prevent the WordPress missed schedule error.

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

define('DISABLE_WP_CRON', true);

Next, set up a real cron job on your server. You can do this by accessing your hosting control panel, like cPanel, and creating a cron job. Set it to trigger every 5 or 10 minutes using a URL that calls your WordPress cron script.

This ensures your scheduled tasks run on time, keeping your posts on schedule. If required, check with your host for specific steps to set up a cron job.

7. Identify and resolve all conflicts

Plugin and theme conflicts can cause the WordPress missed schedule issue. Both can interfere with how your site’s tasks are scheduled and executed.

To check for plugin conflicts, deactivate all your plugins. Then, try scheduling a post to see if it publishes correctly. If it does, reactivate your plugins one by one. This helps you find the plugin causing the problem.

Similarly, theme conflicts can also disrupt scheduling. To test this, switch to a default WordPress theme, like Twenty Twenty-Two. Again, try scheduling a post. If it works, your theme might be the issue.

By pinpointing and resolving these conflicts, you can help ensure your scheduled posts publish when expected.

8. Increase PHP memory limit

A low PHP memory limit can hinder WordPress functions, including scheduling posts. If your site uses lots of plugins or has heavy content, it might need more memory to run smoothly.

To increase the PHP memory limit, you’ll need to edit your wp-config.php file.

Add or update this line:

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

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

Increasing the PHP memory ensures WordPress has enough resources to handle tasks efficiently. This helps your scheduled posts publish as planned and fix issues like WordPress missed schedule. If unsure about changing settings, consult your web host for guidance.

9. Review WordPress and site health

Keeping your WordPress and site health in check is important for smooth operations. Outdated WordPress versions can have bugs or security issues that affect scheduled posts.

First, ensure WordPress is always updated to the latest version. Go to Dashboard > Updates to check if updates are available. Also, keep your plugins and themes updated for best performance.

Next, use the Site Health tool. Find it under Tools > Site Health in your WordPress dashboard. This tool checks for common issues and gives recommendations. It can help you spot problems that might affect scheduling.

By keeping WordPress and your site in good health, you can reduce errors like WordPress missed schedule and have more reliable scheduling for your posts.

10. Get in touch with your web hosting provider

If none of the steps fix your WordPress missed schedule issue, the problem might be on your web host’s end. Sometimes server settings or configurations can affect how your WordPress functions.

Reach out to your web host’s support team. They often have WordPress experts who can help identify and solve the issue. They can check server settings and logs to find any hidden problems affecting your site.

If your current host can’t resolve the issue, consider switching to a more reliable web host, like Cloudways or Kinsta. A good host can make sure your site runs smoothly and supports your WordPress needs, including post scheduling.

Final thoughts

In short, dealing with WordPress missed schedule errors can be annoying. But you can fix them with some simple steps. Understanding how WP-Cron works and making sure your server settings are good are important first steps. There are also powerful plugins you can use to quickly solve this problem. So don’t hesitate to try them if you need to.

Before you make any changes to your site, remember how important it is to have backups. Backups keep your data safe and make it easy to recover.

We recommend using MalCare for this. It takes automatic backups and stores them off-site. This keeps your data safe without slowing your site. MalCare also detects malware and cleans it with one click. It scans for vulnerabilities, too. Using tools like these can keep your WordPress site secure and running well.

FAQs

How to fix the WordPress missed schedule error?

To fix the WordPress missed schedule error, start by checking your server settings to ensure time zones match. Use helpful plugins like Missed Scheduled Posts Publisher to keep posts on track. Make sure WP-Cron is working or use a real cron job. Look for plugin or theme conflicts and resolve them. Increase your PHP memory limit if needed. Keep WordPress and your site healthy by updating everything. If the issue continues, contact your web host for support. Always remember to backup your site before making changes.

Why is my scheduled post not working in WordPress?

Your scheduled post might not work in WordPress because of server time issues or conflicts with plugins or themes. WP-Cron may not run properly if your site has low traffic. Sometimes the site could be in maintenance mode or facing PHP memory limits. Outdated WordPress, plugins, or themes can also cause issues. If these aren’t the problem, it could be a server issue, so reaching out to your web host might help. Always keep your site backed up when troubleshooting.

What does the warning WordPress has a number of scheduled tasks which are overdue mean?

This warning means WordPress has tasks that were supposed to happen but didn’t. This can happen if WP-Cron isn’t running because of low site traffic or server issues. It might also mean conflicts with plugins or themes, or that the server is too busy. These overdue tasks can affect things like post scheduling and updates. To fix it, check WP-Cron, resolve any conflicts, and ensure your site is up-to-date. You might need to contact your web host if the problem continues.