Create and edit scheduled tasks in Azure SRE Agent

Scheduled tasks let your agent run automated checks on a recurring basis without manual intervention. You define what the agent should do, set a frequency, and the agent executes the task on schedule. Each run produces a conversation thread with full details on what the agent found and any actions it took.

In this tutorial, you create a scheduled task, verify it runs successfully, and then edit the task to adjust its configuration.

Prerequisites

• An agent with the connectors and permissions needed for your task
• A clear understanding of what you want to automate

Create a scheduled task

1. Open Scheduled Tasks

1. Go to your agent, and select Scheduled tasks in the sidebar.

2. Select Create Task

Select Create task in the toolbar.

Fill in the form:

Leave optional fields at their defaults:

• Response custom agent: Leave empty to use the main agent.
• Message grouping for updates: "Use same thread" groups results together.
• Agent autonomy level: Autonomous (Default) lets the agent act without approval.

3. Select Create task

Checkpoint: Your task appears in the list with status On. You should see the task name, frequency, and next run time you configured.

Verify it works

After the first scheduled run, select the task name to view execution history. Each execution creates a conversation thread that shows:

• Planning steps: How the agent decided what to do.
• Tool usage: Which connectors and tools were called, with timing.
• Memory context: Relevant past findings the agent considered.
• Outcome summary: Results, recommendations, and any notifications sent.

If a run fails, the thread shows the error. After three consecutive failures, the task status changes to Failed.

Edit a scheduled task

Need to change the schedule, update instructions, or switch the agent mode? Edit the task directly without recreating it. The task's execution history is preserved across edits.

1. Select the task

In the task list, either:

• Check the task's checkbox and select Edit task in the toolbar
• Select ⋯ on the task row and select Edit task
• Or select the task name to open execution history, and then select Edit task

2. Modify fields

The edit dialog opens with all current values pre-populated. Change what you need:

3. Select Save

Your changes take effect immediately. The next run uses the updated configuration.

Checkpoint: A notification confirms the update. Select the task name to verify your execution history is still intact – all previous runs remain visible alongside future runs with the updated settings.

Alternative: Create from the Agent Canvas

You can also create a scheduled task directly from a custom agent node in the canvas view. This approach preselects the custom agent as the task responder, which is useful when you want a specialized custom agent to handle the task.

1. Go to Builder → Agent Canvas.
2. Find the custom agent you want to assign the task to.
3. Select the circular + button on the side of the custom agent node.
4. Under the Trigger group, select Add scheduled task.
5. The create dialog opens with the Response custom agent preselected. Fill in the remaining fields as described earlier.

The task appears both on the canvas (connected to the custom agent) and in the Scheduled tasks list.

Common schedules

What you learned

• How to create a scheduled task from the Scheduled tasks page and from the Agent Canvas.
• How to configure frequency, time, and response custom agent.
• How to edit a task in place while preserving execution history.
• How to verify scheduled tasks.

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