How to schedule a Squid to run automatically?

Lobstr lets you schedule your Squids to run automatically, so you don’t have to start them manually every time.

You can set them to run every few minutes, hours, days, weeks, or even on specific dates each month.

Here’s how to set it up:

How to create a schedule?

1. Go to the Squid’s Settings.
2. Under the Launch section, click the Repeatedly option.
3. Select the schedule type that fits your workflow.
4. Set your timing and click Save .

Schedule by minutes

Use this to run the Squid every few minutes.

• Minimum: 5 minutes
• Maximum: 30 minutes

Once set, the Squid will automatically run every X minutes.

Example:

You want to keep your data updated throughout the hour. Set the schedule to every 10 minutes, and Lobstr will run the Squid six times per hour, automatically.

Schedule by hours

Use this to run the Squid every few hours, starting at a specific time.

• Minimum: every 1 hour
• Maximum: every 12 hours

Select the Start Time for when you want the first run of the day.

Example:

You want the Squid to run every 3 hours starting at 9:00 AM. It will run at 9:00, 12:00, 3:00, 6:00, and so on, automatically.

Schedule by days

This is for daily or weekday runs at a specific time.

• Choose your Start Time.
• Select whether to run Every Day or Weekdays Only.

Example:

You want to run the Squid every weekday at 8:30 AM. Select “Weekdays” and set the start time to 08:30, Lobstr takes care of the rest.

Schedule by weeks

Want to run the Squid on specific days each week? This is your option.

• Choose the days of the week (e.g., Monday, Wednesday, Friday).
• Choose the Start Time.

Example:

You only need data on Mondays and Thursdays at 10:00 AM. Select those days, set the time, and the Squid will run exactly as scheduled.

Schedule by months

Run the Squid automatically on a specific date each month.

• Choose a date from 1 to 30.
• Set the Start Time.

Example:

You want to run the Squid on the 1st of every month at 9:00 AM to kick off your monthly reports. Choose “1”, set the time, and you’re good to go.

What timezone does the schedule use?

By default, the schedule uses the timezone from your account.

If you want to change it, just go to your Squid’s settings and look for the Timezone dropdown. Choose your preferred timezone and click Save.

All scheduled runs will follow the new timezone going forward.

Can I schedule multiple Squids to run at the same time?

Yes, you can. You can schedule as many Squids as you like to run at the same time.

Each Squid will launch independently based on its own schedule, as long as your account has enough credits available.

Can I pause or temporarily disable a Squid’s schedule?

Yes, you can temporarily stop a scheduled Squid without deleting it.

To pause the schedule, you can simply deactivate the Squid. This will stop all scheduled runs.

When you’re ready to resume, you can activate it again.

If you prefer to run the Squid only when needed;

1. Go to the Squid’s settings
2. Open the Launch section
3. Change the launch mode from “Repeatedly” to “Manually.”

This will turn off the schedule and allow you to collect data on demand. Your schedule settings will be saved, so you can switch back to automatic runs anytime.

Will I be notified if a scheduled run fails?

Yes. If you want to get notified when something goes wrong, go to the Settings > Notifications section inside the Squid, and enable the “On error” notification.

You’ll receive an email if the Squid fails or stops running due to an issue.

Updated on: 13/06/2025